Leading article: European lesson

The Bologna Accord, signed in 1999 to establish a European higher education area by 2010, frightens many higher education experts in Britain (see page 8). But it is commendable that we are finally waking up to the consequences of a single system of degrees that will be comparable through an agreed framework and credit mechanism. If this forces us to take a hard look at our lucrative one-year Masters programme, well and good. Maybe our continental colleagues are right that we don't give students enough content in that degree - and that therefore they don't get value for money.