The Bologna Process has been the answer to the very diverse education structure which was present in Europe. In some European countries a university degree could have been achieved in three years, meanwhile in others in average it took up to 7 years to obtain a university level. Furthermore, the fact that different titles were giving across the continent, has resulted in everything but making it easier to have the different degrees comparable obtained by students.
One of the main principles of the European Union is the free movement of labor (people). The aim being this is to harmonize the economies of the European Union using the spill over effect. However, the free movement of labor in practice cannot be achieved without a cross recognized study structure. Therefore, the Bologna process was signed in 1999 which obliged over 4000 European universities across the old continent to introduce the Bologna Process three cycle systems: bachelor, master, doctorate with the primary objective of assure quality and recognition of qualifications and periods of study.
Indeed, Ján Figel (European Commissioner for Education, Training, Culture and Multilingualism) has emphasized the need for knowledge and innovation which lead to a sustainable growth in Europe. For this the universities are crucial. He has also pointed out the weakness comparing the United States of America, which has a harmonized university structure, although different from the European one. Furthermore, he sustains that the Bologna Process plays a key role in achieving the objectives set by the Lisbon strategy.
The European Union has also come up with the Europass (facilitating the transparency of qualifications) and the ECTS system (European Credit Transfer System) to help the Bologna Process to be put in place by 2010.
