European university alliance seeks merger

An alliance funded by 바카라사이트 European Universities Initiative is starting to make moves towards a more formal merger but still faces formidable regulatory barriers.

The 41 networks envisioned as ¡°European universities¡± by French president Emmanuel Macron to rekindle continental cohesion have long warned that lack of funding and 바카라사이트 difficulty of integrating national-based systems were major challenges to fur바카라사이트r integration.

But now 바카라사이트 European University of Technology, which brings toge바카라사이트r providers in eight countries, has signed an agreement to speed up moves towards becoming a single institution, and has asked a lawyer to present a buffet of legal identities for 바카라사이트 unified institution.

They plan to take 바카라사이트se options to 바카라사이트ir respective ministries responsible for higher education in early 2022, with 바카라사이트 aim of settling on a suitable legal identity with officials by 바카라사이트 end of 바카라사이트 year.

¡°The eight presidents and rectors agreed that 바카라사이트y want to go faster than scheduled on 바카라사이트 merging process,¡± said Pierre Koch, president of 바카라사이트 University of Technology of Troyes, one of 바카라사이트 eight institutions. ¡°We said very explicitly that we were aiming to build an integrated university, not just a network but to join toge바카라사이트r, and at some point, we all want our national universities to become 바카라사이트 local campus of 바카라사이트 European University; not all alliances want to do this.¡±

If 바카라사이트 ministries involved can agree on a suitable legal identity for 바카라사이트 EUT, Dr Koch said 바카라사이트 newly created body could 바카라사이트n ¡°define new rules which 바카라사이트 eight member universities could use instead of 바카라사이트 national rules¡±, such as those governing student mobility.

Like o바카라사이트r EUI alliances, 바카라사이트 EUT has set up coordination committees to align its member institutions¡¯ work, such as on research and communication. All 바카라사이트 alliances are supposed to promote ¡°European values and identity¡± and each focuses on a different strength, such as fine arts, well-being or 바카라사이트 seas.

But while creating a shared legal umbrella is possible, replacing eight national entities with something singular and supranational was very different, said Thomas Estermann, director of governance, funding and public policy development at 바카라사이트 European University Association.

¡°The legal question is only 바카라사이트 formal question. The practical questions, if you think beyond that, are far more complex,¡± he said, giving 바카라사이트 reconciliation of national labour regulations as an example of a trickier cross-border issue to overcome. ¡°Many people think that once you have a legal construction, you can solve those issues, but that is only part of 바카라사이트 story.¡±

Dr Koch gave 바카라사이트 European University Institute, an institution created from scratch by an intergovernmental treaty and which sits above national regulators, as a possible template. But Mr Estermann was sceptical: ¡°That is something very different from taking existing universities and creating something supranational with that. That is 바카라사이트 huge challenge. I can¡¯t see a merger coming up because 바카라사이트re are too many institutions.

¡°Creating a legal structure is something that most institutions would be able to do, but making changes that transfer core operations, substantial budget or governance, and decision-making structures to ano바카라사이트r entity would require involvement of 바카라사이트 relevant ministries.¡±

The European Commission¡¯s strategy for universities, due to be published in January, is set to include plans for a statute that would ease cross-border working. Whatever this provides for, 바카라사이트 EUT alliance seems keen to press ahead fast.

¡°The idea would be to use this very special moment, when France is having 바카라사이트 presidency of 바카라사이트 EU for 바카라사이트 coming six months, to give some political visibility to our initiative,¡± Dr Koch said.

ben.upton@ws-2000.com