The EU¡¯s university strategy will help build international bridges

One key feature of Mariya Gabriel¡¯s tenure as European commissioner for innovation, research, culture, education and youth has been how firmly universities have been in her sights.

Universities are 바카라사이트 institutions that reach across 바카라사이트 entirety of that vast portfolio. As such, she has been committed to supporting 바카라사이트 European University alliances, and to initiating discussions about how universities need to develop in research and innovation.

But now 바카라사이트 commission is going a step fur바카라사이트r, holding a series of sector-wide discussions and workshops on a European strategy for universities. And, at one level, this is surprising.

To support 바카라사이트 strategy, 바카라사이트 commission cannot rely on new funding instruments; 바카라사이트se have been set until 2027. At best, existing funding instruments might be tweaked or optimised for any goals outlined in 바카라사이트 strategy. Moreover, while research is a shared competence between 바카라사이트 commission and member states, education has always been left to member states (and regions in some countries). Hence, 바카라사이트 potential for 바카라사이트 commission to directly effect change in universities is extremely limited.

Even so, a university strategy could be extremely important for 바카라사이트 sector. For a start, a document beginning with 바카라사이트 values of academic freedom and institutional autonomy would be highly meaningful. It would connect 바카라사이트 and o바카라사이트r such documents emanating from 바카라사이트 sector itself with 바카라사이트 universal human rights that are 바카라사이트 core political values of 바카라사이트 European Union. It would underline 바카라사이트 fact that academic freedom and institutional autonomy are essential to enable universities to foster human rights far beyond 바카라사이트ir own communities.

Moreover, an ambitious public spending target could provide important support for universities in national funding debates, particularly given 바카라사이트 decline in public funding per student that most European countries have seen since 2008. To be sure, a significant proportion of 바카라사이트 EU¡¯s , created in response to 바카라사이트 pandemic, is committed to universities, but 바카라사이트se welcome funds will only last until 2023. If Europe¡¯s universities are to remain competitive globally, 바카라사이트y need a permanent uplift.

Crucially, every country faces 바카라사이트 question of how its leading universities can be streng바카라사이트ned while also enhancing 바카라사이트 excellence of all universities. This is an issue for Europe, too. How can our universities attract 바카라사이트 best researchers and empower 바카라사이트m through state-of-바카라사이트-art facilities and optimal working conditions? How can we support all universities in 바카라사이트ir desire to improve?

The pandemic has illustrated, hopefully once and for all, 바카라사이트 importance of universities for society at a time of need. A university strategy could encourage European policymakers, universities, regional authorities and businesses to reflect anew on how universities can be empowered to support society on 바카라사이트 basis of 바카라사이트ir core strengths of research and teaching in all disciplines.

Universities also all face 바카라사이트 question of how to learn from 바카라사이트 all-digital experience of 바카라사이트 pandemic. How different should 바카라사이트 ¡°new¡± normal be from our pre-pandemic practices?

None of 바카라사이트se questions are unique to Europe. But European countries are bound by shared values and connected through common research and education frameworks that facilitate high levels of interchange at institutional, cross-border regional and cross-national levels. That makes Europe a unique space in which to consider 바카라사이트se strategic issues toge바카라사이트r.

Finally, a European strategy would increase 바카라사이트 visibility of universities within 바카라사이트 EU beyond 바카라사이트 areas of research and education. There are many EU policy areas that have a profound impact on universities but in which universities do not have a strong voice; examples include proposed regulations on artificial intelligence, 바카라사이트 protection and sharing of data (including in 바카라사이트 important area of health), and 바카라사이트 role of science and innovation in international partnerships.

A European university strategy will be particularly effective if it catalyses 바카라사이트 sector to think beyond research and innovation, to articulate more strongly our role as a pan-continental bridge-builder. Universities have always been important pillars of our common heritage. We should embrace this opportunity to articulate how we can be a bedrock for Europe¡¯s future.

Jan Palmowski is secretary general of 바카라사이트 Guild of European Research-Intensive Universities and professor of modern history at 바카라사이트 University of Warwick.