Bologna Process Reforms Increase Number of Students in Germany by 50%

The German federal and state governments have reported a positive impact of the Bologna Process in a national implementation report.

Based on a press release by the Federal Ministry of Education and Research, the Bologna Process impact report notes developments and successful reforms in the German higher education system. This report was approved on March 10 by the Federal Cabinet, Erudera.com informs.

Previously, the report was also endorsed by the Conference of Ministers of Education and Cultural Affairs on February 18, 2021.

“With the Bologna Process, we have been following a consistent path for 20 years to uniformly shape the higher education system in Europe and to enable the broadest possible exchange between the countries,” said Anja Karliczek, Federal Minister of Education.

Karliczek applauded the Bologna Process calling it an invaluable contribution to the exchange of students and university staff as well as continuous progress of the university system in Europe. The reforms aim to qualify specialists for the job market and the formation of the next generation of academics.

“Here, 49 countries sit at one table to jointly improve their higher education systems in terms of quality. It is clear to me that to achieve scientific excellence, the freedom of research and teaching in Europe must always be protected,” said Karliczek.

On the other hand, the Minister of North Rhine-Westphalia, Isabel Pfeiffer-Poensgen, considers that implementing Bologna reforms has achieved great things for the German science system and enhances its flexibility studies.

“The digitization of teaching and research recently accelerated in the course of the Covid-19 pandemic represents a great opportunity for the realization of an inclusive higher education system in Germany and Europe,” Pfeiffer-Poensgen stated.

The press release explains the Bologna Process impact that has been implemented in Germany in the past 20 years.

The university system has expanded with over 50 percent more students and a significant increase in academic staff. Universities of Germany now count 400,000 international students, as data from the winter semester of last year shows.

The quality of training, the global comparability to Bachelor and Master degrees, and the international recognition of degrees make Germany an attractive country to choose for pursuing academic careers.

Germany actively supports other states of the Bologna Process that showed deficits in the implementation of structural reforms. Germany aims for an integrative, innovative, and networked European higher education area.

The support is a determining topic for the European Higher Education Area condemned in the Ministers of the European Higher Education Area press release on November 19, 2020. Academic freedom, university autonomy, and democratic rights, the participation of students, teachers, researchers, and employees are critical points for implementing this strategy.

Currently, the academic freedom of 49 participant states is being developed, and Germany will play a decisive and active part in this work.

According to a 1,200-participant survey published at the end of last year, 60 percent of international students plan to remain in Germany after graduation.