The Implementation of the Bologna Processat the Universities of the German Federal Armed Forces

and its Consequences for Language Training as Part of Military Career Development

BILC Conference 2008Rainer Geers

Introduction

Nations Participating in the Bologna Process

I wonder what they have come up with this time!

...the year 2010 is coming closer...

1. “Adoption of a system of easily readable and comparable degrees“

2. “Adoption of a system essentially based on two cycles“ (undergraduate/graduate)

3. “Establishment of a system of credits“ (such as ECTS) 4. “Promotion of mobility“5. “Promotion of European co-operation in quality assurance“6. “Promotion of the European dimension in higher education“7. “Focus on lifelong learning“8. “Inclusion of higher education institutions and students“ 9. “Promotion of the attractiveness of the European Higher

Education Area“ (EHEA) 10. “Doctoral studies and the synergy between the EHEA and the

European Research Area“ (ERA).

“The Bologna Process Action Lines”

EU-ENGLISH

The Typical German Academic Career before the Bologna Process

After graduation from High School (Abitur) and entering university

• a (minimum) four year program• with two semesters per academic year • in at least two main subjects • leading to a „Diplom“, a „first state examination“ or an MA

get a job

two year practical training second state exam

Ph Dprogram

Changes in Germany´s Academia

• the undergraduate/ graduate cycle with

• fixed three year undergraduate program

• a new grading system called European Credit Transfer and Accumulation System (ECTS) and

• a new degree system (BA/ MA)

German Military Universities as Part of the Bologna Process

In addition to the standards set by the Bologna Process Action lines the Inspector General of the Bundeswehr has ordered that

• the standard university degree to be achieved by every officer candidate is the MA• BA and MA must be achieved in a combined program of four years

Consequences for the officer candidate language training:

As of 1 October 2007 students • should have SLP 3332 in English before attending university• must have SLP 3332 in English at the end of the 7th trimester; otherwise they will not be allowed to continue their studies with the MA program and stay in the BA program;• must have SLP 3332 in English before the end of the BA program, otherwise they will not be awarded any degree.

Optimizing the Language Training for Officer Candidates

The new situation has led to a series of activities such as attempts

• to identify the language skills of future officers already during the recruiting process

• to test officer candidates with a good knowledge of English at the beginning of their regular English training and send them to other language/military courses in order to reduce the number of English students per class

• to identify additional course time of up to four weeks for weak students

• to improve self-study materials for all students and

• to establish “last minute” crash courses during the first year at university for the remaining officer candidates who still have not reached SLP 3332 in English.

Quo vadis Bologna?

Tower of Bologna Babel Bologna?!?