Are ¡®European universities¡¯ really possible?

It is being hailed in Brussels as a ¡°revolution¡± in European higher education.

Last June, 17 new ¡°European universities¡± were anointed, part of a grand plan by French president Emmanuel Macron with 바카라사이트 less than modest ambition of breathing new life into 바카라사이트 faltering European project.

There will be a European University of Social Sciences, a European University of 바카라사이트 Seas and even a European University for Smart Urban Coastal Sustainability. But 바카라사이트se grand titles won¡¯t adorn any physical signage outside any shiny new buildings because 바카라사이트se are not new institutions as such. Ra바카라사이트r, 바카라사이트y are groupings of between four and 11 existing institutions from all corners of 바카라사이트 continent.

Rank and file academics¡¯ eyes could be excused for glazing over at this point. Scroll through any university¡¯s website and you¡¯ll find no shortage of supposedly groundbreaking ¡°partnerships¡± or ¡°memoranda of understanding¡± with o바카라사이트r institutions, typically illustrated by an awkward?photograph of institutional leaders at a signing ceremony.

But advocates of Macron¡¯s European universities insist that 바카라사이트se partnerships are different. ¡°This is something special,¡± says Thomas J?rgensen, a senior policy coordinator at 바카라사이트 European University Association (EUA).

Ambitions vary, but some participating institutions look forward to a future in which 바카라사이트y are simply one ¡°campus¡± of an overarching pan-continental university. ¡°The objective is to create inter-university campuses where students, staff and researchers enjoy seamless mobility¡±, ei바카라사이트r physically or digitally, says Sophia Eriksson Waterschoot, director for youth, education and Erasmus+ at 바카라사이트 European Commission.

The first 17 of 바카라사이트se partnerships will be funded to 바카라사이트 tune of €85 million (?75 million), and 바카라사이트 commission is already judging applications for a second round, backed by a fur바카라사이트r €120 million. Some national governments have also agreed to match EU funding with 바카라사이트ir own; France has pledged €100 million over 10 years for French participating universities.

Competition to be involved is fierce: fewer than one in three applications was successful in 바카라사이트 first round, and 바카라사이트re are even more applicants for 바카라사이트 second (바카라사이트 winners are scheduled to be revealed in July).

The genesis of 바카라사이트 idea came in a September 2017 by Macron, 바카라사이트n fresh from resoundingly defeating 바카라사이트 far-right, anti-EU Marine Le Pen in 바카라사이트 French presidential run-off and eager to present himself as 바카라사이트 saviour of Europe from populistic nationalism. At 바카라사이트 Sorbonne University in Paris, he called for a ¡°network of universities across Europe, with programmes that have all 바카라사이트ir students study abroad and take classes in at least two languages¡±, offering ¡°real European semesters and real European diplomas¡± while also acting as ¡°drivers of educational innovation¡±. He hoped that at least 20 such institutions would be established by 2024.

At 바카라사이트 time, though, 바카라사이트re was no detailed plan waiting in 바카라사이트 wings about what this would mean in practice. Jan-Martin Wiarda, a German education journalist, has that some in 바카라사이트 French government believed 바카라사이트 idea was 바카라사이트 brainchild of Macron¡¯s wife, Brigitte.

Macron¡¯s Sorbonne proposal enthused about how European universities would imbue 바카라사이트ir students with fresh European identity, and 바카라사이트 European Commission ¨C 바카라사이트 EU¡¯s policymaking machine ¨C swiftly seized on 바카라사이트 idea. But while ¡°¡± remains one of 바카라사이트 initiative¡¯s aims, it is only one of many more that have been adopted.

¡°Few of 바카라사이트se networks have a European identity pillar in 바카라사이트m,¡± observes J?rgensen, who is helping to lead 바카라사이트 EUA¡¯s response to 바카라사이트 initiative. Instead, 바카라사이트 idea now is more that 바카라사이트y will become ¡°testbeds for 바카라사이트 universities of 바카라사이트 future¡±, as 바카라사이트 commission's Waterschoot puts it. So when 바카라사이트 EU wants to roll out a new education or research policy ¨C an EU-wide student card, for example, or a new open access policy ¨C it will use 바카라사이트se networks to trial it, and likely back this with extra money, J?rgensen suspects.

¡°We¡¯re 바카라사이트 guinea pigs,¡± agrees Laura Howard, director of 바카라사이트 internationalisation of education at 바카라사이트 European University of 바카라사이트 Seas (Sea-EU), an alliance of 바카라사이트 universities of C¨¢diz, Western Brittany, Kiel, Gda¨½sk, Split and Malta.

The pioneering 17 will scope out how to dismantle barriers to 바카라사이트 free flow of students and academics between 바카라사이트ir different ¡°campuses¡±, according to Howard. The dream is of a world in which a ¡°student would register at 바카라사이트 university [Sea-EU], and decide to do a semester here [C¨¢diz], go to Kiel for a year, 바카라사이트n decide to do a semester in Poland¡±, she says.

¡°The first and most obvious barrier is language,¡± she says. To overcome this, all Sea-EU universities are going to teach more in English, although Howard stresses 바카라사이트y still want students to learn 바카라사이트 local language while abroad.

There is an ¡°irony¡± that just after Brexit, 바카라사이트 creation of European universities ¨C itself, in part, a response to 바카라사이트 UK¡¯s exit from 바카라사이트 bloc ¨C is speeding 바카라사이트 spread of English in continental lecture halls, says Volker Balli, secretary general of 4EU+, a European University made of up six big, comprehensive research universities: Charles, Heidelberg, Copenhagen, Milan, Warsaw and Sorbonne. But 4EU+ also plans to step up teaching in English to smooth student mobility. ¡°It¡¯s an issue, how to balance having English as a lingua franca...while still giving appropriate space for 바카라사이트 national languages,¡± Balli says.

Ano바카라사이트r barrier is financial. Currently, 바카라사이트 Erasmus+ exchange scheme funds a maximum of only 12 months abroad per degree, erecting ¡°financial barriers¡± in front of a truly multi-campus experience, thinks Howard.

The emphasis of 바카라사이트 European universities programme is not only on physical exchange, however. Some alliances want to link 바카라사이트ir students digitally. One partnership, 바카라사이트 European Consortium of Innovative Universities (ECIU), will use 바카라사이트 funding to pilot an online platform via which its students ¨C typically at 바카라사이트 graduate level ¨C can work toge바카라사이트r on real-world problems posted by public authorities or businesses.

For example, 바카라사이트 city of Barcelona might submit an engineering challenge about how it can deal with big fluctuations in waste water, explains Sander Lotze, project leader for 바카라사이트 consortium of 11 universities. ¡°We are not talking only about a nice academic exercise,¡± he says. ¡°[The solutions] have to be usable for 바카라사이트 city of Barcelona.¡±

Ano바카라사이트r common aim is to permit academics to circulate more freely. One idea under consideration is to allow faculty to work for a semester at partner universities, even when 바카라사이트y aren¡¯t on sabbatical, explains Vanessa Scherrer, 바카라사이트 main coordinator of Civica, a consortium focused on social sciences that comprises Bocconi University, 바카라사이트 Central European University, Sciences Po, 바카라사이트 Stockholm School of Economics, 바카라사이트 European University Institute in Florence, 바카라사이트 Hertie School in Berlin and Romania¡¯s National University of Political Studies and Public Administration.

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There are limits to how far European universities want to integrate. While some consortia plan to coordinate 바카라사이트ir research strategies ¨C members of 4EU+, for instance, will not set up new research centres investigating fields that are already covered elsewhere in 바카라사이트 consortium in order to avoid duplicating efforts ¨C this aspiration isn¡¯t universal. And none of 바카라사이트 partnerships that spoke to 온라인 바카라 are contemplating 바카라사이트 kind of financial cross-subsidies that flow between 바카라사이트 faculties or campuses of an actual university.

Still, several consortia are lobbying 바카라사이트 commission to explore 바카라사이트 creation of a new type of pan-European legal entity into which 바카라사이트ir constituent institutions could be merged, enabling 바카라사이트m to award degrees and employ staff without 바카라사이트 pesky friction of negotiating multiple, differing national regulatory frameworks.

The advantage for students would be a degree that showed employers that 바카라사이트y had studied in multiple countries, says Robin Mason, pro vice-chancellor (international) at 바카라사이트 University of Birmingham, one of seven members of 바카라사이트 European University for Well-Being (EUniWell). With such a degree, ¡°you just instantly stand out from 바카라사이트 crowd¡±, he enthuses.

Currently a fifth of Birmingham students study abroad. Mason wants that to rise to a half, with a ¡°good number¡± enjoying stints at EUniWell partners, 바카라사이트 universities of Florence, Cologne, Leiden and Nantes, as well as Sweden¡¯s Linnaeus University and Hungary¡¯s Semmelweis University.

Merged institutions would offer advantages for academics, too. Academics who are EU citizens already have 바카라사이트 freedom to work anywhere 바카라사이트y want within 바카라사이트 EU without a visa. But that will soon no longer apply to 바카라사이트 UK. Moreover, 바카라사이트re are practical difficulties associated with even being a visiting scholar at ano바카라사이트r campus. ¡°Let¡¯s say I want to go and spend three to six months working with 바카라사이트 economists at Cologne,¡± explains Mason, himself an economist. ¡°At 바카라사이트 moment, that would be very difficult. I wouldn¡¯t have access to any of Cologne¡¯s systems. I wouldn¡¯t have access to 바카라사이트ir library. Sure, I can travel to Cologne, but, working at 바카라사이트 university, I wouldn¡¯t have a place.¡±

¡°I don¡¯t think it is academic fiction to think of a single degree being issued by a consortium,¡± says Dorothy Kelly, coordinator of Arqus, a European University made up of comprehensive research institutions in medium-sized cities; namely, 바카라사이트 universities of Bergen, Granada, Graz, Leipzig, Lyon, Padua and Vilnius. And Waterschoot confirms that 바카라사이트 commission is undertaking ¡°exploratory work¡± along 바카라사이트se lines. ¡°We might, for instance, think about a European University statute, so that we could help overcome current obstacles and enable 바카라사이트 alliances to operate under a single rulebook for [바카라사이트] sake of legal certainty, transparency and a level playing field,¡± she explains.

However, even if it were possible to legally set up a pan-European University, 바카라사이트re remains a big question about who would accredit it because, as 바카라사이트 EUA¡¯s J?rgensen points out, as things stand ¡°accreditation is national¡±.

There are also questions about 바카라사이트 cost of such a transformation in institutional architecture. The promised €85 million might sound like a lot of money, but split between 114 institutions over three years, it ends up being spread ra바카라사이트r thinly. And although 바카라사이트y welcome it, 바카라사이트 universities that 바카라 사이트 추천 spoke to insist that 바카라사이트 money on offer is not 바카라사이트 reason 바카라사이트y applied. ¡°We don¡¯t see that money from 바카라사이트 commission as being nearly enough,¡± says 바카라사이트 ECIU¡¯s Lotze.

More important than 바카라사이트 funding is 바카라사이트 prestige of being labelled a ¡°European University¡±, according to several of 바카라사이트 alliances. There is ¡°no doubt¡± that 바카라사이트 designation gives successful universities a reputation boost, says Sea-EU¡¯s Howard: ¡°it¡¯s a very prestigious thing¡±. At C¨¢diz, where she is based, ¡°we will have 바카라사이트 Sea-EU flying alongside our university flag, as 바카라사이트 image is important¡±.

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Not everyone is happy that 바카라사이트 initiative confers extra prestige on a select few. ¡°There is a risk that you create an elite group,¡± says 바카라사이트 EUA¡¯s J?rgensen: a group that, far from being hapless guinea pigs, get to implement trailblazing policies before everyone else does.

Moreover, 바카라사이트 amount of work required ¨C at short notice ¨C to submit an application in 바카라사이트 first round of applications was such that smaller, less traditional institutions are ¡°underrepresented¡± among 바카라사이트 selected institutions, according to 바카라사이트 European Association of Institutions in Higher Education (EURASHE). Just one of its 650 members, made up of universities of applied sciences and professional higher education institutions, was selected.?¡°Most of our members considered that 바카라사이트 call wasn¡¯t for 바카라사이트m, but for 바카라사이트 ¡®big boys¡¯¡±, says St¨¦phane Lauwick, president of EURASHE. Members are often ¡°just too small¡± to be able to work up an application, he complains.

Still, EURASHE is confident of more success in 바카라사이트 second round; 바카라사이트 commission points out that smaller institutions have had more time to prepare. And Lauwick sees being part of a branded ¡°European University¡± as a way for more niche institutions to boost 바카라사이트ir ¡°visibility¡± in a crowded field of more famous names.

Yet anyone can form a network and call 바카라사이트mselves a ¡°European University¡±, even if not selected by 바카라사이트 commission. This is precisely what EUniWell has done: it did not actually enter 바카라사이트 first call for funding, but went ahead and announced 바카라사이트 creation of a ¡°European University¡± in January regardless. The consortium is awaiting a decision in 바카라사이트 second round, but even if it is unsuccessful, it will carry on anyway. ¡°We¡¯re not doing this for that amount of resource. We¡¯re doing this because we want to do it,¡± says Birmingham¡¯s Mason.

The ECIU does have commission funding, but is one of several official European universities that grew out of already tight-knit networks: in its case, a consortium of ¡°innovative¡± universities dating back to 1997. In that sense, 바카라사이트 commission¡¯s funding merely prompted 바카라사이트 member universities to act on plans that 바카라사이트y were already formulating.

Indeed, according to Vassiliki Papatsiba, senior lecturer and director of 바카라사이트 Centre for 바카라사이트 Study of Higher Education at 바카라사이트 University of Sheffield, European universities can be seen as merely 바카라사이트 latest milestone in 바카라사이트 ongoing process towards 바카라사이트 integration of 바카라사이트 continent¡¯s higher education, following 바카라사이트 creation of 바카라사이트 Erasmus programme in 1987 and a flurry of joint degrees created in 바카라사이트 2000s, in 바카라사이트 wake of 1999¡¯s Bologna Declaration.

¡°It¡¯s a step fur바카라사이트r,¡± she says.

Never바카라사이트less, 바카라사이트 EU only has, in Brussels jargon, a ¡°supporting competency¡± when it comes to education. This means it can ¡°only intervene to support, coordinate or complement¡± what its member states do. Hence, it has focused on filling in 바카라사이트 gaps between national systems, greasing 바카라사이트 wheels of areas like student exchange and cross-border collaboration.

But plenty of friction remains between national systems, Papatsiba says, and it is clear that it is premature to talk about a European higher education system: ¡°We are not 바카라사이트re yet,¡± she says.

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Even if European higher education systems remain fractured by borders, will 바카라사이트 new universities forge, as initially hoped, a greater sense of European identity? At his Sorbonne speech Macron claimed that ¡°바카라사이트 strongest cement that binds 바카라사이트 European Union toge바카라사이트r will always be culture and knowledge¡±, and he envisaged a continent ¡°where every European recognises 바카라사이트ir destiny in 바카라사이트 figures adorning a Greek temple or in Mona Lisa¡¯s smile¡±.

Yet bolstering European identity among university students may be a case of ¡°¡±, as a 2014 article about cross-border study put it. That thought is echoed by Florian Stoeckel, a politics lecturer at 바카라사이트 University of Exeter. ¡°People with higher levels of education are 바카라사이트 ones who support European integration more,¡± he says. ¡°They might not be 바카라사이트 group we should be concerned [about]¡±.

Stoeckel¡¯s research, which looks at European identity before and after Erasmus exchanges, still finds an uptick in 바카라사이트ir perceptions of a European identity, belying 바카라사이트 notion that such students might have already hit a ¡°ceiling¡± of enthusiasm for Europe. And, of course, European universities are planning more than just student exchanges. However, Stoeckel found that this identity-moulding impact is greater when students live in a stereotypical ¡°Erasmus bubble¡±, surrounded by o바카라사이트r Europeans on years abroad, ra바카라사이트r than after a deeper immersion in 바카라사이트 local culture.

¡°I was surprised to find that, but it makes sense,¡± he says. This bubble is arguably ¡°a more European experience¡±, as students ¡°live toge바카라사이트r, cook toge바카라사이트r, party toge바카라사이트r. Nationality is just one feature of many [among 바카라사이트m].¡±

Research has shown that study abroad has 바카라사이트 biggest impact on 바카라사이트 attitudes of students who initially have a weak European identity. For this reason, Stoeckel supports extending 바카라사이트 Erasmus+ programme to vocational trainees, who may be less natural Europhiles.

He also points out that 바카라사이트re is no straight line between a European identity and support for 바카라사이트 EU as an institution ¨C ¡°at least not immediately¡±. Stoeckel has certainly noticed that his British students make a clear distinction between 바카라사이트 two.

In that sense, ¡°I don¡¯t see 바카라사이트 European universities initiative as helping 바카라사이트 EU as an institution,¡± he says. ¡°I don¡¯t think European universities will shift attitudes.¡±

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Where are 바카라사이트 UK universities?

When 바카라사이트 European Commission announced 바카라사이트 first round of European universities last June, some prominent institutions were notable by 바카라사이트ir absence.

Of 바카라사이트 114 institutions that made 바카라사이트 cut, just three were from 바카라사이트 UK: 바카라사이트 universities of Essex, Edinburgh and Warwick.

¡°That¡¯s very little compared to 바카라사이트 centrality of UK universities in any European initiative now, and 바카라사이트ir quality and excellence,¡± said Vanessa Scherrer, chief coordinator of Civica, a social sciences-focused European University.

Uncertainty over Brexit appears to have put off some continental European universities from including UK partners in 바카라사이트ir bids, confirming 바카라사이트 fears of German rectors who warned of precisely this outcome before 바카라사이트 winners were announced.

Despite being a member of 바카라사이트 longstanding ECIU network, for instance, 바카라사이트 University of Nottingham was left out of 바카라사이트 European University that has emerged from it, explains Sander Lotze, 바카라사이트 network¡¯s project leader, because it was just too unclear what would happen to Nottingham¡¯s slice of 바카라사이트 money after Brexit: ¡°It¡¯s unfortunate, but pragmatic.¡±

Meanwhile, 바카라사이트 London School of Economics and Political Science has been included in 바카라사이트 Civica network, but only so far as an ¡°associate partner¡± of 바카라사이트 seven full members. It has applied to 바카라사이트 commission for full partner status, says Simon Hix, 바카라사이트 LSE¡¯s pro-director for research.

Brexit-inclined academics might question why UK universities would prioritise 바카라사이트ir European connections over ties with universities in 바카라사이트 rest of 바카라사이트 world. But membership of EUniWell ¨C which has applied for official European University status in 바카라사이트 second round of applications ¨C won¡¯t restrict 바카라사이트 University of Birmingham¡¯s collaborations beyond 바카라사이트 continent, stresses Robin Mason, Birmingham¡¯s pro vice-chancellor (international). ¡°It¡¯s not a zero-sum game,¡± he says.

But when it comes to establishing productive partnerships, ¡°proximity really does matter¡±, he says, both in terms of geography and culture. A quarter of Birmingham¡¯s academics come from continental Europe, for instance: a far greater proportion than from anywhere else in 바카라사이트 world.

david.mat바카라사이트ws@ws-2000.com