Brussels, 10/05/2006 (Agence Europe) - On 10 May, the European Commission presented a communication outlining its ideas on the best ways of fully exploiting the enormous potential of European universities and to overcome the obstacles which hamper synergy between the various establishments. The Commission is thus responding to a request formulated by the Heads of State and Government of the EU, at the Hampton Court Summit, which was held in October 2005 (see EUROPE 9059). The informal European Council had called for the definition of fields of action within the university sector which could move forward the Lisbon agenda. Modernisation is the keyword in the communication, which suggests an in-depth, immediate and coordinated restructuring, to include management and all factors governing universities. All spheres of activity have been targeted: teaching, research and their potential role as a driving force behind innovation.
"There are 4000 universities in Europe, with 7 million students, 1.5 million teachers and 1.5 million researchers, which represents an enormous potential. At the same time, universities are key actors in the future of Europe in its transition towards a society and an economy which are based on knowledge", Jan Figel, the Commissioner whose responsibilities include education, told the press. He went on to lament the fact that "higher education within Europe remains hindered by various obstacles, some of which are many decades old". The Commissioner went on to explain that the object of the communication is not to end up with a series of legislative proposals but, on the contrary, to simplify the administrative procedures and red tape which are blocking the harmonious development of universities. The Commissioner with responsibility for science and research, Janez Potocnik, added: "like many other spheres of society and the economy, universities must adapt to the requirements of a globalised economy based on knowledge. The ideas which we are putting forward today should help kick off a debate within the Member States and the universities".
The Commission has highlighted nine areas in which changes should be brought in to allow each establishment to find the best possible balance between teaching, research and innovation, which should also be tailored to fit the university's role in its region or country, in a procedure which must, by definition, be differentiated. The objective is to offer universities a framework allowing them, in the time of globalisation, to reinforce their weight in a knowledge-based society and economy, the ultimate objective being for universities to attain a level of excellency in their teaching and research activities.
Amongst other things, the Commission is proposing to: - increase the proportion of graduates who have spent at least one semester abroad or working in industry; -give all students who would like to study or carry out research within the EU access to bursaries or national loans; - bring the procedures for the recognition of university qualifications into line with those applicable to vocational qualifications and help to facilitate the recognition of European degrees outside the EU; - include training in the field of intellectual property management, communication, network connections, entrepreneurship and team-work in the researchers' careers; - give teaching a new outlook, facilitating greater involvement in the next stages of the life cycle, taking account of labour requirements in Europe and ensuring the universities are able to adapt to the ageing population; - changing the national systems for tuition for registration fees and student aid at universities, to ensure that the very best are able to continue their higher studies and become researchers, irrespective of their background; - set up new university funding systems which focus more on results and giving the establishments themselves greater responsibility with regard to their long-term financial viability, particularly in the field of research; - extend the autonomy and responsibility of the universities, so that they are able to respond to change quickly (new courses adapted to recent developments, tightening up interdisciplinary links, procedures which focus more on important areas of research). The Commission has pledged to support the modernisation of universities, with an inventory process, exercises to share best practice and programmes to fund education, research and innovation (life-long education and training programme, seventh framework programme of research and development, programme for competitiveness and innovation and actions under the structural funds and cohesion funds).