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NEXT STEP FOR THE BOLOGNA PROCESS: THREE RECOMMENDATIONS FOR FACULTY
Harvard & St. John's University (UNITED STATES)
About this paper:
Appears in: ICERI2011 Proceedings
Publication year: 2011
Pages: 5188-5190
ISBN: 978-84-615-3324-4
ISSN: 2340-1095
Conference name: 4th International Conference of Education, Research and Innovation
Dates: 14-16 November, 2011
Location: Madrid, Spain
Abstract:
Although the countries involved in the Bologna Process have many accomplishments to date, and much to be proud of, they are also at a stage and time in the Process where they can not only provide follow up on all that has been enacted, but also create additional changes. The three changes that I feel could have a great impact on the European Higher Education Area and place the 40 plus countries and the European Higher Education Area in a globally unique and advantageous position are all related to their Faculty. The modifications that I am posing are as follow:

1- Developing a Code of Ethics/Conduct for all faculty to follow
2-Begin to Transform Graduate Education in an attempt to better Prepare Faculty to Teach
3-Redefine Scholarship to become more inclusive in what it means to be a "Scholar"

-Developing a Code of Ethics/Conduct: All closed professions possess a code of ethics which accomplishes a number of objectives...most importantly it bonds the group of professionals, serves as a standard for behavior and control measure, and serves to make a statement to all others that the group is concerned and also monitors its "own".
-Transform Graduate Education: Most of us as College Professors have not been formally educated to carry out all aspects of our Professional lives. Many Professors do an excellent job because they "work at it themselves", without any professional guidance. Professors are typically trained at research; what I am proposing is to develop College faculty that are not only experts in their given discipline, but a Professoriate that is also learned/knowledgeable in College Teaching and all that is associated with it.
-Redefining Scholarship: A more inclusive view of what it means to be a "scholar" must be accepted and embraced by the higher education community. A recognition that knowledge is acquired through research, through teaching, through synthesis, and through practice is certainly a fact that more academics are becoming comfortable with, but on one seems to be acting on.

With these three changes/modifications, the European Higher Education Area can not only distinguish itself from all others, it will also be creating the necessary cohesion/bond for the participating countries and their faculty to truly become unified. The countries involved must join together behind these recommendations and show the world that they have the will and the courage to act on this moment in time to propel themselves through a period of enormous growth and development, and serve as a model for all other countries.
Keywords:
European Area, Bologna Process.