Fundamental values
Overview
The Bologna Process was built on the premise of the shared fundamental values that form the backbone of the European higher education systems.
The European Higher Education Area (EHEA) fundamental values reflect a shared, deeply rooted vision and associated commitment that underpin the trust, cooperation, inclusion and democratic missions of higher education. They were affirmed through the Paris Ministerial Communiqués (2018) and then subsequently reaffirmed and defined in the Rome (2020) and Tirana (2024) Communiqués.
The fundamental values of the EHEA include:
- Academic freedom
- Academic integrity
- Institutional autonomy
- Student and staff participation in higher education governance
- Public responsibility for higher education
- Public responsibility of higher education
The fundamental values of the EHEA constitute a coherent whole and are interconnected. The agreement on a detailed definition and conceptualisation of these fundamental values at ministerial level, through the adoption of Statements defining fundamental values, represents a key and unique contribution of the EHEA.
Recent developments
At the ministerial conference in Paris in May 2018, ministers stressed the importance of fundamental values as central elements in the development of the EHEA. The communiqué stressed that fundamental values must be promoted and protected throughout the EHEA. This articulation reaffirmed EHEA as space defined on democratic, ethical and institutional principles that allow for meaningful participation, accountability and mutual trust.
The Rome Ministerial Communiqué (2020) highlighted the role of fundamental values in achieving quality learning, teaching and research, as well as for the societal role of higher education. As such, ministers committed to:
- support academic freedom and integrity by recognizing the right of academic staff and students to conduct their academic activities without undue interference or fear of reprisals;
- support institutional autonomy by enabling institutions to define and pursue their mission effectively within a framework of public accountability;
- encourage student and staff participation in governance by promoting democratic processes and shared decision-making in institutions;
- reaffirm public accountability to higher education as an integral part of ensuring equitable access and ethical standards.
In the Rome Communiqué, the ministers requested the BFUG to develop a framework for the improvement and assessment of the core values, including constructive dialogue, reflection and learning from each other’s practices in the EHEA.
At the Tirana Ministerial Conference (2024), the ministers adopted a Statement defining the fundamental values, reflecting years of work by the BFUG and consultations with stakeholders, and providing a common and conceptual understanding of the fundamental values. The Tirana Communiqué not only defines the values, but also the expectations regarding the implementation, monitoring and mutual reinforcement of these values in national systems and institutions.
The document adopted at the Tirana underlines that the core values of the EHEA form a coherent and interconnected whole, which cannot be understood or implemented in a piecemeal manner. Respect for one of these values is closely linked to the achievement of the others, and the weakening of one of the dimensions affects the balance of the entire value framework. In this context, the responsibility for promoting and protecting core values lies with all stakeholders, including public authorities, higher education institutions, students, academic and administrative staff and civil society. The document emphasizes the need for these values to be not only declared, but also effectively integrated into legislation, public policies, governance structures and institutional practices. It also emphasizes the importance of developing indicators and monitoring mechanisms that allow for the assessment of how fundamental values are respected and applied in practice, beyond formal or normative assumptions.
For the 2024-2027 cycle, the ministers asked the BFUG to conduct the first monitoring exercise of the framework of fundamental values, to be reported in time for the 2027 Iași-Chișinău Ministerial Conference.
