170 likes | 270 Views
Theme I. European higher education in a globalised world. Three sub-groups. Universities as a public responsibility Working together in Europe A European dimension to quality assurance. Core European ambitions:. Most competitive knowledge-based economy in the world
E N D
Theme I European higher education in a globalised world EUA Convention of European Higher Education Institutions Graz, 29-31 May 2003
Three sub-groups • Universities as a public responsibility • Working together in Europe • A European dimension to quality assurance EUA Convention of European Higher Education Institutions Graz, 29-31 May 2003
Core European ambitions: • Most competitive knowledge-based economy in the world • Sustainable economic growth • Better jobs • Greater social cohesion EUA Convention of European Higher Education Institutions Graz, 29-31 May 2003
Need to balance the European ambitions: competitiveness & excellence with social cohesion & access This balance will be crucial for the future of European universities EUA Convention of European Higher Education Institutions Graz, 29-31 May 2003
What does it mean to be a European university? Core values: • Equity and democratic access • Cultural and linguistic diversity • A European quality culture • Link between teaching & learning and research & scholarship EUA Convention of European Higher Education Institutions Graz, 29-31 May 2003
Higher education is a public responsibility There is a public responsibility for: • Stable funding patterns • Qualification frameworks • Quality assurance • Recognition issues In order to enable universities to stress and realize the core values of the European universities and to allow and stimulate them to become excellent and competitive on a world scale EUA Convention of European Higher Education Institutions Graz, 29-31 May 2003
Excellence • Various types of excellence: • Academic (Nobel prizes, etc.) • Innovation/patents (knowledge economy) • Highly qualified workforce • Widely educated population EUA Convention of European Higher Education Institutions Graz, 29-31 May 2003
European higher education core values make us attractive on the global platform! • European quality culture • Cultural and linguistic diversity • Equity and democratic access • Link between teaching & research EUA Convention of European Higher Education Institutions Graz, 29-31 May 2003
Major instruments for European higher education based on core values (the `European brand´) European quality culture • General principles of a European dimension of quality assurance Cultural and linguistic diversity • Joint programmes • European higher education platforms outside Europe • Networks • Mobility EUA Convention of European Higher Education Institutions Graz, 29-31 May 2003
Equity and democratic access • Learning opportunities for the widest group of learners • Variety of forms of provision of higher education (horizontal differentiation) Link between teaching & learning and research & scholarship • Networks of excellence • Joint programmes • Mobility • European graduate schools • Wide access to doctoral training EUA Convention of European Higher Education Institutions Graz, 29-31 May 2003
We need to be effective and efficient in these instruments for Europe: • Strengthen commitment by governments and institutional leaders • Support systems for researchers, teachers, students, administrators • Introduce the `European label´ to stimulate universities to increase their `Europeaness´ EUA Convention of European Higher Education Institutions Graz, 29-31 May 2003
The limits of public funding in Europe are being reached • Private support for higher education is needed to help to reach our ambitions • But only if institutional autonomy is guaranteed EUA Convention of European Higher Education Institutions Graz, 29-31 May 2003
European Dimension of QA • The importance of promoting a European dimension of quality assurance for higher education institutions • EUA should take the initiative to organize a first round of discussions with all concerned stakeholders to develop a body to serve this role EUA Convention of European Higher Education Institutions Graz, 29-31 May 2003
3 pillars for future discussions • Mutual trust • Respect for diversity (national contexts, types of institutions, specific subjects or disciplines) • Transparency: clear architecture for the body and procedures EUA Convention of European Higher Education Institutions Graz, 29-31 May 2003
Common principles of this work will be: • Independence of the body in charge of the European dimension of evaluation • Institutional responsibility of higher education institutions • Public responsiveness EUA Convention of European Higher Education Institutions Graz, 29-31 May 2003
Some agreements on the QA procedures: • Promoting of cultural, academic, and organisational quality • Respecting institutional autonomy • Developing internal quality culture • Evaluating accreditation and evaluation • Encouraging cost-effectiveness • Minimising bureaucracy and over-regulation… EUA Convention of European Higher Education Institutions Graz, 29-31 May 2003
``If we do not hang together, we will certainly hang separately.´´ - Benjamin Franklin EUA Convention of European Higher Education Institutions Graz, 29-31 May 2003