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European Policy Implementation and Higher Education pp 199–231Cite as

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Bologna Implementation and Its Objectives: Final Analysis in a Comparative Perspective

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Part of the book series: Issues in Higher Education ((IHIGHER))

Abstract

This chapter brings together the insights gained after analysing the Bologna Process against a complex background of European policies and after looking into the effects of the Bologna Process on Portuguese higher education. How far has higher education in Portugal moved towards the political ambitions entertained at the European level regarding employability, mobility and attractiveness of European higher education? Portugal is used here as a conjunctural diagnostic instrument. The study’s most important findings are compared with literature about other European countries to determine how far the Portuguese experience mirrors issues elsewhere. We argue that policy success is not only dependent on political will or institutional endeavour, but the socioeconomic context plays a considerable role, either facilitating or hindering the pursuit of reforms. If we ignore it, we run the risk of misinterpreting the outcomes of policy and the reasons behind it, as well as misplacing the blame for underachievement.

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  1. CIPES, Matosinhos, Portugal

    Cristina Sin, Amélia Veiga & Alberto Amaral

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Sin, C., Veiga, A., Amaral, A. (2016). Bologna Implementation and Its Objectives: Final Analysis in a Comparative Perspective. In: European Policy Implementation and Higher Education. Issues in Higher Education. Palgrave Macmillan, London. https://doi.org/10.1057/978-1-137-50462-3_10

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