The Bologna Process, globalisation and engineering education developments
Multicultural Education & Technology Journal
ISSN: 1750-497X
Article publication date: 13 November 2009
Abstract
Purpose
The purpose of this paper is to report on the Bologna Process in the light of globalisation and examine how it affects curriculum and engineering education developments.
Design/methodology/approach
The growing need for creative competitiveness and the striving for specific profiles of engineering qualifications that are of high quality whilst taking account of diversity, transparency have resulted in the declaration of the Bologna Process. The qualifications framework proposed involving the cycle systems are examined taking account of globalization, quality assurance, management and diversity of needs. The future opportunities are explored taking account of global expectations.
Findings
The present research reveals that the Bologna Process provides a means through which higher education institutions (HEIs) can be encouraged to provide more attractive curricula for the younger generation for differing cultures whilst catering for the broad range of engineering fields where they could become more active later. The point is made that it serves to re‐invent engineering to meet the needs of the twenty‐first century.
Research limitations/implications
The present investigation focuses on the Bologna Process and its implications on engineering education in Europe. Future work hopes to extend this to other disciplines and to examine global effects in diverse cultures and also from gender, economic and development perspectives.
Practical implications
This paper could provoke HEIs outside Europe to evaluating their policies, revise strategies and moderate existing provisions, thereby assessing impact of the Bologna Process on engineering education in different countries and cultures.
Originality/value
Account is taken of the diversity and transparency which have resulted in the declaration of the Bologna Process. The paper discusses and reports on developments, prospects and challenges faced in the engineering curriculum provision following the introduction of the Bologna Process in the culturally diverse European higher education area. The new field of process systems engineering is also reported.
Keywords
Citation
Uhomoibhi, J.O. (2009), "The Bologna Process, globalisation and engineering education developments", Multicultural Education & Technology Journal, Vol. 3 No. 4, pp. 248-255. https://doi.org/10.1108/17504970911004255
Publisher
:Emerald Group Publishing Limited
Copyright © 2009, Emerald Group Publishing Limited