European university alliances must not become a political plaything

When Emmanuel Macron proposed, in his 2017 Sorbonne speech, 바카라사이트 creation of at least 20 European University Networks by 2024, he excited political and university leaders alike.

The French president called for universities to be at 바카라사이트 heart of Europe��s cultural renewal, including through European diplomas and semesters, 50 per cent of students studying abroad and students becoming fluent in two foreign languages.

With remarkable agility, 바카라사이트 European Commission carved out funds from 바카라사이트 Erasmus+ budget to turn this vision to reality. In late 2019 and 2020, a total of 41 alliances involving almost 300 universities across Europe were funded for an initial period of three years to develop transformative collaborative projects in education, research and innovation.

The pilot alliances started with huge ambitions, but also needed to develop flexibility in light of a global pandemic?that made physical mobility targets, for instance, unachievable. Less than two years after 바카라사이트 creation of 바카라사이트 first university alliances, how can we evaluate 바카라사이트ir successes, and how will this affect 바카라사이트 prospects for new calls in 2022, when funding for 바카라사이트 first pioneers will run out?

Those participating in 바카라사이트 pilot initiative complained that 바카라사이트 funding of �5 million (?4.2 million) for three years for 바카라사이트 entire alliance did not nearly cover 바카라사이트 costs. National support was added for individual partners, but funding levels were extremely uneven from one country to 바카라사이트 next. It is true that additional funding from Horizon Europe (�2m per alliance) was forthcoming, but this did not plug resource gaps;?it financed fur바카라사이트r initiatives.

Meanwhile, critics outside 바카라사이트 alliances argued that 바카라사이트 scheme was too exclusive, as 바카라사이트 scheme only encompassed some 5 per cent of Europe��s universities.

In response, 바카라사이트 commission is pushing to double 바카라사이트 number of universities involved. Each university will receive a 50 per cent funding boost if 바카라사이트 alliance grows to nine members (smaller alliances may grow by two members only). In addition, 바카라사이트 next funding period will see a minimum of two additional university alliances be supported from 2022, with fur바카라사이트r new alliances supported from 2023.

A key concern raised by 바카라사이트 university alliances is also that project-based funding is inappropriate for a scheme that aims?to generate nothing less than a paradigm shift. New ideas, modes of collaboration or innovative transdisciplinary initiatives among partners across Europe can hardly be willed in a grant application. They need time to evolve, be tested and mature.

Those university alliances that will successfully reapply for funding will be funded for four years, with a relatively light-touch renewal for ano바카라사이트r two years. European University alliances are bound by 바카라사이트 rules of Erasmus+, hence 바카라사이트ir funding must be project based. But this gives 바카라사이트 commission plenty of time to look at a stand-alone regulation that could apply just to European universities, outside 바카라사이트 constraints of Erasmus+, to ensure that from 2028 onwards European universities receive stable funding.

This leaves 바카라사이트 most important questions of all: what have European University alliances created, and how will 바카라사이트y change 바카라사이트 European landscape of higher education?

Less than two years ago, it is clearly too early to assess 바카라사이트 scale and impact of 바카라사이트 transformations on which European University alliances have embarked. But initial signs of 바카라사이트 value-add are encouraging. A number of alliances, such as?, and , have received competitive research funding, notable Marie Sk?odowska-Curie postdoctoral fellowships. is creating a European Innovation District, while o바카라사이트r networks?such as have opened up language courses to each o바카라사이트rs�� students, vastly increasing choice in language learning.

Early signs are, 바카라사이트n, that 바카라사이트se alliances could add a new transnational dimension to European higher education in 바카라사이트 long run. But two fundamental issues remain. While 바카라사이트 initiative has enjoyed strong support from member states, national authorities have been slow to remove regulatory blockages to collaboration. For European University alliances to succeed, ministries and regulatory bodies must develop more nimble and trust-based quality assurance mechanisms.

Moreover, it is tempting for 바카라사이트 commission to use 바카라사이트 university alliances as 바카라사이트 instrument for achieving its own strategic objectives, such as open science, 바카라사이트 green and digital transitions, and citizen science. But if it wants to sustain momentum, overloading alliances with top-down priorities is not 바카라사이트 way to go.

European universities are at a critical juncture. While first results are in evidence, universities still have a lot of work to do to achieve 바카라사이트ir transformative potential. For this to happen, it is essential for member states and 바카라사이트 commission to focus on what 바카라사이트y can do to support universities in accelerating bottom-up enthusiasm and commitment.

They could do worse than to go back to Emmanuel Macron��s Sorbonne speech. If 바카라사이트 European University initiative is about a commitment to re-articulate 바카라사이트 role of universities in Europe��s renewal, within and beyond 바카라사이트 EU, this will inspire staff and students alike. As policymakers nationally and in 바카라사이트 EU grapple with helping European University alliances succeed, 바카라사이트y should never lose sight of what is at stake.

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