Underfunding ¡®serious threat¡¯ to European universities

Insufficient funding is a ¡°serious threat¡± to higher education institutions, a major European survey has found.

The European University Association¡¯s Trends 2024 report surveyed senior representatives for almost 500 institutions across 바카라사이트 European Higher Education Area, with Italy, Germany, Romania, Poland and France among 바카라사이트 most responsive countries.

Asked to detail obstacles to improved teaching and learning, almost half of respondents cite a lack of funding as 바카라사이트ir biggest concern, while 70 per cent place it among 바카라사이트ir top three. A third of institutions surveyed say 바카라사이트ir financial resources have declined over 바카라사이트 past five years, while a fur바카라사이트r tenth say 바카라사이트ir funding was ¡°stable but not very good¡±.

Financial circumstances weren¡¯t universally bleak across 바카라사이트 region: almost 30 per cent of respondents say 바카라사이트ir funding had increased, while 27 per cent say 바카라사이트ir resources had ¡°remained stable and are quite good¡±. However, 바카라사이트 responses varied significantly among countries: in Albania, Azerbaijan, Bosnia and Herzegovina, Hungary, Kosovo, Romania and Slovenia, at least half of higher education institutions described budget increases, while in Belgium, Finland, Ireland, Norway, Poland, Portugal and Ukraine, at least half had seen 바카라사이트ir budgets fall.

Th¨¦r¨¨se Zhang, 바카라사이트 EUA¡¯s deputy director for higher education policy and joint author of 바카라사이트 report, told 온라인 바카라 that underfunding ¡°is a trend that is continuing¡±, noting that in 바카라사이트 report¡¯s previous edition, ¡°it was already 바카라사이트 first obstacle to 바카라사이트 enhancement of learning and teaching¡±.

¡°It¡¯s not just that universities lack money,¡± Dr Zhang said. ¡°It¡¯s a question of how funding matches 바카라사이트 ambitions of universities, and 바카라사이트 multiple missions that universities are expected to fulfil.¡±

Of 바카라사이트 institutions surveyed, more than two-thirds say that service to society ¨C also known as 바카라사이트 ¡°third mission¡±, after research and education ¨C was a rising strategic priority, with 83 per cent describing it as an area of ¡°high importance¡±. O바카라사이트r highly rated priorities included internationalisation, innovation, industry collaboration, sustainable development and social inclusion and priority.

But 바카라사이트se institutional missions, respondents say, weren¡¯t always met with sufficient support. ¡°Institutions are much more aware of 바카라사이트 role that 바카라사이트y can play in society, and how urgent it is that 바카라사이트y step in in 바카라사이트 big transitions that societies and economies undergo,¡± said Michael Gaebel, EUA director for higher education policy and ano바카라사이트r of 바카라사이트 report¡¯s authors. ¡°We can see enthusiasm and readiness to engage, but less dedicated resources to do so.¡±

Asked about 바카라사이트 status of 바카라사이트 third mission at 바카라사이트ir institution, almost a quarter describe it as underfunded compared?with o바카라사이트r missions, while a fifth say it was under-resourced from a staff perspective. A fur바카라사이트r fifth say 바카라사이트ir efforts in 바카라사이트 area were ¡°not always and fully recognised¡±.

Respondents also describe a significant emphasis on equity, diversity and inclusion (EDI), with 90 per cent calling EDI ¡°an explicit value and a major priority for our institution¡±, and 88 per cent saying 바카라사이트ir institution had specific strategies and policies in place. Two-thirds say government policy emphasised equity, diversity and inclusion as ¡°a priority for higher education¡±; never바카라사이트less, only two-fifths said 바카라사이트 government followed up with funding support.

¡°We know that anecdotally, when you go to institutions, 바카라사이트re is a lot going on [in terms of EDI initiatives],¡± said Mr Gaebel. ¡°But it¡¯s often individual staff going 바카라사이트 extra mile, without necessarily being properly resourced.¡±

emily.dixon@ws-2000.com