Progress made since the Ministers’ Meeting in Bergen

The following progress was made in legislation related to Hungarian higher education towards the implementation of the Bologna Process:

- In November 2005 Parliament passed the Higher Education Act (Higher Education Act of 2005) which came into effect on March 1, 2006 with the following key objectives:

- to provide practicable and up-to-date skills and knowledge by launching the multi-cycle course structure with the effect of September 1, 2006 in the entire system,

- to create an environment for the operation of the institutional system to assist co-operation and participation in the integration of Hungarian higher education into the European Higher Education Area, as well as to create the conditions for student-teacher mobility,

- to implement a governance, management and financial system for the institutions adapted to the changed domestic and international environment,

- to promote the involvement of private funds, foster the right of higher education institutions to selfgovernment, property, independent financial management and business activities, to create the conditions for the above,

- to grant financial contribution from students starting their studies in September 2007.

In its ‘ Uj Magyarorszag’ Program /’New Hungary’ / for the period of 2006–2010, as part of the plans to create a competitive and high-standard higher education, the Government declared the implementation of the required reforms launched by the ‘ Magyar Universitas Program’ / ’Hungarian Universitas Program’/.

_ The Higher Education Act defined the new course structure. With the effect of September 1, 2006 the former structure, having separated the university and college levels was replaced – in an integrated form – by the successive cycles of Bachelor and Master, where passing the various stages ensure the qualifications required for employment. Higher-level vocational training granting a qualification after the secondary school leaving certificate, the unified, undivided courses still provided under 17 programs, and the postgraduate specialist training course that may be taken

after obtaining a first degree constitute integral parts of the new structure. The education of new generation of researchers closely linked to the Higher Education and Research Areas is the responsibility of the third cycle with doctoral schools in higher education institutions accredited to provide such programmes.

The credit system aligned to the European Credit Transfer System and designed to evaluate the workload and performance of the students has been in place in all higher education institutions since 2003; the workload of a student progressing at average rate is 30 credits for each term.

_ Executive powers have been separated in respect of the operation of higher education institutions.

The powers of the minister of education and culture extend only to issuing and enforcing legal regulations. The maintainer of the higher education institution and the institutions itself adopt their decisions in compliance with the Government and ministerial decrees and the internal regulations.

As a part of the new sectoral governance pattern, new organisational tasks have been introduced, such as defining the quality assurance policy, the operation of the higher education information system, a carrier tracking system for graduates, the operation of the Hungarian Equivalence and Information Centre, the office of the ombudsman for education rights and exercising statutory supervisory powers.

_ In line with the new legal condition for students, new regulations were implemented regarding admission to higher education: as regards first degree programmes and unified, undivided training (and from 2008 even in higher-level vocational training) admission is based on the study results of a the uniform secondary school-leaving exam, on student choice, and a ranking of results while in respect of master courses, postgraduate specialist training courses and doctoral studies conditions for admission are set by the institutions.

_ Students may participate in state-funded education for 12 terms, subject to their adequate performance (doctoral studies are not included in he calculation). From September 1, 2006 in order to promote the mobility of students, student loans are also available for studies abroad.

_ The Higher Education Act and the implementing regulations thereof ensure the enforcement of equal treatment, the proportionate participation of women, the support of the disadvantaged and consideration of the capabilities of the disabled.

The protection and enhancement of the quality of education is ensured by the adequate institutional and legislative background for the provision of differentiated training, activities in special colleges for the gifted and other forms of support for highly gifted students.

 

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