Europe Notes

Europe Notes (E-notes) are documents that cover information, consultations, and calls for action on higher education activities in Europe. They are regularly produced by the Europe Unit to keep stakeholders informed of relevant European issues.

2012 Europe Notes

• E-2012-01 EUA Annual Conference 2012

  This Europe note informs colleagues about the EUA Annual Conference 2012, entitled 'The Sustainability of Europe's Universities.

  
  

2011 Europe Notes

• E-2011-15 Erasmus Mundus Call for Proposals 2011

  This Europe note informs colleagues about the 4th Call for Proposals under the second phase of the Erasmus Mundus scheme. The deadline for application is 29 April 2012.

  
  
• E-2011-14 Consultation on ‘Horizon 2020’, the European Commission’s new programme proposal for research and innovation

  This Europe note informs colleagues about the European Commission’s proposed ‘Horizon 2020’ programme for research and innovation. It also launches a sector-wide consultation on the proposal, with a deadline of 27 January 2012.

  
  
• E-2011-13 Consultation on ‘Erasmus for All’, the European Commission’s new programme proposal for education, training, youth and sport

  This Europe note informs colleagues about the European Commission’s proposed programme ‘Erasmus for All’. It also launches a sector-wide consultation on the proposal, with a deadline of 27 January 2012.

  
  
• E-2011-12 IU publishes a position paper on doctoral policy in the European context

  This Europe note informs colleagues of the publication of a new position paper on European doctoral policy, formulated by the IU in consultation with experts from the European Doctoral Policy Forum (EDPF).

  
  
• E-2011-11 New Team of Bologna Experts Announced

  This Europe note informs colleagues of the new team of UK Bologna Experts for 2011-2012. The role of the Bologna Experts is to provide advice and assistance to UK higher education institutions about the Bologna Process and the European Higher Education Area.

  
  
• E-2011-10 European Commission launches consultation on European Research Area Framework

  The European Research Area (ERA) is a Europe-wide initiative aimed at establishing a single market for research, innovation and knowledge. The European Commission is in the process of developing a set of proposals to enhance the ERA – the ERA Framework – which it aims to publish by the end of 2012. The European Commission has launched an online public consultation on the ERA Framework,aimed at enabling EU stakeholders to contribute to the development of the ERA.

  
  
• E-2011-09 Consultation on involvement of newer EU Member States in the successor to the Framework Programme
  The European Commission is in the process of writing its proposal for the shape of European Union research funding after 2013. A key challenge facing the development of the proposal is the involvement in the successor to the Seventh Framework Programme of newer EU Member States, some of whom are concerned that the excellence criteria underpinning the Framework Programme reduce scope for the participation of their researchers.

  It is in the interests of the UK HE sector to engage proactively in discussions surrounding the involvement of newer member states in the post-2013 framework for EU research funding. This E-Note contains a consultation inviting contributions from UK HEIs on possible ways of facilitating the involvement of newer Member States in EU research programmes. It also requests examples of existing successful research collaborations between UK researchers and newer EU member states.
  

• E-2011-08 Update: Developments in Higher Education and Research in Europe
  This E-note provides information on current EU activity related to higher education and research. This update follows a sector-wide delegation to Brussels at the end of June. It summarises key information acquired from EU officials and organisations during the event and provides an update on current and upcoming EU initiatives, consultations and legislation relating to education and research.
  
• E-2011-07 Response to European Commission’s Green Paper on Common Strategic Framework
  The UK HE International and Europe Unit and Universities UK submitted this joint response to the Green Paper, on behalf of the UK higher education sector. The response draws on submissions by UK higher education institutions and has been written in consultation with sector bodies and individual experts from across the UK HE sector.
  
• E-2011-06 European Commission launches consultation on future strategy of European institute of innovation and technology
  The European Commission has launched a public consultation on the future strategy of the European Institute of Innovation and Technology (EIT). The consultation will feed into a 'Strategic Innovation Agenda' for the EIT which the Commission is due to propose by the end of 2011.
  
• E-2011-05 Consultation on Common Strategic Framework for EU Research and Innovation
  This E-note provides details of the European Commission's Green Paper on the proposal for a Common Strategic Framework for EU Research and Innovation, released on 9 February 2011. It summarises the Commission's proposed changes to the current system of research and innovation programmes, and encourages UK institutions to respond to the consultation contained within the Green Paper.
• E-2011-04 European Commission launches consultation on priorities for modernisation of higher education in Europe
  This E-note provides information on the European Commission's latest consultation on the priorities for the modernisation of higher education, launched to gather stakeholder views in advance of a new Communication on the modernisation of higher education to be released in the third quarter of 2011. It encourages UK institutions to respond to the consultation and also invites UK institutions to provide input to the development of a sector-wide response to the Commission consultation.
• E-2011-03 UK HE sector position on the future of the Framework Programme
  This E-note provides information on the publication of the UK higher education (HE) sector position on the future of the Framework Programme, the European Union's primary funding and policy instrument for research. It provides a summary of the position's key policy points, and a link to the full document.
• E-2011-02 Call for nominations - UK Bologna Expert
  The E-note invites expressions of interest from individuals for the role of UK Bologna Expert for the period 1 July 2011 to 31 December 2013. The purpose of a Bologna Expert is to promote and enhance Bologna Process initiatives, as well as European Union initiatives and programmes related to higher education. This E-note provides details on how to nominate and full details of the roles and responsibilities of a Bologna Expert.
• E-2011-01 European Commission Consultation on the promotion and validation of non-formal and informal learning
  This E-note encourages UK higher education institutions (HEIs) to respond to the European Commission consultation on possible future action to support the promotion and validation of non-formal and informal learning (NFIL). It includes background information on the Commission's definitions of NFIL and its validation as well on recent EU activity in this area.