Ministerial Declarations and Communiqués
Sorbonne Declaration 1998
Joint declaration on harmonisation of the architecture of the European higher education system by the four Ministers in charge for France, Germany, Italy and the United Kingdom in Paris, the Sorbonne, May 25th 1998.
The Sorbonne Declaration was signed in 1998, by the ministers of four countries, namely France, Germany, Uk and Italy. The aim of the Declaration was to create a common frame of reference within the intended European Higher Education Area, where mobility should be promoted both for students and graduates, as well as for the teaching staff. Also, it was meant to ensure the promotion of qualifications, with regard to the job market.
1998 Sorbonne Declaration - English
We hereby commit ourselves to encouraging a common frame of reference, aimed at improving external recognition and facilitating student mobility as well as employability. [...] We call on other Member States of the Union and other European countries to join us in this objective and on all European Universities to consolidate Europe's standing in the world through continuously improved and updated education for its citizens.
- Claude ALLEGRE
Minister for National Education, Research and Technology (France) - Luigi BERLINGUER
Minister for Public Instruction, University and Research (Italy) - Tessa BLACKSTONE
Minister for Higher Education (United Kingdom) - Jürgen RÜTTGERS
Minister for Education, Sciences, Research and Technology (Germany)
The Sorbonne
© Victor Jean Nicolle (1754-1826)
The Sorbonne is an edifice of the Latin Quarter, in Paris, France, which was the historical house of the former University of Paris.
The name is derived from the Collège de Sorbonne, founded in 1257 by Robert de Sorbon as one of the first significant colleges of the medieval University of Paris.
The university predates the college by about a century, and minor colleges had been founded already in the late 12th century.
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