Povl Tiedemann, Head of Department, Association of Danish Business Economists.
As the Bologna Process moves on it becomes increasingly important to involve experience and applied knowledge, especially in the areas of quality development, -maintenance and -assessment.
For that reason it is evident to utilize some of the most recently developed ressources, operationalised by EQUIS (European Quality Improvement System), supported by the Advisory Board of EQUAL (European Quality Link) involving 11 institutional and 4 professional associations under the auspices of EFMD (European Foundation of Management Development) Brussels.
The necessity and access for such involvement is clearly stated in:
A) The "Berlin Communiqué" from 19 September 2003, expressed in the paragraph "Promoting the attractiveness of the European Higher Education Area" pointing at attracting appropriate fora for maintaining academic quality.
B) The recommendations of the "Bled Seminar" from 23 October 2004 pointing at strengthening the active participation of e.g. professional associations.
Further it should be noted from the introduction to the findings of the GMAC study of the Bologna Project on the volume and intensity of the Business School sector as driver of the quality improvement initiatives - and the importance in relation to ENQA (European Network of Quality Assurance). In this connection it is also valuable to note that from personal contact with the Commissariate for Education of the European Commission, the Chairman of EQUAL has received positive and supporting attention concerning the role of Management Education as Ice Breaker in the process of quality development in the sector of higher education.
Alltogether - the basis and legitimacy for involving EQUIS / EQUAL as relevant source and inspiration for the BFUG (Bologna Follow Up Group) is evident - thus following the relations established with the Bergen Summit Administration, now to be continued with the London based Summit Administration.
ASSOCIATION OF DANISH BUSINESS ECONOMISTS
Povl Tiedemann
Head of Department
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