Brussels, 05/11/2008 (Agence Europe) - The European University Association (EUA) has unveiled a 'European University Charter for Lifelong Learning' at its autumn conference in Rotterdam, the Netherlands, on 25 October 2008. Written after consulting some 800 universities and 34 conferences of university rectors that are members of the EUA, and a raft of organisations involved in higher education in Europe, upon request from the French prime minister, François Fillon, the charter aims to back universities in Europe in developing their special role as institutions for lifelong learning. Commenting that lifelong learning is for graduates who need to refresh their skills and workers who have not followed any higher education, the EUA President, Georg Winckler, added that after a decade of reforms of higher education under the Bologna Process, the European scene is ready to make lifelong learning part of a strategic development of universities in the future. The charter makes 10 pledges for universities: 1) incorporating broader access and lifelong learning in institutional strategies; 2) providing education and training for a diverse student population; 3) adapting study programmes to ensure they are designed in such a way as to increase involvement and attract mature students; 4) providing appropriate counselling and guidance services; 5) recognising skills and experience; 6) including lifelong learning in a quality approach; 7) boosting the link between research, teaching and innovation in the perspective of lifelong learning; 8) consolidating reforms in order to promote a flexible and creative learning environment for students; 9) developing local, regional, national and international partnerships to provide attractive, relevant programmes; and 10) serve as a model of lifelong learning. National governments are invited to commit to various principles to create a suitable environment for encouraging universities to make a greater contribution. Winckler said that he urged stakeholders to subscribe to the charter's commitments in order to make a major breakthrough in building a knowledge-based Europe. (I.L. trans fl)