Bologna Follow-Up Group Secretariat
The BFUG Secretariat
Yerevan to Paris - 1 July 2015 to 30 June 2018
Between 1 of July 2015 and 30 June 2018, the Secretariat of the Bologna Follow-up Group is held by France, as organizer of the next 2018 EHEA Ministerial Conference. It will continue along the same lines as agreed previously at the BFUG meetings: the Secretariat will provide neutral support to further the consolidation of the European Higher Education Area under the exclusive authority of the BFUG, its Co-chairs and Vice-Chair.
The structure is working in an international way including staff members provided by EHEA member countries.
Role and functions
When the Bologna Secretariat was first established following the Berlin meeting of Ministers responsible for higher education, the Bologna Follow-up Group (BFUG) agreed, after discussion, upon its role and functions. These proposals for a Secretariat were accepted by the BFUG Meeting in Rome in November 2003. The terms of reference for the Secretariat were first modified 2005 at the BFUG Meeting in Manchester in October 2005 and last modifed for 2015-2018 at the BFUG Meeting in Luxembourg in September 2015 and the Board Meeting in Chisinau in January 2016.
Read more about the role of the secretariat in the 2015-2018 Secretariat Terms of reference
BFUG Board 49 Chisinau January 2016 - Proceedings 2015-2018 ANNEX 9 Role of the Secretariat Draft ToR 2015-2018
The main tasks of the Bologna Follow-Up Group Secretariat are:
- supporting the Chairs in their work
- providing administrative and operational support for the BFUG and its Board;
- supporting all BFUG Working / Advisory Groups;
- acting as an external and internal contact point for the European Higher Education Area;
- preparing the Ministerial Conference in France (2018) and the Fifth Bologna Policy Forum under the supervision of the BFUG.
In order to provide up to date information not only for the BFUG but also to the wider public, the Secretariat maintains the European Higher Education Area website.
Previous Secretariat
Berlin to Bergen - 1 January 2004 to 30 june 2005
The first BFUG Secretariat was provided by Norway.
- Learder : Per Nyborg
- Senior Adviser: Sverre Rustad
- Junior Adviser: Bjorn R. Stensby
Bergen to London - 1 July 2005 to 30 June 2007
The United-Kingdom provided a Secretariat to the Bologna Follow Up Group and its Board for the two year period up to 30 June 2007. Their aim during this time was to provide information and news about the work programme and developments in the Bologna Process leading up to the Bologna 5th Ministerial Conference in London on 17-18 May 2007.
- Yvonne Clarke
- Louis Ripley
- Ann McVie
London to Leuven/Louvain-la-Neuve and Budapest/Vienna - 1 July 2007 to 30 June 2010
From 1 July 2007 until 30 June 2010, the Bologna Process was supported by a Secretariat, which was jointly operated by the higher education ministries of the French and Flemish Communities of Belgium, the Netherlands and Luxembourg - for the last year with support from Austria and Hungary - in preparation of the 2009 and 2010 ministerial conferences. The office of the multinational Secretariat was located in Brussels.
- Head of Secretariat: Marlies Leegwater - the Netherlands
- General Coordination:
- Marie-Anne Persoons – Flemish Community of Belgium (July 2007 - November 2009)
- Cornelia Racké – Luxembourg (December 2009 - June 2010)
- Public relations: Françoise Bourdon - French Community of Belgium
- Advisers:
- Sara Demény - Hungary
- Sabine Neyer - Austria
- Magalie Soenen - Flemish Community of Belgium
Budapest/Vienna to Bucharest - 1 July 2010 to 30 June 2012
Starting from July 1st, 2010, Romania has taken over the responsibility of hosting the Bologna Secretariat. With this occasion, the official website of the European Higher Education Area, http://www.ehea.info, was launched.
Bucharest to Yerevan - 1 July 2012 to 30 June 2015
Starting from July 1st, 2012, Armenia has taken over the responsibility of hosting the Bologna Secretariat.
Yerevan to Paris - 1 July 2015 to 30 June 2018
Starting from July 1st, 2015, France has taken over the responsibility of hosting the Bologna Secretariat.