Integration into the European Higher Education Area is beginning to be less a project and, little by little, more a reality. The steps we have already taken must be followed by new and decisive ones, with the conviction that the path we are taking will inspire and lead us into the future.

This path must be meaningful in and of itself, and should be used to learn new teaching approaches and to establish new and stronger links between the University and society. It is a path that will make us stronger and more sure of ourselves in Europe, a path we must enjoy without forcing the pace: we should follow it in a sustainable way, without the brusqueness of those who want everything at once or the discouragement of those who become sceptical in the face of challenges.

From the Rectorate we will support these initiatives as much as we can, in a coherent and sustained way, combining our efforts in a single direction.

Anna M. Geli de Ciurana
Rectora


At present, the university community, and especially the university teaching community, is sufficiently aware of what the European Higher Education Area (EHEA) represents of the closer relationship between the academic and professional worlds it proposes, of the transparency of the educational systems it advocates, of the system of credits it shares, and of its shift from an emphasis on teaching to an emphasis on learning.

At the University of Girona we have begun working to adapt to the European Higher Education Area, and now we must take stock of the actions we are taking, of the changes and improvements they imply and of what they offer us.

Reflections by the Monitoring Committee, which maintains a finger on the pulse of the pilot plan, and by the working groups within it will keep us informed of their experience. That should help us better understand the process of general adaptation to the EHEA, which we will begin soon. A first challenge awaits us: establishing new post graduate studies for next year.

The computer application used to design the subjects is available to everyone. Many users recognise its value, including universities of Catalonia and from all over Spain. That value lies in how easy it is for teachers to plan within the parameters of the Bologna Declaration. We should all start using this tool very soon, and take full advantage of it to emphasise student learning and to force ourselves to think of new proposals for learning activities.

From the Office of the Vice-Rector for Teaching and Academic Policy we recommend this programme to the entire teaching staff and hope that an understanding of it will make it easy to use and will improve it in as many ways as practice with it demonstrates a need for change.

Regarding the most important EHEA adaptation topics, we will make every effort and provide all available resources to explore them in the most satisfactory way: among more general aspects we will work to improve quality, accreditation, internationalisation and the cross-disciplinary nature of the studies; internally we will commit ourselves to tutoring, providing continuous evaluation, keeping students informed and seeking their involvement. We take on this commitment with a reforming but optimistic spirit, with a holistic view that provides coherence to our actions, and encouraged to cooperate with and provide necessary support to all the persons and units of our university involved in teaching.

M. Lluïsa Pérez Cabaní
Vice-Rector for Teaching and Academic Policy