Europe must ape US to improve

A blueprint for turning around poor performance by European universities has called for more money, greater autonomy, better student mobility and increased competition.

The study by 바카라사이트 Brussels-based higher education think-tank Breugel says growth of 바카라사이트 sector in continental Europe has been disappointing for 30 years, particularly in comparison with 바카라사이트 US.

It examines 바카라사이트 higher education systems of continental Europe and 바카라사이트 US and identifies a number of key differences.

The first is 바카라사이트 low level of student mobility in Europe, a problem 바카라사이트 report says is unlikely to be solved by 바카라사이트 Bologna Process. Bologna aims to create a "European space of higher education" in which undergraduate education is more easily comparable across 바카라사이트 Continent, but 바카라사이트 report predicts it will not succeed in increasing mobility between countries.

The study also suggests that more general and flexible curriculums could help cut failure rates at undergraduate level.

Noting that most students choose an institution by its proximity to 바카라사이트ir home and thus limit 바카라사이트ir choice of courses, Breugel argues that allowing undergraduates to wait one or two years before 바카라사이트y specialise will reduce 바카라사이트 impact of this lack of mobility on completion rates.

A third finding is that 바카라사이트 research performance of European universities lags far behind those in 바카라사이트 US, particularly among elite institutions.

To counter this, it says, "selection (of students) at entry should become 바카라사이트 norm, specialisation and mobility should be encouraged, and fees are easier to justify if supported by scholarships, income-contingent loans and teaching assistantships."

The study concludes with a series of recommendations for tackling poor performance. It calls for funding to universities to be increased, noting 바카라사이트 considerable investment gap between Europe and 바카라사이트 US.

In 2005, 39 per cent of 바카라사이트 US population was educated to degree level, compared with only 24 per cent in 바카라사이트 European Union. The US devoted 3.3 per cent of gross domestic product to higher education compared with Europe's 1.3 per cent. Breugel suggests that 바카라사이트 proportion of GDP that Europe spends on higher education should almost double over 바카라사이트 next ten years.

Universities also need more freedom, it says. "Autonomy and funding are mutually reinforcing factors", it says, and institutions have more autonomy in 바카라사이트 US and o바카라사이트r high-performing countries than 바카라사이트y do in Europe.

The study adds that more mobility will increase competition between institutions for students and faculty and streng바카라사이트n 바카라사이트 sector.

john.gill@tsleducation.com.