Europe
EUROPA - Education budgets under pressure in Member States
Investment in education fell in eight out of 25 Member States assessed as part of a European Commission study on the impact of the crisis on education budgets since 2010.
EUA - Update on developments in the Bologna Process
Last year’s Bologna Process Ministerial Conference in Romania, and the resulting Communiqué, set out a number of goals with regard to the future development of the European Higher Education Area (EHEA).
EUROPA - Making the EU more attractive for foreign students and researchers
The EU needs to attract talented non-EU students and researchers who can contribute to our growth and competitiveness with their knowledge and skills. Moving to Europe temporarily is an opportunity embraced by over 200.000 students and researchers from outside the EU every year. However, far too many of them have to face unnecessary bureaucratic hurdles.
University World News - EUA project calls for transparency in PhD programmes
Universities should be more transparent about what they offer through PhD programmes, to better allow students to compare doctoral studies across Europe, Thomas Jørgensen, author of the recently concluded Accountable Research Environments for Doctoral Education (ARDE) project told University World News in Brussels.
Science|Business - Parliament vote against MMF prompts new round of lobbying on Horizon 2020
University and industry lobbyists are gearing up for a busy spring in Brussels, as the Parliament and the Council lock horns on the 2014 - 2020 budget, with investment in Horizon 2020 up for grabs once more
Irish Times - Start-up Nation: pointing students to college options abroad - Technology Industry News
With the points for courses such as medicine, dentistry and law climbing inexorably and the cost of attending college in Ireland increasing each year, more students are looking to the continent for third-level courses with accessible entry requirements.
NAFSA - Why Don’t More Americans Study in Europe?
At a meeting in Germany recently, Secretary of State John Kerry was asked by a former exchange program participant to comment on why fewer Americans seek an exchange experience in Europe than Europeans do in America. Secretary Kerry said, “That’s a really good question…. I need to find out.” He referred to the importance that the Administration attaches to scholarships for study abroad, and he said more scholarships are needed.
Inside Higher Ed - A New Geography of Knowledge Production in Poland
Comprehensive reforms of Polish higher education and research systems started in 2010-2011. Their major part was the 2010 law on a new national research council called the “National Science Centre” (NCN). The rationale behind its establishment was twofold: to leave decisions about research funding for fundamental research to the academic community and to increase the competition for research funding.
Official Journal of the European Union - Council Conclusions on investing in education and training
Council Conclusions on investing in education and training — a response to ‘Rethinking Education: Investing in skills for better socio-economic outcomes’ and the ‘2013 Annual Growth Survey’
Revision ESG - Welcome to the ESG revision website
ENQA, ESU, EUA, EURASHE, EI, BUSINESSEUROPE and the EQAR, the seven stakeholders’ organisations in charge of preparing the initial proposal for the revised ESG, would like to welcome you to this website.
EUROPA - European Commission launches Grand Coalition for Digital Jobs
Commission President José Manuel Barroso today called on Europe's digital businesses, governments, training and education sectors to join a Grand Coalition for Digital Jobs to address up to 900 000 job vacancies expected to exist in Europe in Information and Communication technologies (ICT) by 2015.
Irish EU Presidency - Major new EU initiative to meet ICT skills demand and reduce unemployment
Among the initiatives that will be introduced are improved training and skills matching, led by Europe’s top ICT employers; a common EU certification system for ICT skills; and assistance services and funding to enable ICT workers to move within the EU to areas where demand for their skills is highest.
Times Higher Education - Top European universities 2012-13
The Times Higher Education World University Rankings 2012-2013 powered by Thomson Reuters are the only global university performance tables to judge world class universities across all of their core missions - teaching, research, knowledge transfer and international outlook.
ScienceGuide - Validation key for OER-revolution
Open educational resources can pose a big challenge to institutions, as these have to rethink their role. The European Commission plans to facilitate the shift, by pushing for validation of skills acquired through informal learning.
University World News - Concern over ruling on EU student’s right to finance
The chair of the Danish Rectors' Conference has described a recent European Court of Justice ruling on an international student’s right to financial support as representing a threat to Denmark’s student financial aid system in its current form.
The PIE News - Spain slashes scholarships for language study abroad
Bending to austerity measures, the Spanish Ministry of Education this month announced it would slash scholarships for language students studying summer immersion courses abroad.
EurActiv - EU ministers give nod to 'Youth Guaranty' scheme
Young people without a job will be guaranteed the offer of employment, training or further education under a new decision agreed yesterday (28 February) by EU national ministers.
EU - President Barroso announces creation of a Science and Technology Advisory Council
The President of the European Commission, José Manuel Barroso, has announced today the creation of a Science and Technology Advisory Council. This informal advisory body held its first meeting today [27 feb] in Brussels.
TNO - Unexpected developments in future scenarios for RTOs
Structural forms of internationalisation embarked upon by Research and Technology Organisations (RTOs), such as alliances or joint ventures, remain rather limited in relation to the scenarios that were foreseen seven years ago. Moreover, regions have become more important than was anticipated. Jos Leijten of TNO shares an update of these scenarios that were developed for the European Commission as input for the European Research Area at the time.
EurActiv - Europe strives to hold back 'digital brain drain'
With more than half of Spain's and Greece’s young people jobless, those with in-demand digital skills are increasingly seeking work in stabler Austria, Germany and the Netherlands.
Ricoh - Ricoh study reveals Europe’s education sector held back by outdated working practices more than any other industry
Research published by Ricoh Europe reveals Europe’s education sector is suffering from out of date working practices more than any other industry* as it struggles to keep up with the pace of technology-led change.
EUA - Accountable Research Environments for Doctoral Education (ARDE)
A report on the project's findings was drafted and circulated across European universities and to stakeholders, such as funding organisations and decision makers at national and European levels, in spring 2013. The report can be found here. It was presented at the ARDE Publication Launch Event in Brussels, february 26
EUA - Brussels in Brief: Outcomes of the Council of the EU meetings
Earlier this month, European education ministers attending the Council of the EU adopted a series of conclusions on investing in education and training, in response to the recent European Commission communication on 'Rethinking Education'. Meanwhile, research ministers meeting at the Competitiveness Council discussed the Europe 2020 strategy for growth and jobs, and open access to scientific information of public-funded research projects.
Euroscientist - Why academics need to know about internationalisation of industrial R&D
One of the report's recommendations relevant to academic research : Higher education reform. In many countries, education at the higher secondary level is based too much on providing general education, with the effect that there is a deficiency of workers with intermediate skills. A shift from general to more application oriented education could alleviate this problem.
The PIE News - Erasmus programme survives budget cuts
Erasmus programme survives budget cuts.
University World News - The global language of influence
When asked in 1898 what was the most decisive event in modern history, German statesman Otto von Bismarck is reputed to have said: The fact that North Americans speak English.
ScienceGuide - An EU student loan: but why?
The revamped Erasmus programme covers a new student loan guarantee next to the existing Erasmus grants. Remarkably, the students oppose the facility. The European Commission is eager to introduce the loans, but for what reason?
Times Higher Education - European University Institute's renaissance thinking
Jack Grove on a European institution's mission to foster cross-border scholarship
ec-European Commission - New study underlines benefits of eTwinning
The study found that teachers who had participated in eTwinning improved their skills, their relations with pupils and developed their professional networks.
ec-European Commission - Teacher educators – who are they?
At a Presidency conference hosted by the Teaching Council, the professional body for teaching in Ireland, policy-makers and education practitioners discussed how policies in support of teacher educators can improve school education.