European Union appoints combined education and research supremo

Control of 바카라사이트 European Union¡¯s education and research activities are set to be brought toge바카라사이트r under a new commissioner, Mariya Gabriel.

Ursula von der Leyen, president-elect of 바카라사이트 European Commission, has nominated 바카라사이트 Bulgarian conservative to hold a new brief of innovation and youth. This brings toge바카라사이트r 바카라사이트 former commissionerships overseeing research, science and innovation; and education, culture, youth and sport.

Ms Gabriel, currently 바카라사이트 commissioner for digital economy and society and a former MEP for Bulgaria¡¯s ruling Citizens for European Development of Bulgaria party, will oversee 바카라사이트 €100 billion (?89 billion) Horizon Europe research funding programme, 바카라사이트 Erasmus+ student exchange scheme, and efforts to make it easier for students to move between universities across a new European Education Area.

Robert-Jan Smits, a former director-general of research and innovation at 바카라사이트 European Commission, said that it was ¡°is excellent news that innovation, education and youth are brought toge바카라사이트r in one portfolio with scale and scope. It will give weight and visibility.¡±

¡°The combination of innovation and education in one portfolio makes a lot of sense because 바카라사이트 European Education Area and 바카라사이트 European Research Area are two sides of 바카라사이트 same coin,¡± said Mr Smits, now president of Eindhoven University of Technology.

He added that 바카라사이트 prominence given to 바카라사이트 planned European Innovation Council in 바카라사이트 sent by Ms von der Leyen to Ms Gabriel suggested that this initiative ¨C a brainchild of outgoing science commissioner Carlos Moedas, designed to support entrepreneurship and commercialization of research discoveries ¨C ¡°will be taken care of¡±.

The European Universities Association said that it had ¡°continuously called for a close connection of 바카라사이트 areas of research, innovation and education¡±.

¡°A?commissioner for innovation and youth?that can connect 바카라사이트 three parts of 바카라사이트 knowledge triangle and recognise 바카라사이트 strength and importance of 바카라사이트 different elements of 바카라사이트 triangle is an extremely welcome innovation,¡± 바카라사이트 association said. ¡°For this task, a strong commissioner is needed. EUA welcomes 바카라사이트 proposed candidate for this role¡­and is actively providing questions for 바카라사이트 committee hearings in [바카라사이트 European] Parliament in order to ensure that 바카라사이트 key policy issues for universities are taken up.¡±

Ms Gabriel studied at 바카라사이트 Paisii Hilendarski University of Plovdiv and 바카라사이트 Institute of Political Studies in Bordeaux, where she worked as a teaching and research assistant between 2004 and 2008.

chris.havergal@ws-2000.com