Setting Up Associations in Flemish Higher Education

Abstract

The structural reform in Flanders, initiated shortly after the start of the new millennium, operationalised through the 2003 Decree on the structure of higher education (HE), revolves around closer cooperation (through the setting up of associations) between the two types of HE institutions in Flanders: universities and university colleges (hogescholen). That cooperation would serve another important goal, namely to upgrade two-cycle programmes (‘academisation’) offered at the hogescholen. As will be explained in more detail below, the position of these two-cycle programmes, next to one-cycle programmes at hogescholen and two-cycle programmes at universities was considered problematic and the Bologna Process was seen as a trigger that prompted policymakers to deal with this issue. The choice for Flanders as a case country needs to be seen in the context of nation state developments in Belgium. Both the Flemish and Walloon regions had their own ministries for compulsory education from 1981 on, but when Belgium became a federal state in 1988, also HE became a matter for the regional governments. This justifies a focus on the Flemish region with a self-contained HE system and its own policies and regulations. Since the federalisation, quality, autonomy and deregulation have been key topics on the Flemish HE policy agenda (Verhoeven, 2008, p. 45).