Abstract:

The challenges posed by the European Union’s decision to achieve harmonisation and integration primarily through the Bologna process have been exacerbated by the recent expansion of the EU to a much larger and diverse entity. The increased diversity and complexity pose challenges to Higher Education (HE) institutions that need to be addressed both at European and local levels. The Bologna Process aims to move Higher Education in Europe towards a more transparent and mutually recognised system and furthermore to place the diversified national systems into a common frame. We could safely assume that at least at high level we are all eager (sometimes reluctant) to work towards European and (ultimately) global integration and harmonisation. For the success of this ideal we need commitment to quality from senior management, the selection of the right team, work-group and task force and a clear strategy and plan.
The bottom up approach involves collaborative projects such as joint programmes, joint curricula and joint research. Every collaborative project builds closer links among the partner institutions and deepens their understanding and as ultimate outcome results in knowledge creation as well as knowledge and technology transfer. Integration is not any more a slogan but the result of transcending cultural, social and political boundaries in practice.

In this paper we explore the bottom up approach from an integration point of view through our involvement in various European projects such as ARMA, NET-IS, eForminfo, eLamp, EUCert etc. and try to answer questions, such as
• what needs to remain as-is;
• what needs to change;
• what is and who are the people involved;
• what are their respective roles;
• which and how many resources are required;
• what are the timescales and risks posed by the immense complexity and diversity.

Keywords:

european integration, collaborative projects, knowledge transfer, knowledge management.