EUA Bilten15 - 2011

EUA Bilten15 - 2011

EUA Newsletter 15   9 September 2011

Shaping Inclusive and Responsive University Strategies: Dissemination conference and new report on ‘Engaging in Lifelong Learning’

Lifelong learning (LLL) has become increasingly important for universities, as they are in a critical position to link it to their research and teaching activities, and thus develop institutional responses to the economic downturn and demographic change.

The project “Engaging in Lifelong Learning: Shaping Inclusive and Responsive University Strategies (SIRUS)” explored the different factors that enable universities across Europe to develop successful lifelong learning strategies. It brought together 29 EUA members from 18 countries, who, over a series of workshops, shared experience and developed their institutional LLL strategies.

Co-funded under the European Commission’s Lifelong Learning Programme, it was carried out by EUA in collaboration with the European Association of Distance Teaching Universities (EADTU), the European Access Network (EAN) and the European University Continuing Education Network (EUCEN). The project is one of the measures that EUA has launched to take up the 2008 “European Universities’ Charter for Lifelong Learning".

On 31 August / 1 September, at a final conference hosted by the University of Southampton (UK), the project report “Engaging in Lifelong Learning: Shaping Inclusive and Responsive University Strategies (SIRUS)” was presented by the authors, Hanne Smidt and Andrée Sursock.

A major conclusion of the conference has been that, in order to be successful, lifelong learning needs to be better integrated into the university and linked to its other missions. To quote one example, it has been highlighted that, to sustain and develop LLL, continuous support of the institutional leadership is key.

Speakers and participants addressed the issue of building LLL into the university culture, and developing it as a core element for its civic engagement. There was also general agreement among participants that the concept of the ‘engaged university’, which the SIRUS report refers to, might be a way for promoting LLL – inside and outside the institution – and linking it to research and learning as part of a third mission of engaging with the local community and employers. 

EUA supports implementation of Romanian higher education reforms: Government announces classification of universities

The Romanian Ministry of Education has this week (6 September) announced the next step of the higher education reforms, which have been outlined in a higher education bill passed earlier this year. Around 100 universities (public and private) have now been grouped into three major categories of institutions: research intensive; teaching and research oriented; and mainly teaching institutions, in a move designed to diversify the country’s HE system.
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Launch of African university site visits for ‘Europe-Africa Quality Connect’ project

The first of 10 site visits to five African universities under the Erasmus Mundus project ‘Europe-Africa QA Connect: Building Institutional Capacity through Partnership’ was launched this week at the University of Namibia. Inspired by the methodology of the Institutional Evaluation Programme, an independent EUA service that stresses institutional responsibility in defining quality and the means to achieve it, QA Connect examines quality assurance trends in both regions and stresses the important role that universities and university associations have to play.
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EUIMA – Full Costing study visit: application deadline 16 September

As part of the EUIMA – Full Costing project which aims to enhance the development of full costing in European universities, EUA organises a third study visit to the University of Birmingham, UK, on 25-27 October 2011.
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EUA takes part in CASE conference of higher education communications and fundraising professionals

The annual conference of the Council for Advancement and Support of Education (CASE) in Manchester (UK) gathered together over 800 higher education professionals who work in alumni relations, communications, development and marketing from across the world from 29 August to 2 September. 

Register now for European Quality Assurance Forum – ‘Quality and trust: at the heart of what we do’, Antwerp, Belgium (17-19 November 2011)

The sixth European Quality Assurance Forum (EQAF) seeks to foster a dialogue on quality assurance that bridges national boundaries. Organised by EUA, the European Association for Quality Assurance in Higher Education (ENQA), the European Association of Institutions in Higher Education (EURASHE) and the European Students’ Union (ESU), the Forum will combine practice-oriented discussions with presentations on current policy developments in quality assurance. 

Brussels in brief – updates on EU activities 

The Executive Agency for Education, Audiovisual and Culture has announced details of an information day for its Lifelong Learning Programme that will take place in Brussels in October. Meanwhile, the European Research Council has appointed a new Secretary General.
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EVENTS

EUA Breakfast Event: Examining Quality Culture in Higher Education Institutions, Brussels, Belgium (16 Sept 2011)
EUIMA Full Costing Study Visit: Birmingham, United Kingdom (25-27 October 2011)
6th European Quality Assurance Forum, Antwerp, Belgium (17-19 Nov 2011)

All events

PUBLICATIONS

Engaging in Lifelong Learning: Shaping Inclusive and Responsive University Strategies
Global University Rankings and Their Impact
Financially Sustainable Universities II
EUA Annual Report 2010
EUA Statement in response to EC Consultation on Modernisation of Higher Education in Europe .pdf file (444.18 KB) June 17, 2011 Download
Aarhus Declaration 2011 .pdf file (394.48 KB) June 16, 2011 Download
EUA position on the EC Green Paper on a Common Strategic Framework for EU Research and Innovation Funding .pdf file (835.23 KB) June 15, 2011 Download
Building bridges: Making sense of quality assurance in European, national and institutional context .pdf file (931.21 KB) March 23, 2011 Download
Smart People for Smart Growth: EUA Statement on the Innovation Union .pdf file (842.30 KB) March 10, 2011 Download
Salzburg II Recommendations .pdf file (200.37 KB) November 09, 2010 Download

All publications

The Future of Higher Education – Bologna Process Researchers’ Conference, Bucharest, Romania (17-19 October 2011)
Call for nominations for the European Award for Excellence in Teaching in the Social Sciences and Humanities
International Science Conference: SciTech Europe – Advancing Research, Innovation and Collaboration, Brussels, Belgium (24 November 2011)
Publication: ‘A History of the University in Europe’ – final volume completes series
Czech Rectors Conference announces new Presidium
Publication: ‘The Changing Face of Music and Art Education’ Journal

 
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