European Higher Education Area (EHEA)

The creation of the EHEA

In the year 1999, the creation of the European Higher Education Area started with the signature of the Bologna Declaration. The convergence of higher education institutions, within this area promoted by the European Union, involves the homologation of university studies in Europe and the creation of an open space for students, faculty, administrative staff and graduates. In ministerial summits which followed, held in Prague (2001), Berlin (2003), Bergen (2005) and London (2007), the progress of the process was asessed and new goals were set. The next meeting will take place in Lovaina in 2009.

This process of joint construction which will have to be finished by 2010 involves a series of  legal and institutional changes which are being discussed and specified. The new structure of degrees ( Royal Decree 1393/2007, of 29 October, on the establishment of the new system of official higher education planning  [pdf - 406Kb]), the ECTS credit system ( Royal Decree 1125/2003, of 5 September, on the establishment of the European credit system and the qualification system in official university degrees with validity within the national territory  (BOE nº 224 of 18 September 2003) [pdf - 26Kb]), the European Diploma Supplement ( Royal Decree 1044/2003, of 1 August, on the establishment of the procedure for the issue the Diploma Supplement (BOE nº 218 of 11 September 2003) [pdf - 42Kb]), the Framework for Qualifications in the EHEA (report 2007) and the Standards and Guidelines for Quality Assurance in the EHEA   represent significant achievements for this new Higher Education common area.