The NewFAV 1 project supported the implementation of Bologna Process commitments outlined in the Rome Communiqué (2020). It contributed directly to the Bologna Follow-up Group (BFUG) Working Group on Fundamental Values by developing tools to monitor and assess the European Higher Education Area's (EHEA) fundamental values:
- Academic freedom
- Academic integrity
- Institutional autonomy
- Participation of students and staff in higher education governance
- Public responsibility for higher education
- Public responsibility of higher education
Key Activities and Outcomes
- Mapped existing international indicators through desk research, expert interviews, and case studies.
- Assessed the relevance and limitations of these indicators for EHEA-wide application via dedicated task forces.
- Organized five peer-learning activities across Europe (in Malta, Germany, Romania, Norway, and Belgium) to foster policy dialogue and knowledge exchange.
- Developed a technical policy framework of indicators, refined through stakeholder consultations and validation by an Advisory Board linked to the BFUG Working Group.
- Piloted the framework and monitoring tool in four European countries (April–May 2024) to evaluate feasibility and refine methodologies.
- Produced key deliverables, including the final publication "Technical Framework to Monitor and Assess Fundamental Values" (available online and in print), piloting reports, and supporting materials.
Limits
Mapped existing international indicators through desk research, expert interviews, and case studies. The project provided technical support to the BFUG WG on Fundamental Values. Its framework informed ongoing EHEA monitoring efforts, with work continuing through a successor project NewFAV2 (2024–2027) which aims to implement and expand the monitoring across the EHEA as well as promote the common understanding regarding the EHEA Fundamental Values.