Transnational university collaboration in Europe & the future of Erasmus: An EUA perspective
1. 13 September 2018
EAIE Conference, Geneva
Transnational university
collaboration in Europe & the
future of Erasmus
AN EUA PERSPECTIVE
Anna-Lena Claeys-Kulik
Policy Coordinator
European University Association
2. Outline • About EUA
• Common challenges
• How collaboration can help
• How Erasmus supports it
• The European Universities’ Initiative
• The future Erasmus programme
• Remaining questions
2
AN EUA PERSPECTIVE
Transnational university collaboration & the future of Erasmus
3. About EUA • Found in 2001
• About 800 members in 48 European countries
• Individual institutions & 34 national university associations
• Independent voice of the university sector in Europe
• Activities: policy monitoring & interest representation,
comparative sector data, peer learning, exchange and
collaboration among members
• Main topics: EHEA/HE policy, ERA/ R&I policy, QA, Funding &
Governance, EU policy with relevance for the sector
3
AN EUA PERSPECTIVE
Transnational university collaboration in Europe & the future of Erasmus
4. Common
challenges
• Rapidly changing labour markets
• Increasing demand for highly skilled people
• Globalisation & digitalisation
• Internationalisation of research
• Financial constraints
• Increases the need for:
✓ Innovation in L&T
✓ Strengthening capacity in research & innovation
4
AN EUA PERSPECTIVE
Transnational university collaboration in Europe & the future of Erasmus
5. How
collaboration
can help
5
AN EUA PERSPECTIVE
Transnational university collaboration in Europe & the future of Erasmus
• Crossborder collaboration is important for innovation in
L&T: out of 303 respondents to TRENDS 2018
✓ 96% say that international student & staff exchanges are
important for developing L&T
✓ 53% say that they participate in international initiatives for
teaching enhancement
• Pooling resources & sharing services can help increase
quality of research & L&T, efficiency & competitiveness
• Various examples already exist:
✓ Border region cooperation (EUCOR; University of the
Greater Region; Franco-German University)
✓ Cooperation of institutions with similar profiles
(EuroTech; YERUN; ECIU; CELSA)
✓ ... and many others
6. How Erasmus
supports it
6
AN EUA PERSPECTIVE
Transnational university collaboration in Europe & the future of Erasmus
49%
56%
68%
69%
29%
29%
27%
24%
18%
7%
4%
2%
0% 20% 40% 60% 80% 100%
Attractive for international collaboration
Attractive for collaboration with non-
university partners
Attractive for European collaboration
We will continue to apply for these projects
Yes, fully Yes, to some extent No, not at all I do not know
Source: EUA membership consultation on E+
mid-term review 2016
Erasmus+ strategic partnerships are an attractive action
for universities, however, 59% of respondents indicate that
the overall number of grants is insufficient!
7. The European
Universities’
Initiative
7
AN EUA PERSPECTIVE
Transnational university collaboration in Europe & the future of Erasmus
• Puts universities & education high on the EU’s agenda
• Gives new momentum to European integration & higher
education & research policy at European level
• New ambition to strengthen links between education,
research and innovation
• Builds on strength of European university system with
excellence spread across the continent
• Could help depending university collaboration &
strengthen strategic approach
• Cannot be funded by Erasmus alone!
8. EUA key points • Bottom-up approach
• Provide a framework, but do not prescribe a model
• Take advantage of Europe’s diversity: openess to all
Bologna countries
• Funding of operational costs, not only mobility
• Selection at European level
• Need to remove administrative and legal obstacles at
national/sub-national levels
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AN EUA PERSPECTIVE
Transnational university collaboration in Europe & the future of Erasmus
9. The future
Erasmus
programme
9
AN EUA PERSPECTIVE
Transnational university collaboration in Europe & the future of Erasmus
• Double funding welcome, but new policy goals need even
more money!
• Collaboration is as important as mobility!
• Need to strike the right balance between new & traditional
collaboration actions
• Anchor programme for European Universities initiative,
but need for synergies with others (Horizon Europe, ESIF,
ESF, national funding etc...)
10. Remaining
questions
10
AN EUA PERSPECTIVE
Transnational university collaboration in Europe & the future of Erasmus
• Political level: link btw. European Education Area &
Bologna Process
• EU programmes: synergies versus simplification?
• Excellence versus inclusiveness
• Top-down versus bottom-up
• Legal: legal status; cross-border accreditation
• Financial: co-funding
• Sustainability
• ...