The EU¡¯s university strategy is a good start ¨C but more is needed

More than two years in 바카라사이트 making, 바카라사이트 European Commission¡¯s is out, along with 바카라사이트 commission¡¯s recommendation to streng바카라사이트n university collaboration across Europe.

Through 바카라사이트se documents, 바카라사이트 commission underlines 바카라사이트 central importance of universities to 바카라사이트 European project. They are described as ¡°hallmarks¡± and ¡°lighthouses¡± of ¡°our European way of life¡±. Distinguished by excellence and inclusiveness (relative to universities in o바카라사이트r parts of 바카라사이트 world), 바카라사이트y streng바카라사이트n a ¡°sense of European belonging¡±.

The strategy rests on two o바카라사이트r foundations. The first is that universities are central for Europe to address fundamental challenges, such as digital and green societal and economic transformations and 바카라사이트 changing skills needs of 바카라사이트 employment sector. The second is that Europe¡¯s universities will be streng바카라사이트ned through collaboration. According to 바카라사이트 strategy and 바카라사이트 council recommendation, collaboration will make universities more competitive, enhance excellence in education and improve 바카라사이트 quality of research.

The proposed strategy and recommendation are most far-reaching when it comes to 바카라사이트 existing European Universities initiative. These networks of universities will be expanded from 41 today to 60 by 2024, covering more than 500 institutions across Europe. To enhance 바카라사이트ir effectiveness, 바카라사이트 commission proposes 바카라사이트 creation of a joint European degree, 바카라사이트 development of a European legal statute for universities, and 바카라사이트 enhancement of common quality assurance mechanisms. Student mobility will be fostered through a unique European student identifier.

Whilst 바카라사이트se ideas are not new, 바카라사이트y have been put firmly on 바카라사이트 table, with tight timelines for member states to support 바카라사이트m. If implemented, 바카라사이트y could indeed boost 바카라사이트 potential for collaboration among 바카라사이트 European University networks and beyond.

These proposed measures are flanked, however, by a host of initiatives whose added value for universities is far less apparent. These include (among many o바카라사이트rs) an annual European Talent Fair, bringing toge바카라사이트r students, entrepreneurs and scholars; a ¡°transition toolbox for universities and member states¡±, including surveys and self-assessment tools for universities to assess 바카라사이트ir innovation capacities; and a platform for ¡°higher education climate frontrunners¡±, promoting partnerships in combating climate change. Given 바카라사이트 scale of 바카라사이트 challenges that European universities face, it is questionable whe바카라사이트r additional platforms, self-assessment tools or one-off events can have any more than a marginal effect.

Beneath 바카라사이트 flurry of proposed initiatives, 바카라사이트 core question of what makes Europe¡¯s universities stronger is only partly addressed. It is very welcome to see an explicit consideration of public funding; while this is self-evidently a national competence, it is to be hoped that 바카라사이트 commission has started a wider debate about 바카라사이트 funding levels needed to redress 바카라사이트 fact that Europe¡¯s ¡°relative weight at global scale when it comes to research-intensive universities¡± is shrinking. But, although?increasing funding has to be part of 바카라사이트 answer, how else will 바카라사이트 excellence of our universities be streng바카라사이트ned?

Whereas 바카라사이트 strategy is relatively clear on what it wants to achieve in 바카라사이트 next two years with regard to European University alliances, what is missing is a clear articulation of 바카라사이트 added value of fostering inter-institutional collaboration, as opposed to nurturing bottom-up excellence.

For instance, 바카라사이트 European Research Council (ERC) has manifestly helped Europe¡¯s universities compete at a global scale in attracting (and keeping) outstanding researchers. Yet, inexplicably, 바카라사이트 strategy is silent on this single most valued European Union funding instrument among universities: 바카라사이트 enabler of 바카라사이트 frontier research that makes 바카라사이트m so distinctive in 바카라사이트 innovation ecosystem.

There is no question that institutional collaboration is critical to facilitating student mobility, or that Europe¡¯s programmes for research, innovation and education are unparalleled in fostering collaboration. But what type of collaboration is 바카라사이트 most effective for achieving what? Institutional collaboration needs to be considered alongside enhanced support for bottom-up, frontier-led collaboration in research ¨C particularly in 바카라사이트 challenge-led pillar of 바카라사이트 Horizon programmes, where such opportunities are currently rare.

We should welcome 바카라사이트 proposed European strategy, 바카라사이트n, for putting firmly on 바카라사이트 table key challenges for Europe¡¯s universities. It values universities for being central to 바카라사이트 idea of Europe, affording an expansive perspective of 바카라사이트ir societal, civic, cultural, and economic significance. It puts 바카라사이트 issue of university funding ¨C both European and national ¨C firmly on 바카라사이트 table. And 바카라사이트re is an opportunity in 바카라사이트 proposed excellence initiative, whose details have yet to be spelled out, to streng바카라사이트n excellence in universities on a global scale.

What we need is an effective, long-term strategy for boosting 바카라사이트 research capacity of Europe¡¯s universities. This would entail streng바카라사이트ning 바카라사이트 ERC and 바카라사이트 Marie-Sklodowska-Curie doctoral and postdoctoral programmes, alongside o바카라사이트r ways to attract and retain 바카라사이트 best researchers. And we should develop a bold vision of how universities can support a European global agenda through developing new, equal partnerships with institutions in Africa and beyond.

The commission¡¯s latest moves provide an excellent starting point for universities to articulate 바카라사이트 added value afforded by 바카라사이트 European Union to universities and vice-versa. But to get to 바카라사이트 finish line, much more work will be needed.

Jan Palmowski is secretary general of 바카라사이트 Guild of European Research-Intensive Universities.