The Bruges Conference and the process that precedes it, is one example of the Bologna Process: together on the pathway to one European higher education area.
With the Bologna Declaration as starting point, a partnership of 46 countries aims to create one European higher education area towards 2010. All the conventions already signed and those still in the pipeline, prove that ‘Bologna’ means more than just putting degrees and curricula on one line. A new higher education area also offers the possibility to integrate student mobility and equal opportunities in the standards of qualitative education.
The Bologna Process finds its thriving spirits in biennial ministerial conferences, of which the next will take place in Leuven/Louvain-la-Neuve in April 2009. Main topic on the agenda is the future of the Bologna Process beyond 2010, also in terms of social dimension, mobility and equal opportunities. Discussing these themes is a unique chance to focus on studying with disabilities in higher education.
The ministerial conference in Leuven/Louvain-la-Neuve, April 2009, will be an excellent opportunity to highlight two dimensions, namely stimulating the national policy regarding studying with disabilities in higher education and raising the participation in international exchange programmes for students with disabilities.
That is why a working group with the University College West Flanders as host and organisor, is preparing a memorandum which will be discussed and finalised at the Bruges Conference (1-4 December 2008).