E-newsletter

Feature Article

In Search of Simplification: New EU initiatives to support research and higher education

The European Union is currently engaged in a drive to rationalise and simplify some of its most important programmes. In the context of education and research, this has taken the form of proposals for two major new initiatives with the potential to reinvigorate the European higher education and research landscapes: Erasmus for All and Horizon 2020.

Both place an emphasis on cutting red tape and streamlining existing activities in order to reduce duplication and fragmentation. Erasmus for All unites the seven existing programmes for education, youth, training and sport into one. This streamlined architecture would support three key types of action: learning mobility of individuals; cooperation for innovation and good practices; and support for policy reform.

In a similar vein, Horizon 2020 brings together all existing initiatives for research and innovation funding, including the Framework Programme for Research (FP7), the innovation related activities of the Competitiveness and Innovation Framework Programme (CIP) and the European Institute of Innovation and Technology (EIT). Again, a simpler programme architecture is designed to focus funds on three strategic objectives: Excellent Science; Industrial Leadership; and Societal Concerns.

Whether or not these programme proposals have the potential to achieve their stated aims remains to be seen. Certainly, the envisaged funding boosts (Erasmus for All has a proposed budget of €19 billion and Horizon 2020 one of €80 billion between 2014-2020) accentuate the EU’s strategic commitment to research and education as drivers for innovation, productivity and growth.

However, many of the details regarding implementation are yet to be clarified. Consultations with a number of subject-specific Expert Groups will begin in Brussels in March 2012. In order to communicate sector-wide positions to the European Commission in advance of these meetings, the International Unit has launched a consultation on each proposal, and constituted two Expert Advisory Groups.

The Erasmus for All and Horizon 2020 consultations represent excellent opportunities to help shape the future of education and research policy at EU level. We want to hear your views on either or both proposals. For more details, please click on one of the following links: Erasmus for All and Horizon 2020.

News in brief

EUA has launched 'Autonomy Scorecard' report

The European University Association (EUA) has launched a major new report which compares university autonomy across 26 European countries. In addition to an in-depth analysis of the current state of institutional autonomy in Europe, the study includes four scorecards which rank and rate higher education systems in four autonomy areas: organisational, financial, staffing and academic autonomy. The EUA hopes that this report will strengthen the recent reforms towards more autonomy for universities that have been launched in some countries as it still sees there to be many constraints which limit institutional performance.

IU releases sector wide position paper on developments in European doctoral policy

In December the UK HE International Unit published ‘The UK doctorate: Policy positions in the European context’, a position paper outlining the UK HE sector's priorities in the field, developed in close consultation with experts in doctoral policy from across the UK HE Sector and the European Doctoral Policy Forum (EDPF).

The document is intended to facilitate effective engagement with the European agenda by the UK HE sector, giving the sector the opportunity to share good practice and shape debate on doctoral policy at European level.

This is particularly relevant in the current context, with a number of important milestones, such as the April 2012 Bologna Process Ministerial Summit in Bucharest and the launch of the European Research Area Framework, imminent.

The doctoral landscape in the UK has progressed substantially over the last decade. In a number of areas, most notably researcher careers and the structure of doctoral education, UK institutions are in a good position to contribute a positive message to the development of doctoral education both at European level and further afield.

Report on 'The State of European University-Business Cooperation' published

The first major study on the cooperation between HEIs and public and private organisations in Europe has been published by the Science-to-Business Marketing Research Centre (S2BMRC), Germany. The study is the largest one into university-business cooperation (UBC) yet completed in Europe and it seeks to answer the key questions of how extensive UBC in European HEIs comes about, and why some academics and HEIs engage in UBC and others do not. The main finding of the report is that whilst there are some exceptions, cooperation between HEIs and business in Europe is still in the early stages of development. The study further explains the complexity of factors governing UBC and ways to influence it.

Launch of Eurypedia – the European Encyclopaedia on education systems

The Eurydice network has launched a new resource aimed at presenting the most comprehensive and accurate picture of education systems and reforms in Europe. Based on 'wiki technology' and containing more than 5000 articles, its purpose is to provide the most accurate picture of the education systems and reforms in 38 European school and university systems, within the 33 countries participating in the EU's Lifelong Learning Programme (all 27 EU Member States as well as Croatia, Iceland, Liechtenstein, Norway, Switzerland and Turkey). Articles are organised into 14 topics, including governance and the various education levels for children and adults. Political, economic and social backgrounds for each country are also elaborated on, as are internationalisation strategies. All information is provided in both English and the language of the country where the resource is being accessed and has been put together by the Eurydice National Unit, working with education Ministries and national experts.

Erasmus Mundus funding boost

The European Commission has more than doubled the number of education and teaching grants available for young people and university staff from North Africa and the Middle East under the Erasmus Mundus scheme. A further €10 million in funding will ensure 559 extra scholarships, on top of the 525 already planned for 2011-2012.

Recipients will be able to spend part of their studies, research or training period in the European Union. While the amount allocated will vary depending on the length of study or training periods, the educational level of the candidate and their country of origin, non-Europeans studying in the EU will receive at least €1000 a month towards their living costs.

Erasmus Mundus is the international version of the European Commission’s Erasmus student and staff exchange scheme. Since its launch in 2004, over 3000 Erasmus Mundus grants have been awarded to people from North Africa and the Middle East. These learning and training opportunities are regarded as key to strengthening democracy in the region. Indeed, encouraging mobility, through scholarships, partnerships and capacity-building, is a key pillar of the EU’s strategic response to the Arab Spring. In this context, the region is expected to benefit from further increases in Erasmus Mundus funding in 2012-2013.

Update on European Funding Services Bulletin

In the last issue of the Europe Newsletter, the launch of the European Funding Services Bulletin was announced. The Bulletin provides information on current European funding programmes and calls for proposals for higher education and international activity from a variety of different sources outside those of the European Framework Programme for Research (FP7).

Since November, the UK HE International Unit has released three editions of the Bulletin. The latest issue, which details eight current calls for proposals, is available here. In particular, it outlines funding opportunities from the Commission’s ‘Justice’ Programmes as well as the Health Programme. Funding is also available for collaboration beyond Europe: the ICI – ECP Programme supports joint projects between EU HEIs and Institutions in Australia and the Republic of Korea; Erasmus Mundus promotes collaboration between the EU and the rest of the world and the Culture Programme funds collaboration in the field of arts and cultural activities between the EU and South Africa.

You can subscribe to the Bulletin, or send in comments or feedback, by emailing EUfunding@international.ac.uk

Creative Europe

In a quest to boost economic growth, employment, innovation and social cohesion in Europe, the European Commission is proposing significant investment in the cultural and creative sectors through new programme proposal 'Creative Europe'.

Building on the success of the MEDIA and Culture programmes, 'Creative Europe' aims to safeguard and promote cultural and linguistic diversity and to strengthen the competitiveness of European cultural and creative sectors. Amongst other things, this will mean more funding for artists and professionals to work across borders; more funding for transnational cultural activities within and outside the EU; easier access to private funding; € 1 billion in loans; and increased banking expertise for the cultural and creative sectors.

According to the Commission, these measures would mean that over 300,000 artists and cultural professionals would receive funding to reach audiences beyond their home countries; that over 1000 European films would receive international distribution support; and that more than 5500 books and other literary works would receive support for translation.

Like Erasmus for All and Horizon 2020, this programme proposal is currently under discussion by the European Council and the European Parliament.

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Opportunities for HEIs

Erasmus Mundus Call for Proposals

The European Commission launched a 4th Call for Proposals under the second phase of the Erasmus Mundus programme.

Erasmus Mundus is a cooperation and mobility programme in the field of higher education. It aims to enhance the quality of European higher education and to promote dialogue and understanding between peoples and cultures through cooperation with third countries. It also contributes to the development of human resources and international capacity building for higher education institutions in third countries by promoting mobility between these countries and the European Union.

The current Call for Proposals aims to support projects under all three Actions of the programme. These are joint programmes (including scholarships); partnerships between European and Third Country higher education institutions; and the promotion of European higher education.

UK higher education institutions are eligible as applicants, coordinators and partners for Erasmus Mundus projects. The deadline for the submission of applications is 12:00 midday CET on 29 April 2012. Click here for more information on how to apply.

EUA Annual Conference on ‘The Sustainability of European Universities’ hosted by the University of Warwick, 22-23 March

Registration is open for this year’s European University Association (EUA) Conference. The conference will look at possibilities for tackling the economic and competitive challenges Europe’s higher education institutions are faced with in maintaining high quality teaching and research in an increasingly strained environment. The conference’s aim is to engage the participants in rethinking higher education models so as to be sustainable in the 21st century as well as considering a consensus on institutional, national and European strategies and action that can be implemented by individual universities to promote sustainable and successful European universities and address the challenges ahead. University leaders, researchers, students, policymakers and partner stakeholders are invited to discuss and share their thoughts and ideas with colleagues from all over Europe.

2012 Apeldoorn: British-Dutch Dialogue conference on 'Higher Education At The Heart Of Growth', Museum of Science and Industry Manchester, 11-13 March

The Apeldoorn conference, the annual high-level conference for strategic dialogue between the UK and the Netherlands, will this year focus on ideas, expertise and best practice examples on how higher education institutions can work together better with business to increase student employability, improve competitiveness, create jobs, commercialise research and innovation, and build new networks between the UK and the Netherlands and worldwide. The conference is jointly organised by the Foreign and Commonwealth Office, the British Council and the Dutch Ministry of Foreign Affairs and attendance is free of charge. Confirmed speakers include Rt Hon David Willets, Minister for Universities and Science.

COST - Call for Proposals

COST (European Cooperation in Science and Technology) fosters collaboration between researchers and experts in different countries working on specific topics across Europe. While it does not fund research itself, it does support networking activities such as meetings, conferences, short-term scientific exchanges and outreach activities. Currently around 250 scientific networks (actions) are supported. COST currently invites proposals for actions contributing to the scientific, technological, economic, cultural or societal development of Europe. Proposals playing a precursor role for other European programmes and/or initiated by early-stage researchers are especially welcome. The Open Call follows a two-stage process: the collection date for preliminary proposals is 30 March 2012, 17.00 Brussels time. Around 80 full proposals will be invited for final selection of approximately 35 new actions, subject to available budget. Full proposals will be invited by 18 May 2012 for submission by 27 July 2012, with decisions expected in November 2012.

Call for proposals under the FP7 work programme 'People'

Proposals are invited for this call concerning transnational cooperation among EURAXESS Members on topics related to the Innovation Union. Up to five proposals will be supported under this call with grant agreements awarded for up to 24 months. The total budget of this call is €1 million of the 2012 budget. The FP7 work programme ‘People’ is targeted at improving the human potential in European research and development by covering all stages of a researcher's professional life from initial training to lifelong learning and career development. Deadline for submission of proposals is 18 April 2012.

Call for proposals under the FP7 ‘Cooperation’ Programme: Information and Communication Technologies (ICT)

The objective of ICT research under the FP7 is to improve the competitiveness of European industry as well as to enable Europe to master and shape the future developments of these technologies. ICT research activities thus cover strategic priorities in areas of European industrial and technological leadership, such as communication networks, embedded computing, nanoelectronics and technologies for audiovisual content. Proposals are now invited for research projects in the following areas: Cognitive systems and Robotics, Technologies for Digital Content and Languages, ICT for Health, Ageing Well, Inclusion and Governance, ICT for Learning and Access to Cultural Resources, Future and Emerging Technologies and International Cooperation. The indicative budget for this call is €291 million. The deadline for proposals is 17 April 2012.

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Diary dates

January 2012

February 2012

March 2012