Transferring the Bologna Process Ideas into National Higher Education Policy Practices: the Case of the Republic of Moldova

Abstract

The aim of present research was to conceptualize the way the European level political incentives are transferred to the national level and acquire their practical embodiment in domestic policy practices and developments. Policy transfer and policy network are the core concepts placed in the centre of the theoretical framework of the research. Through the prism of these concepts the major issue of the Bologna process ideas transfer to the level of national higher education policy formulation is explored. The object of the study is the higher education system of the Republic of Moldova. Moldova joined the Bologna Process in 2005. Key developments since then include: implementing the new two-cycle system in all higher education institutions from 2005-2006; introducing ECTS; drafting a new higher education law based on the concept of modernization; and approving a working plan for 2005-2010 to align the national higher education with Bologna principles. Policy transfer concept, operationalised into four variables, is applied to analyze the Bologna-related developments in the Republic of Moldova. The undertaken analysis has resulted in several basic findings. It has been concluded that the Bologna process ideas are predominately transferred to the state level by the internationally active higher education institutions of Moldova which, through the establishment of fruitful international collaboration with partner universities within the framework of the Tempus programme, essentially facilitate the incoming flow of European policies in the area of higher education.

Key words: Bologna process, policy transfer, policy network, the Republic of Moldova, higher education, Tempus programme