Brussels, 03/04/2012 (Agence Europe) - Cooperation and greater autonomy are key to the long-term viability of higher education, according to participants of the annual conference of the European University Association (EUA), hosted by the University of Warwick on 22-23 March.
The aim of the conference was to identify the elements which are most likely to ensure the sustainability of higher education in general, and of European universities in particular. Despite the many challenges facing the sector (budget cuts, increase of student body, improving the quality of education and the competitiveness of high-level research), opportunities exist to provide European universities with a tranquil future, if they choose the right formulae, the attendees stressed. For instance, increasing international cooperation, despite competition, but also the autonomy of the universities, to allow them to innovate and fully define their missions. The funding of universities remains a major problem, as many countries are currently cutting their expenditure on higher education, in some cases quite drastically. Although private sources of funding provide valuable subsidies, universities cannot do without public funds, which remain vital, the EUA stressed. Taking part in the conference, Anne Glover, Chief scientific adviser to the European Commission, urged European universities to weave closer links with the public, take greater care of their human capital and communicate the results of their research more clearly. (IL/transl.fl)