On Tuesday 24 June, the members of the European Parliament’s Committee on Culture and Education (CULT) adopted an own-initiative report by Laurence Farreng (Renew Europe, French) on a new vision for European Universities alliances (see EUROPE 13617/9).
These alliances help to develop academic excellence and promote the values of the European Union. The text was approved by 23 votes in favour, one against and two abstentions. All the compromise amendments, with the exception of amendment 132, were adopted.
Launched in 2019 as part of the Erasmus+ programme (2021-2027), only 20 European alliances were expected and now include 65 partnerships bringing together 570 higher education institutions.
However, their expansion did not benefit from a specific overall budget. The exponential growth in partnerships has prompted MEPs to call for more ambitious funding, combining European, national, regional, local and private resources.
The members of CULT are therefore calling on the European Commission to provide a “tailor-made solution for funding” the initiative in the next MFF starting in 2028.
The alliances are testing new approaches to higher education, experimenting with European learning pathways, micro-certifications, online and offline mobility and automatic recognition of qualifications.
According to MEPs, they also contribute to democratic resilience, academic freedom and institutional autonomy.
MEPs also welcome the six pilot projects on the European diploma, supported by 21 alliances, and believe that a common European framework for diplomas would provide real added value.
The elected representatives are also calling for more links between these University alliances and the world of business and research in order to contribute to the European Union’s strategic autonomy.
“On the eve of the presentation of the European budget” in July, Laurence Farreng stated ahead of the vote that this report was specifically intended to “draw attention to the issues of funding, sustainability and predictability for all the Alliances that have been set up”.
The draft report: https://aeur.eu/f/hjp
Compromise amendments: https://aeur.eu/f/hjq (Original version in French by Nithya Paquiry)