Supporting growth and jobs: an agenda for the modernisation of Europe’s higher education systems

Summary:

Communication adopted by the European Commission on 20 September 2011, which sets out a number of key policy issues for Member States and academic institutions to address with the aim of maximising their contribution to jobs and growth across the European Union (EU).

Further information:

Education - in particular high education and its links with research and innovation - is seen as playing an essential role in individual and societal advancement, and in providing highly skilled human capital and articulate citizens which are required for economic growth and prosperity. In this context, higher education institutions are important partners in delivering the EU's strategy to drive forward and maintain growth. Nonetheless, the Commission considers the potential of European higher education institutions to remain under-exploited.

Knowledge is brought to the core of initiatives like the 'Europe 2020' strategy, with an expression on the European Commission's proposal for the Multiannual Financial Framework (MFF) 2014-2020, which devotes a bigger section of the budget to education, research and innovation. The Bologna Process, the EU Agenda for the modernisation of universities and the creation of the European Research Area (ERA) show that challenges and policy responses transcend national borders.

Even so, the main responsibility for delivering reforms in higher education rests with Member States and education institutions themselves. This Communication highlights a number of key policy issues that should be addressed by stakeholders in fulfilling the full potential of higher education across the European Union.

Official

European Commission: SEC(2011)1063: Commission working document on recent developments in European higher education systems https://eur-lex.europa.eu/legal-content/EN/TXT/?uri=SEC:2011:1063:FIN

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