The Ministers responsible for higher education from the 47 member countries of the European Higher Education Area (EHEA) and the European Commission met in Tirana (Albania) on Thursday 30 May to reaffirm their commitment to student and academic staff mobility. A new Communiqué has been adopted, setting out the priorities for 2025-2027.
At the ministerial conference in Rome in 2020, the Ministers agreed on a common vision for a more inclusive, innovative and interconnected EHEA. Four years on, they have assessed the progress made and mapped out the next steps to achieve this vision by 2030. In the face of today’s geopolitical, social, economic and ecological challenges, this effort is more crucial than ever.
The Tirana Communiqué also emphasises the participation of students and staff in the governance of higher education and the public accountability of this sector.
The conference also addressed Russia’s war of aggression against Ukraine. The Ministers expressed their solidarity with Ukraine and decided to maintain the suspension of the participation rights of Russia and its ally Belarus in all EHEA structures and activities.
The Ministers reaffirmed their commitment to three fundamental principles: the implementation of a three-cycle degree system (bachelor, master, doctorate) based on the European Credit Transfer and Accumulation System (ECTS); support for the recognition of qualifications throughout the EHEA, in line with the Lisbon Convention; and the promotion of a culture of quality in higher education, supported by appropriate quality assurance processes.
Ahead of the Tirana Ministerial Conference, the Commission has published the latest report on the implementation of the Bologna Process, providing an overview of the progress made by the various countries in this area. It shows uneven progress, but also the positive impact of the thematic groups under the guidance of the coordination group (see EUROPE 13417/25).
The representatives also expressed their commitment to making the EHEA inclusive by 2030, by ensuring that all students can access quality education. Finally, innovation in higher education in response to the green and digital transitions has been placed at the heart of the priorities.
The Tirana Communiqué: https://aeur.eu/f/che (Original version in French by Nithya Paquiry)