Professionalization in Universities and European Convergence

Vivas, AJ and Hevia, DMA (2009) Professionalization in Universities and European Convergence. Higher Education in Europe, 34 (3-4). pp. 399-409. ISSN 0379-7724

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Abstract

The constant assessment of the quality of higher education within the framework of European convergence is a challenge for all those universities that wish their degrees and diplomas to reflect a unified Europe. As is the case in any assessment, change and review process, the quest to improve quality implies measuring achievement of the objectives set, which in turn means defining the most relevant functions shared by universities. One of the many functions that a university fulfils in society is enabling university students to take up certain occupations. Thus, analyzing the employment pattern of a university’s graduates and identifying their competences becomes an indicator of the quality of the education provided by that university and, hence, one of the bases on which degrees are defined within the European Higher Education Area.