Aspired convergence and preserved the diversity: the contradictions of the Bologna Process (review of the article by Johanna Witte)

The article written by Johanna Witte from Bavarian State Institute for Higher Education Research and Planning (Germany) addresses the concept of convergence within the Bologna process. The author examines this concept analytically and assesses empirically the degree of convergence achieved by the higher education systems of Germany, the Netherlands, France and Great Britain from 1998 to 2004. Johanna Witte admits that the degree of the achieved convergence is low. She also writes that the following tendency can be identified: “the German, Dutch and French higher education systems — albeit weakly — all moved in the direction of the English system”; and this movement is more pronounced in Germany than in the Netherlands and France. Despite of such a weak convergence, European countries will continue to support the Bologna process politically, as they made up their mind to unite. It’s worth noting here that the process of uniting is not easy, and it is no wonder because uniting is being achieved only through political consensus and voluntary reforms. It means that it won’t be achieved quickly. Johanna Witte considers that the Bologna process has its own advantages in spite of weak convergence. And, in her opinion, it’s necessary to begin a second round of reforms targeted more clearly at convergence.