Member States hold the key for the implementation of the European strategy for universities. Hopefully they will use it!
20.01.2022
On Tuesday, the European Commission (EC) published its long-awaited “European strategy for universities”, together with a proposal for a Council recommendation “on building bridges for effective European higher education cooperation”. LERU very much welcomes both documents, which clearly show that the EC has carefully listened to the comments of universities and their networks, during the consultation moments. But as nice and ambitious these EC documents may be, the realisation of them will primarily be a matter for the Member States, most of which don’t have a strong track record in the field of education, research and innovation policy and funding.
LERU is pleased that the European strategy for universities acknowledges the important role which universities play in building resilient and sustainable societies. Coincidentally, this is also the central theme of LERU’s 20thanniversary year in 2022. The EC has clearly listened to universities (and their associations, networks and alliances), and seems strongly committed to do its part in making sure that universities are excellent and inclusive. Such universities, the EC states correctly, are a condition and foundation for open, democratic, fair and sustainable societies, as well as sustained growth, entrepreneurship and employment.
Nevertheless, this European strategy for universities misses two very crucial things to enable the desired transformation of higher education institutions. The first one is funding. Universities can and will contribute to the strongly promoted EU twin transitions, greening and digitalisation, by respectively training the next generation of students and by stimulating research in crucial areas. However, universities also need to make transitions themselves. According to the strategy, they need to become more inclusive, digital and sustainable, to connect better with the wider public and with the private sector, to uphold and support values, and to strengthen interdisciplinary research. Stimulating these changes and realising these transformations requires long term, stable funding, for both education and research activities. Clearly, there will not be any additional funding from the EU budget, on top of what is already available (Horizon Europe, Digital Europe, Erasmus, etc.). So, will Member States come up with the necessary support? This is doubtful, given their miserly track record.
Unfortunately, also the second requirement for a successful realisation of the European strategy is relying on the Member States, namely their commitment to reduce, voluntarily, barriers to pan-European and international collaboration of universities, in the field of research and education. Clearly, the EC does not have the intention to act as an “eliminator” of European and national obstacles. However, the European strategy and draft Council recommendation offer two sparks of hope, namely the gradual realisation of a European degree and a European statute for European Universities. Both could be a good first step to remove barriers more widely later on. This is especially necessary to support the work of the European University Alliances, but it would also benefit universities more widely when entering partnerships and cross-border collaboration. LERU hopes Member States will have the courage to adopt the draft recommendation as proposed, and then also implement it.
Of course, universities themselves also have an important role to play, and of course they are ready to take their responsibility. They can, for example, contribute to data monitoring, by sharing best practices and, to a certain extent, supporting the transformation in universities that are lagging behind. But, let’s be realistic, what can be achieved without any explicit and targeted funding or member state support, will be very limited.
Finally, as regards upholding democratic values and protecting academic freedom, (which, by the way, are not only European and should therefore not be claimed as ‘European’), the strategy, again, remains too vague. Clearly, on those issues, the EU has to lead by example and inspire the Member States, where and when needed and/or desired. Therefore, LERU explicitly calls upon the EC to develop legal measures to secure academic freedom and to defend democratic values within the European Union.
LERU Secretary-General Kurt Deketelaere states:
“On this issue, but also in general, LERU would like to push the European Commission, again, to consider the use of the legislative powers it has, even if limited, to achieve real change for universities. The EC can ‘support’, ‘encourage’ and ‘promote’ all kinds of things, but without real Member State support and funding, the European strategy will remain a wonderful list of aspirations.”
