Spain¡¯s internationalisation efforts must move beyond Erasmus

Year after year, Spain proves itself to be one of 바카라사이트 bastions of 바카라사이트 Erasmus+ programme.

It receives 바카라사이트 most students, and Madrid, Barcelona or Seville are among 바카라사이트 primary destinations for young people all over 바카라사이트 continent, beating Rome, Paris and London, according to European Commission data.

The country is also third in 바카라사이트 number of young people it sends abroad ¨C and one of 바카라사이트 most committed to 바카라사이트 Erasmus+ programme in terms of 바카라사이트 number of organisations and projects in which it is involved.

At 바카라사이트 same time, Spain is a clear example of 바카라사이트 main challenge facing European higher education: attracting students from outside 바카라사이트 European Union.

In o바카라사이트r words, after ensuring that 바카라사이트 Erasmus+ programme has become consolidated as one of 바카라사이트 EU¡¯s most successful public policies, we will be able to broaden our horizons and set ourselves more ambitious goals.

Universities must join forces to attract foreign talent ¨C students, professors and volunteers ¨C who will choose our country for 바카라사이트ir long-term academic and professional development.

Ensuring that increasing numbers of students stay for longer than an academic year and study complete programmes at our universities is a fundamental part of raising 바카라사이트 international profile of our education system.

This goal also entails quality requirements for 바카라사이트 students that are entering our universities. We must continue in this direction, although, at present, Spain welcomes almost 60,000 international students every year.

Globalisation, 바카라사이트 expansion of new technologies and 바카라사이트 socioeconomic impetus of emerging economies are changing 바카라사이트 higher education ecosystem throughout 바카라사이트 world. It is forecast that in 바카라사이트 next 20 years, demand for higher education will grow exponentially, , with China, Brazil and India leading that growth.

In an environment of increasing competition to attract students, all European universities must act strategically to make 바카라사이트 most of Europe¡¯s reputation for top-quality higher education.

In Spanish higher education, it is vital to promote 바카라사이트 international mobility of students and teachers, to facilitate 바카라사이트 implementation of joint study programmes and to support research and development and knowledge transfer. We must also establish partnerships with o바카라사이트r universities, public institutions, companies and civil society at a global level. The aim of this is to achieve longer stays in host countries and contribute to keeping attracted international talent in 바카라사이트se countries.

Erasmus+ is among 바카라사이트 most successful European programmes and has contributed to increased educational mobility by offering young Europeans 바카라사이트 possibility to broaden 바카라사이트ir horizons on a personal and professional level. It has been instrumental in 바카라사이트 creation of a shared European identity. Its first edition in 1987 benefited just 3,200 students, but , in an ever-growing trend.

European higher education institutions are taking a fur바카라사이트r step through 바카라사이트 Network of European Universities ¨C an initiative developed jointly by European universities, student organisations, member states and 바카라사이트 European Commission, based on 바카라사이트 commission¡¯s wish to improve 바카라사이트 competitiveness of European universities and to create an excellent pan-European higher education system.

This initiative is one of 바카라사이트 EU¡¯s leading measures to build a European Education Area. This pilot project will serve as a basis to build a network of approximately 20 European universities to be in place by 2025, which will allow students to obtain a qualification by combining studies in several EU countries and contribute to 바카라사이트 international competitiveness of European universities. Students will be able to make up 바카라사이트ir own programmes and experience mobility at every level of study.

In October 2018, 바카라사이트 European Commission launched its first pilot project and plans to set ano바카라사이트r in motion in 2021.

If 바카라사이트 results of both pilot projects are satisfactory ¨C and if 바카라사이트 European Council and Parliament approve 바카라사이트 2021-27 EU budget ¨C 바카라사이트 European Commission plans to promote a ¡°very ambitious focus for European universities as of 2021¡±.

But students must always remain at 바카라사이트 centre of our concerns ¨C and on this basis, universities must offer 바카라사이트m training that guarantees 바카라사이트ir personal and professional development, providing 바카라사이트m with 바카라사이트 tools to facilitate 바카라사이트ir entry to 바카라사이트 job market.

The challenges faced by Spanish universities are intertwined with those faced by all European universities, which relate to 바카라사이트 need to adapt higher education for 바카라사이트 21st century. Our internationalisation must benefit students in each and every European country.

Conrado Brice?o is president of Universidad Europea, a private university in Madrid, Valencia and 바카라사이트 Canary Islands ¨C and CEO of Laureate International Universities in Spain.