Rigidities stop European universities from exploiting enormous potential

Rigidities stop European universities from exploiting enormous potential Europe needs modernised universities, says European Commission

The European Commission has today taken a position on how best to modernise Europe’s universities. This is fundamentally important for them to make their contribution to the EU’s objective to become a leading global and knowledge-based economy.

European universities have enormous potential, much of which unfortunately goes untapped because of various rigidities and hindrances. Freeing up the substantial reservoir of knowledge, talent and energy requires immediate, in-depth and coordinated change: from the way in which systems are regulated and managed, to the ways in which universities are governed.

Ján Figel’, Commissioner in charge of Education & Training, said: “Although they train and teach millions of people each year, Europe’s higher education systems remain hampered by a number of obstacles, many of which are decades old.

”Universities are power-houses of knowledge generation” said Science and Research Commissioner Janez Potočnik. “They will need to adapt to the demands of a global, knowledge-based economy, just as other sectors of society and economy have to adapt. The ideas we are putting forward today should help kick-start a debate among Member States, and also within universities themselves.”

The European Commission identifies 9 areas where changes should be made so that Europe’s universities can contribute to the creation of a true knowledge economy.

Read the EU press release on the need for modernised universities

Frequently Asked Questions : Why European higher education systems must be modernised ?