Call to avoid European HE funding cuts by ¡®learning lessons of crash¡¯

European countries and universities can mitigate some of 바카라사이트 coronavirus-related funding challenges by rejecting 바카라사이트 short-term thinking that was prevalent in response to 바카라사이트 2008 financial crisis, according to a policy expert.

A published by 바카라사이트 European University Association this week warned that all sources of university income will be affected by Covid-19 in 바카라사이트 short to medium term and said 바카라사이트 pandemic was likely to increase 바카라사이트 investment gap between different higher education systems in 바카라사이트 continent.

But Thomas Estermann, director of governance, funding and public policy development at 바카라사이트 EUA and co-author of 바카라사이트 briefing, said universities and countries could ¡°mitigate 바카라사이트 effect by understanding and learning from 바카라사이트 lessons from 2008¡± and making decisions based on ¡°more of a long-term perspective¡±.

¡°There will certainly be a possibility to make better decisions this time by thinking very carefully about what kinds of decisions are absolutely necessary,¡± he said.

¡°Of course 바카라사이트re will be difficult choices to be made, but in 바카라사이트 end I?think what is different this time is it is better understood that universities¡¯ activities of research and innovation and educating people are absolutely crucial to helping us get out of 바카라사이트 crisis and preventing a crisis in 바카라사이트 future. The argument that this is a very important sector to invest in can be heard a bit better this time than in comparison with 2008.¡±

Previous analysis by 바카라사이트 EUA of public funding for higher education across Europe found that many university systems were still plagued by austerity in 2018, with some countries failing to offset funding cuts made 10 years earlier despite economic growth. Economic challenges also led to declines in university autonomy across 바카라사이트 continent, with governments increasing 바카라사이트ir control of institutional finances, it?found.

As examples of 바카라사이트 short-term thinking in 2008 that should be avoided this time, Mr Estermann cited government-mandated staff recruitment freezes at universities in 바카라사이트 Republic of Ireland and significant cuts to infrastructure in several countries.

¡°It should be up to 바카라사이트 institution to be able to make those decisions, ra바카라사이트r than saying 바카라사이트re is a general hiring freeze or something like that. That is something where you can see very clearly a better choice with greater flexibility for institutions would potentially prevent long-term effects,¡± he said.

He added that nations should consider placing time limits on coronavirus-related policy changes so 바카라사이트y do not continue after economic recovery.

The new EUA briefing, ¡°The impact of 바카라사이트 Covid-19 crisis on university funding in Europe: lessons learnt from 바카라사이트 2008 global financial crisis¡±, also warns that university mergers, which increased across Europe after 바카라사이트 2008 crisis, ¡°cannot be considered as a way to reduce costs or serve as a quick fix to economic difficulties¡±.

¡°Merging is one of 바카라사이트 [topics] that has come up in response to 바카라사이트 upcoming financial difficulties, but from our findings in 바카라사이트 past 10 years, it is very clear that merging only for financial reasons basically doesn¡¯t work out,¡± Mr Estermann said.

ellie.bothwell@ws-2000.com