Make Bologna History!

 

Celebrating Bologna?  We don’t think so.

International Call for Participation

On March 11 and 12, 2010, the education ministers of 46 European countries will celebrate the 10-year anniversary of the Bologna process in Vienna and Budapest.

Given the current situation in many European universities and the ongoing protests for the freedom of education, this celebration makes a mockery of all of us.

Not only has the Bologna process clearly failed to achieve the agreed goals of greater dynamism and mobility; it has also led to more restrictions for students and their studies and to greater social selection of access to higher education in general.



The fact that the entire process is based on the understanding of education as only producing a workforce dictated by the market is reflected in the agreed goals.  Therefore our aim is not only to measure success or failure of the Bologna process but furthermore to question the process and its foundations itself.  Master’s and PhD programs as elite programs, which especially exclude women, introduction of tuition fees, and under-financing of universities as well as de-democratization within the university system are obvious symptoms.

The difficult financial situation increases the corporate influence on education and scientific research.  The orientation of teaching towards corporate interests not only affects universities but the entire education sector in general.  Hence the possibilities of self-determined and critical learning are restricted.

In view of this disastrous situation we don’t see any reason to celebrate the Bologna process.  The European-wide protests of students, teachers, and others show that the economization of education is directed against their interests.

Therefore the week from 8 to 12 March 2010 shall accompany this conference with demonstrations, strikes, and blockades as well as a counter-conference, where we are going to discuss European education policy, as well as the common goals of our protests.

We formed four groups, which focus on different aspects of the event:

  • Demonstration/Blockade
    While the ministers are holding their meeting we are organizing a demonstration (Thursday, March 11).  Different ideas of blockades are being discussed.
  • Strike
    Using the occasion of this event, we are planning to go on a university strike in cooperation with the teaching staff for at least two days.
  • Counter-Conference
    In this part of the event, we want to work on, discuss, and exchange experiences openly about the Bologna process and possible better education policies.
  • International mobilization
    A big part of this event should also be the gathering of all the protesters from different countries and fields in order to work on a common strategy.

We want this event to be organized and held by all protesters together.  This is why we are calling for your participation not only in the event itself, but also during the preparations (e.g.: input into the counter-conference, etc.).

Together we will show that we do not agree with the celebration of a process that limits education to the production of human capital!

This protest and its further development depend on our participation!

Contact: <mobilization.bolognaburns@gmail.com>.


For more information, visit <www.bolognaburns.org>.




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