Abstract
Our paper investigates the emergence, development and contested nature of quality assurance (QA) in the European policy arena as part and parcel of the Bologna Process. We conceptualise our paper on the background of the study of multi-level and multi-actor dynamics between national, inter-governmental and supranational policies; we discuss the changing ideational framing of QA in the European policy arena, and attempts at European norm-setting and standardisation. QA in the Bologna Process moved from a non-binding inter-governmental agreement towards monitored coordination and became embedded in the competitive turn in European higher education policy stressing an instrumental view of the university. QA policies unfold coercive pressure for convergence alongside soft templates and prototypes of 'best practice'. The impressive architecture of Bologna leaves, however, ample room for national and institutional design in policy implementation and a variety of preferences and interests of actors at different levels.
| Original language | English |
|---|---|
| Pages (from-to) | 167-176 |
| Journal | Policy and Society |
| Volume | 33 |
| Issue number | 3 |
| DOIs | |
| Publication status | Published - 1 Sep 2014 |
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Keywords
- Europe
- Ideational framing
- Norm-setting
- Policy arena
- Quality assurance
- Standardisation
Cite this
Quality assurance in the European policy arena. / Enders, Jurgen; Westerheijden, Don F.
In: Policy and Society, Vol. 33, No. 3, 01.09.2014, p. 167-176.Research output: Contribution to journal › Article
}
TY - JOUR
T1 - Quality assurance in the European policy arena
AU - Enders, Jurgen
AU - Westerheijden, Don F.
PY - 2014/9/1
Y1 - 2014/9/1
N2 - Our paper investigates the emergence, development and contested nature of quality assurance (QA) in the European policy arena as part and parcel of the Bologna Process. We conceptualise our paper on the background of the study of multi-level and multi-actor dynamics between national, inter-governmental and supranational policies; we discuss the changing ideational framing of QA in the European policy arena, and attempts at European norm-setting and standardisation. QA in the Bologna Process moved from a non-binding inter-governmental agreement towards monitored coordination and became embedded in the competitive turn in European higher education policy stressing an instrumental view of the university. QA policies unfold coercive pressure for convergence alongside soft templates and prototypes of 'best practice'. The impressive architecture of Bologna leaves, however, ample room for national and institutional design in policy implementation and a variety of preferences and interests of actors at different levels.
AB - Our paper investigates the emergence, development and contested nature of quality assurance (QA) in the European policy arena as part and parcel of the Bologna Process. We conceptualise our paper on the background of the study of multi-level and multi-actor dynamics between national, inter-governmental and supranational policies; we discuss the changing ideational framing of QA in the European policy arena, and attempts at European norm-setting and standardisation. QA in the Bologna Process moved from a non-binding inter-governmental agreement towards monitored coordination and became embedded in the competitive turn in European higher education policy stressing an instrumental view of the university. QA policies unfold coercive pressure for convergence alongside soft templates and prototypes of 'best practice'. The impressive architecture of Bologna leaves, however, ample room for national and institutional design in policy implementation and a variety of preferences and interests of actors at different levels.
KW - Europe
KW - Ideational framing
KW - Norm-setting
KW - Policy arena
KW - Quality assurance
KW - Standardisation
UR - http://www.scopus.com/inward/record.url?scp=84908494773&partnerID=8YFLogxK
UR - http://dx.doi.org/10.1016/j.polsoc.2014.09.004
U2 - 10.1016/j.polsoc.2014.09.004
DO - 10.1016/j.polsoc.2014.09.004
M3 - Article
VL - 33
SP - 167
EP - 176
JO - Policy and Society
JF - Policy and Society
SN - 1449-4035
IS - 3
ER -