Higher Education Seminar Recommends Harmonised Examination System for Russia and Europe

Participants in the international 'Integrating the Russian university system into the European higher education system: problems and prospects' seminar held in St. Petersburg have produced a list of recommendations for the Russian Education Ministry. According to Rosbalt's correspondent, the recommendations include devoting particular attention to the exchange of information between countries in the educational sphere. The next step should be the creation of a harmonised examination system, which would be understood both in Russia and in Europe. In connection with this it was recommended that the Education Ministry develop a single standard for state diplomas. It was also proposed to carry out an experiment involving the participation of several Russian higher education institutions in the Europe-wide system.

Following on from the seminar, a decision was taken to set up a working group with the aim of integrating Russia into the Bologna Declaration. There are currently 30 states signed up to the Bologna agreement, and next year a further four are expected to join. 'Russia should give a clear indication of its intention to sign the Bologna agreement,' said the rector of St. Petersburg State University, Lyudmila Verbitskaya. 'Joining the Bologna process will allow Russia to integrate into Europe rather than being left on the side.' The Bologna Declaration was signed in 1999 by the education ministers of 29 European countries. It is intended to produce a single educational standard for all the participating countries and result in the mutual recognition of educational certificates.