All international students want their obtained university graduate degrees to be recognized in Europe and in other countries. International acceptance of diplomas is one of the main aims of the Bologna process, in which Ukraine actively participates.
The idea to create the unique education area in Europe appeared in 1986. The oldest in Europe Bologna University proposed to all European universities to adopt Magna Charta Universitarum. In 1988 this document was signed by the rectors of 80 universities. From this moment the start of The European Higher Education Area (EHEA) began. In 1999, there was a conference in Bologna on which 30 Ministers of education of European countries adopted “Bologna Declaration”. The creation of a unique European Higher Education Area is called the Bologna Process. In 2005 at a conference in Bergen, Norway, Ukraine joint the Bologna process as well.
Targets of the Bologna Process
Bologna Declaration identifies six main objectives of creating a unique European Higher Education Area:
- Introduction of a clear and standardized system of educational degrees. This is necessary for improvement of the competitiveness and demand for European higher education and for making easier employment of graduates of European universities.
- Dividing of higher education receiving into two stages. Education system Bachelor – Master for a long time used in the UK and the USA was accepted as a basis.
- Introduction of a unified system of studying hours’ consideration using special units – credits. European Credit Transfer and Accumulation System (ECTS) was taken as the basis. This credit system is necessary first of all for evaluation of the preparation level of a student who wants to transfer to the other university.
- Ensuring the mobility of students and teachers by the creation for them of opportunities to continue their education (work) in another European university without any problems.
- Ensuring high standards of European higher education by making it independent from national governments.
- Increasing the demand on European higher education through inter-university cooperation, students’ mobility and compatible programs of studying, research and training.
Within implementation of the Bologna standards in Ukraine for the recognition of Ukrainian diplomas of higher education in Europe and for ensuring the students’ mobility The Ministry of Education and Science of Ukraine in 2009 introduced European Credit Transfer System (ECTS) and its key documents, including the Diploma Attachment of the European standard in the universities of Ukraine.
This attachment is issued to all students who successfully graduate from higher educational institutions of all forms of ownership. The attachment is valid only together with the university Diploma and is made in 2 languages – Ukrainian and English. This document has a structure the same as developed by the European Commission, Council of Europe and UNESCO. It is needed for international recognition of student’s degree for further studying or working in Europe. Students’ rights to continue the next degree and descriptions of professional rights or professional status of the person who gained qualifications are written at the attachment.
According to ECTS the grades indicate the learner’s performance. Grades A to E are assigned among students as PASS grade; A grade is received by top 10% of students; B grade – by the next 25%; C grade – by the next 30%; D grade – by the next 25%; E grade – by the next 10%. Students receive Diploma with honors when over 75% of grades are A, no grades E, only A grades for state examinations.
Participation of Ukraine at the Bologna process is a huge advantage for all students who graduate from its universities. Don’t miss your chance to make your future, to get higher education in Ukraine on affordable price in with the possibility to continue studying, practicing or working in European Union, USA and other countries.