Abstract
The Bologna Process provides the key policy framework for the reform of higher education in Europe. Facilitating the recognition of qualifications is an important element of this process, to allow citizens to transfer their qualifications from one education system to another. In this sense, recognition can be compared to a bridge, the purpose of which is to allow persons to cross the divide between various education systems without losing their “luggage” (i.e. the value of their qualifications) on the way through unreasonable “customs tariffs” (i.e. recognition requirements). The article reviews achievements in the recognition of qualifications and formulates 10 hypotheses concerning issues that still need to be resolved. These are intended to stimulate debate within the Bologna Process. The hypotheses deal with such issues as the state and further development of the legal framework, the development of education programs not anchored in a national system, the importance of information, and the assessment of learning outcomes and competencies.
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