The impact of the Bologna process on higher education institutions in Malta : an overview of the targets achieved and future challenges

The aim of this working document is to assess the impact of the Bologna Process on Higher Education institutions in Malta by providing an overview of the targets and initiatives within the Higher Education sector. A number of indicators have been taken as points of reference of this research namely: the European Credit Transfer System, the Diploma Supplement, Quality Assurance, mobility of students and staff, research and innovation and industry’s opinion on the quality of our graduates. The results evidenced in this document are encouraging and challenging at the same time. This is one sector in which Malta is on track with other countries within the European Union. Of course this does not imply that we have achieved all targets set within the Bologna Process but the initiatives taken and the quality and standards of our learning institutions show that Malta has a solid Higher Education system in which learners are well prepared to meet the challenges of the labour market. If results achieved, particularly within the University of Malta, are encouraging, the same can be said of the Malta College of Arts, Science and Technology, the Institute of Tourism Studies and other public and private Higher Education Institutions that are aware of such challenges and are seriously working towards achieving higher standards of quality in their teaching and research sectors. Malta was one of the founding signatories of the Bologna Process. Malta has followed every Bologna Follow Up Group (BFUG) and Bologna Ministerial Meeting with keen interest. Timely and adequate actions have been taken to ensure that innovation and change match tradition and acquire standards through the experience gathered in this sector since the founding of our Alma Mater in 1592. The response from our Higher Education institutions has been encouraging even though a Bologna Culture is still in the making in some of our Higher Education Institutions. Seven Bologna Meetings have been organised during the past few months as part of the 2009-2011 Bologna ...