European Higher Education in Flux – challenges for the

next decade -

Lesley WilsonSecretary General, EUA

EAIR , Vilnius, 24 August 2009

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1. The brave new world of HE – European responses to global

developments

Globalisation and the knowledge society – a more competitive context Bologna, Lisbon & the Modernisation AgendaSystemic processes that interact with each and impact on universitiesFocus on institutional profiling and mission

differentiation

2. Key Changes influencing Institutions

Research and Innovation – growing in importance and changing nature (triple helix & the knowledge triangle)Bologna process – enhancing the student experience (new qualifications & teaching methodologies)Internationalisation – becoming a more strategic element of institutional missionPartnerships - more important in all areas

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3. The decade to come: - priorities and challenges -

European policy – Linking the EHEA and ERAPriorites and challenges for universities

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4. - A second decade of Bologna reforms -

Addressing the core challenges – curricula reform & student centred learning, in the new structures, in a mass systemEmployability as a concern, specifically for 1st cycle graduates Taking forward the LLL charter – more diverse, also part-time learners – more than widening participationIf there is expansion, where will it take place?The Bologna reforms as a package if the goals are to be reached

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5. Research based education – strengthening the links between

teaching & research -

Taking up new research challenges has implications for the curriculumDoctoral education – what does structuring doctoral education really mean?Improving researcher careers Increasing and improving the quality of mobility Important for universities and for both the EHEA and the ERA

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6. Europeanisation and Internationalisation

European frameworks, tools and instrumentsBologna as a way of internationalising European universities & basis for a new wave of internationalisationRooted in the experiences of European cooperation over the last decade – networking, joint degrees etc.Strategic presence for universities & a more international outlook for students and staff For cooperation and competition

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7.– Autonomy & Funding

The framework conditions for making universities more able to respond to societal demandsGovernance reforms are still underway across Europe – ‘the devil is in the detail’More autonomy to enable university leaders to to design internal structures, decide on academic programmes, select, manage & train staff, decide upon the use of their own resources

Next step for EUA: to benchmark national policies and reforms on autonomy and governance

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The four dimensions of autonomy

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Autonomy & Governance in European Universities

8. Institutional Diversity – a value in its own right?

“Beauty is in the eye of the beholder” – a great diversity of values existsEspecially concerning diversity of institutional profiles: Various clienteles or target communities Missions & functional emphases Programme & subject profiles Staff & student profiles

The degree of interest in promoting diversity varies greatly between & within systems Positvely valued only with conditionsForces of divergence & convergence at system & institutional level

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9. Quality and transparencyContinued commitment to quality crucial as a major element of the strategic management of institutions Is this enough in terms of being accountable to different elements of societyUniversities will need to be able to provide accurate information about their mission, activites, performance & results to different bodiesSerious attempts are needed to consider the effectiveness of learning processes & to be able to assess increasingly different research profiles

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Conclusions and Questions for Consideration

How to maintain the momentum & consolidate the reforms that have started?How to avoid reform fatigue in universities – it is impossible to address all reforms at the same time?Resource constraints – from stimulus packages to austerity measures?How to have coherence between the European and national/local levels – where is the scope for more European action?