What is the Bologna process. Bologna process: essence, implementation and development in Russia

The Bologna process in the education system of the Russian Federation is a matter that must be approached considering the history of the formation, formation and development of higher education outside the state. In particular, the end of the twentieth century has become largely determinative for the Russian national education system, since in this period there have been cardinal changes at all levels of the higher school that was formed by that time.

Points of contact between European and Russian education

The reform process was quite natural and we expect, as the optimization of the political, economic and social spheres of the state's life would entail restructuring in the circle of other social relations. Important steps in the first place were to occur in the substantive and methodical part, and not only at the ideological level. Naturally, the changes that took place contributed to the modernization of the management system of higher education institutions, as well as to introducing significant changes in the regulatory and legislative framework.

During the existence and development of Russia as a single modern power, European educational systems were exemplary. For the first time the mechanism of the functioning of the education sector in the countries of the Old World was reflected in the domestic higher institutions as far back as the middle of the 18th century. This can explain the frequent manifestations of traditions in Russian universities, typical of European schools. The similarity is manifested in the structure, in the development tendencies, and in the content activity.

A new foreign policy process played a huge role in reforming the education system. The Bologna educational course, to be adopted and which Russia has been following for many years, corresponds to the state perceived by the advanced European powers as a worthy equal partner.

The transition to a new level and the birth of the Bologna system

With the collapse of the USSR and the transition of the Russian state to a market economy, the leadership's actions to ensure the country's internal and external needs in professionally trained personnel became more active and moved towards the creation of commercial universities. Only in this way the domestic system of higher education would be able to compete with other representatives of the international market of educational services.

It should be noted that the Bologna Process in Russia has practically turned the national education system upside down. Prior to the orientation towards the European system, the educational mechanism looked absolutely different. To ensure the quality of professional education, state educational standards were first approved in the country first, and then second generation. The goal of establishing this standardization was to create a unified educational space and establish the equivalent equality of educational documents with those of other developed countries.

On the harmonization of the architecture of the European system of higher education

The Bologna educational process began its inception in May 1998. Then the Sorbonne signed a multilateral agreement "On the harmonization of the architecture of the European system of higher education." The declaration, which was later regarded as an entry into the Bologna Treaty, was adopted by the ministers of France, Britain, Italy and Germany. Its task was to create and develop a proper effective strategy for the development of a pan-European model of education. The fundamental elements of this agreement were the cyclicity of training, the application of the credit-modular system.

Agreement in Bologna

The process (Bologna it was called because the signing of the relevant treaty took place in Bologna) the creation of a new European education was aimed at harmonizing and merging the individual educational systems of each state into the whole space of the higher school. The date that gave the countdown to this important step in the history of world education is considered June 19, 1999. On that day, representatives of the educational sphere and the ministers of more than 20 European powers agreed to sign an agreement, called after the Bologna Declaration. 29 participants - the countries of the Bologna process - left the treaty open, and at the moment other states can join the "European Higher Education Area."

Implementation of the Bologna Process in Russia

As already mentioned, the educational system of post-Soviet Russia was in dire need of improvement. During the transition to an independent independent state, the sphere of higher education ceased to meet modern demands, and even the slightest dynamics was not visible in its development. The potential of the richest internal reserve has not been fully utilized. Reforming this sphere helped to rid the country of the ideology of Soviet totalitarianism and to introduce a democratic process that is gaining momentum all over the world.

The Bologna Treaty, signed by Russia in 2003, allowed the Russian state to enter the unified space of higher education in Europe. Not surprisingly, with the introduction of European standards in this field, the scientific and teaching staff of the country has divided into two camps. There have appeared both opponents and supporters of new positions, but, meanwhile, changes and corresponding transformations are taking place to this day. The Bologna process of education is increasingly growing into the domestic educational system.

The continuously strengthened separate provisions of the declaration signed in Bologna, contribute to the continuation of the reconstruction of the Russian educational system with the aim:

• Bringing it in line with European public systems of higher education;
• Increasing the level of accessibility, popularity and democracy of higher education institutions among the local population;
• Increase the competitiveness of graduates of higher educational institutions of Russia and the level of their professional training.

The first shifts in the system of higher education

The Bologna process in Russia, after several years of operation, helped to achieve notable results. The main merit of this system is:

• A zone of higher education has been built in accordance with European standards, the main objective of which is the development of students' mobility with the prospect of employment;
• Guaranteed the competitiveness of each higher educational institution in the struggle for the contingent of students, public financing in comparison with other educational systems;
• Universities are endowed with an important role of the central objects-carriers of the correct public consciousness in the course of development of cultural values of the peoples of Europe.

In addition, during the past few years, the current ones have been significantly strengthened and the higher positions of the intellectual, scientific, technical and socio-cultural resource of Europe are gradually gaining ground, where the system of the Bologna process contributes to the prestige of each institution.

Preparation of Russia for the adoption of the Bologna Process

At the moment, the number of states that have adopted the Bologna Declaration continues to grow. Today, the implementation of the Bologna Process is a task for at least 50 modern states in Europe. However, it is worth paying attention to the preliminary Concept of the modernization of Russian education. This document, prepared by the Ministry of Education, was approved by the Russian government and the State Council. This document lasted until 2010.

The concept was the basic direction of the state policy in the educational sphere, while it did not contain the slightest hint of the Bologna Declaration or any other document of the process. Meanwhile, comparing the texts of the Concept and the provisions contained in the Bologna Process, it will not be easy to find significant differences.

Just as the higher education in the Bologna Process was appreciated, the Concept notes the importance of recognizing that education is an integral factor in the development of the newest level of the economy and the social order. In fact, such a document is quite capable of competing with other educational foreign systems.

Description of the previous Concept

Recognizing the ability of the Russian education system to compete with the educational structures of advanced countries, the Concept speaks of the need for the broadest support from the society, as well as socio-economic policy, the return of the due level of state responsibility, its important role in the educational sphere.

The drafting of the Concept for the Modernization of Russian Higher Education was a preparatory stage in the process of the Russian state's entry into the Bologna system. Despite the fact that at that time this was not the main task of the document, it became a definite prologue to the country's accession to a new path of the educational sphere. Among the important attitudes facing the heads of relevant departments, it is worth mentioning the developed models of federal state educational standards of qualification levels "bachelor", "master" relating to the spectrum of technical and technological specialties.

Compared with the states that signed the Bologna Agreement in 1999, Russia had a more advantageous position for itself. Turning to the documents of the Bologna process only at the beginning of the 21st century, Russia already had the opportunity to take note of the experience of European countries. In addition, the basic principles of training, cooperation systems and a monitoring mechanism for the implementation of the process were long established and even passed the verification stages.

To replenish the ranks of advanced states with the Bologna education system, Russia has prompted the need to set up an appropriate mechanism for compelling competition with European educational systems that were established before "automatism".

Positive changes

Thanks to the entry of Russia into the pan-European educational space, graduates of Russian universities receive diplomas of bachelors, specialists and masters. All countries of the Bologna Process recognized such documents as a single model confirming the receipt of higher education, including the annexes to the diploma adopted by the Council of Europe and UNESCO. Thus, graduates of Russian universities are given the opportunity to become full members of academic mobility programs.

Characteristic features of the Bologna system in Russia

Of the fundamental points and provisions that the Bologna Process has brought to the Russian educational system, several can be singled out:

• Separation of the higher education system into two levels: bachelor's and master's degrees (to get a bachelor's diploma it is necessary to pass 4-5-year training, masters study 1-2 years);
• The inclusion in the training work plans of the structure of hourly credits, which are a complex of lecture, seminar and independent work of the student (only after completing the program for each discipline, calculated for a certain number of hours, you can go to the next training course);
• Assessment of the qualitative component of the acquired knowledge on world standardized schemes;
• The possibility of continuing to continue studying in virtually any European university in the case, for example, of moving from Russia;
• Focus on the problems of the pan-European level and promote their study.

Advantages for students

It follows that graduates of Russian universities will receive diplomas of education, not only confirming their qualifications in their home country, but will also be quoted among employers throughout Europe. In turn, foreign students have great chances of finding a job here. In addition, the most successful students will be given the opportunity to complete their studies throughout the semester or year at universities abroad due to their characteristic mobility programs. It was also possible to change the chosen specialty in the transition, for example, from a bachelor's degree to a master's program.

Among the advantages of the direct educational process is the accumulation system of credits of disciplines, it will be used to accelerate the second higher education or in-depth study of the priority foreign language, both within the walls of the university and in other countries.

Conclusion

The development of the Bologna process was largely predetermined by the conditions of general reforms affecting virtually all vital spheres of the Russian state. The formation of the established model of the educational system greatly complicated the differences between the two so different cultures of higher education: the domestic and the European. Mismatches could be observed in everything: in the duration of training, qualification components, areas of special training. The differences could be easily noticed even in the way the educational process was organized.

The Bologna Treaty, which brought about radical changes in the educational system of Russia, meant the transition to a two-tier system of higher education from a single-level system. Prior to signing the agreement, the universities trained students continuously, for 5 years. Graduated and highly qualified professionals were trained on the basis of the developed educational program. Her disciplinary approach involved choosing a specific unit of measurement for the work done by students and teachers, which was an academic hour. The calculation of the required number of academic loads is at the heart of higher education education programs.