EUA Convention of European Higher Education Institutions Graz, May 2003 Theme I European higher education in a globalised world

EUA Convention of European Higher Education Institutions Graz, 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, 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, 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, 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, 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, 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, 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, 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, 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, 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, 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, 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, May pillars for future discussions 1.Mutual trust 2.Respect for diversity (national contexts, types of institutions, specific subjects or disciplines) 3.Transparency: clear architecture for the body and procedures

EUA Convention of European Higher Education Institutions Graz, May 2003 Common principles of this work will be: 1.Independence of the body in charge of the European dimension of evaluation 2.Institutional responsibility of higher education institutions 3.Public responsiveness

EUA Convention of European Higher Education Institutions Graz, 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, May 2003 ``If we do not hang together, we will certainly hang separately.´´ - Benjamin Franklin