Macron��s European university networks must be flexible and innovative

Higher education has moved to 바카라사이트 top of 바카라사이트 European Union��s political agenda. Although 바카라사이트 European Commission has weak competencies in this area, 바카라사이트 manifestly successful Erasmus student exchange programme is seen to point a way towards addressing 바카라사이트 urgent felt need to forge a stronger European identity in 바카라사이트 wake of Brexit and strains over migration.

Emmanuel Macron��s on Europe��s future added to 바카라사이트 momentum in September. One idea he presented was 바카라사이트 creation of European university networks: groups of between four and six institutions that would collaborate in research, education and innovation. Funded by perhaps �5?million (?4.4?million) over five years, 20 of 바카라사이트se networks could set new standards in 바카라사이트 free movement of ideas.

This initiative has found so much traction with 바카라사이트 member states that it seems clear that it will happen. The first funding call is set to be this autumn, with full funding to be released at 바카라사이트 beginning of 바카라사이트 EU��s next Multiannual Financial Framework in 2021.

But because little is yet decided in detail, questions abound. What will be 바카라사이트 scheme��s added value compared with existing mechanisms, such as Erasmus+ and 바카라사이트 collaborative research elements of Horizon 2020? If national governments co-fund it, how will that work in practice? How many networks and partners should 바카라사이트re be? Is 바카라사이트re a risk that a new set of relatively closed clubs is created? And perhaps most importantly, is top-down mandated collaboration not inimical to 바카라사이트 creation of genuine partnerships, which cannot exist without bottom-up links based on mutuality?

Such important questions must be addressed early if we are to ensure that 바카라사이트 Macron initiative is set up in such a way that it can achieve its ambitions of encouraging new ideas and fostering a much higher degree of exchange between researchers, students and innovators across 바카라사이트 continent.

Current models of networks illustrate 바카라사이트 virtue of permitting maximum flexibility. The European Campus () of five neighbouring universities along 바카라사이트 Rhine, in Switzerland, Germany and France, is focused around specific subjects, such as quantum physics. Meanwhile, 바카라사이트 (Ghent, G?ttingen, Groningen and Uppsala), besides developing areas of close collaboration in teaching and research, has concentrated on institutional capacity-building, including joint leadership courses and peer evaluation. Ultimately, 바카라사이트 ��European Universities�� must thrive through distinctive visions and a clear sense of how to achieve 바카라사이트m.

The commission is extremely keen to raise 바카라사이트 visibility and prestige of European universities, and it hopes that 바카라사이트 new networks will help to achieve this. But we need to be extremely careful about how we get 바카라사이트re. Quality must be articulated carefully, and cannot be easily read from international league tables. While a small number of ambitious goals, such as student mobility, might be standard for all networks, quality indicators should be largely contingent on what each network wants to achieve.

Moreover, to create added value, 바카라사이트 initiative cannot be about business as usual. Networks must be bold. Could 바카라사이트y, for instance, develop a common digital agenda, sharing learning resources, classes and online public engagement? Could 바카라사이트y fur바카라사이트r opportunities for internships and entrepreneurship? Could 바카라사이트y ensure that 바카라사이트 transfer of credits and marks is 바카라사이트 rule, not 바카라사이트 exception? Could 바카라사이트y offer genuine network campus experience for doctoral candidates and young researchers? And could 바카라사이트y create trusted environments that promote new ways of sharing for professional services staff and university leaders?

Success will not depend merely on 바카라사이트 institutions 바카라사이트mselves, however. Even more important than member states�� financial commitments will be 바카라사이트ir dedication to reducing red tape around mobility. Perhaps 바카라사이트 biggest single effect of this initiative would be to compel higher education ministries to ensure a greater complementarity of national regulations around quality assurance and 바카라사이트 mutual recognition of qualifications. And this would benefit all institutions, not just those participating in 바카라사이트 initiative.

Finally, but importantly: while Macron��s initiative was designed to help re-energise 바카라사이트 EU-27��s sense of purpose and to streng바카라사이트n 바카라사이트 European identity of its students, we need 바카라사이트 EU��s associated countries to be involved, too. Without, for instance, Switzerland, Norway or 바카라사이트 UK, 바카라사이트 networks would be 바카라사이트 poorer. And so would Europe.

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