Brussels, 15/04/2009 (Agence Europe) - Following its most recent meeting in Prague (18-21 March), the European University Association (EUA) - an organisation representing more than 800 universities - published a declaration and possible solutions to protect the education sector from the effects of the economic crisis. This declaration contains a series of targeted messages to be presented at the new ministerial meeting of the 46 countries which participate in the Bologna process, taking place in Louvain-la-Neuve (Belgium) on 28-29 April. At this event, the EUA will also present the position of the universities on future developments that the Bologna process will undergo after 2010.
The EUA underlines “universities' role as a driving force for economic recovery in Europe” and emphasises that politicians must continue to invest massively in education and research as the US is doing. “Europe cannot afford to run the risk of losing a generation of talented people or a serious decrease in research or innovation activity,” the declaration underlines. European universities are urging governments to step up their efforts to reach the Barcelona objectives and reach the Barcelona targets of 3% (of GDP) investment in research and 2% (of GDP) investment in higher education, proposed by the European Commission. The Prague Declaration affirms that decidedly bold measures must be taken to create real opportunities and incentives for young researchers; to tap unused potential through the implementation and financing of lifelong learning across Europe; and to upgrade universities' facilities and campus infrastructure. The declaration lists ten key factors for achieving success for European universities: 1) widening opportunities for participation; 2) improving researcher careers; 3) providing relevant and innovative study programmes; 4) developing distinctive institutional research profiles; 5) shaping, reinforcing and implementing autonomy; 6) increasing and diversifying income; 7) enhancing quality and transparency; 8) promoting internationalisation; 9) increasing and improving the quality of mobility and 10) developing partnerships. In the next few months, each of these 10 issues will be the subject of a detailed proposal, and recommendations at the institutional, national and European levels will be made.
The universities are proposing four major objectives to keep in the firing line post-2010 as part of the approach to deepen the Bologna process: 1) reaffirm and consolidate the link between higher education and research in an effort to develop a hallmark of European higher education; 2) answer people's specific needs by proposing courses and study programmes that are flexible and responsive; 3) redefine public responsibility and the level of university autonomy; 4) develop cooperation between universities so they can provide appropriately for general challenges. The EUA considers that a structured dialogue between al the stakeholders will be more crucial than ever in the future as part of the attempt to outline a long term, reliable and appropriate strategy to respond to global challenges. (I.L./transl.rh)