17 Modernisation of Europe's universities
| (27493)
9166/06
COM(06) 208
| Commission Communication: Delivering on the modernisation agenda for universities: education, research and innovation"
|
| Legal base | — |
| Document originated | 10 May 2006
|
| Deposited in Parliament | 16 May 2006
|
| Department | Education and Skills
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| Basis of consideration | EM of 26 May 2006
|
| Previous Committee Report | None
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| Discussed in Council | 18-19 May 2006
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| Committee's assessment | Politically important
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| Committee's decision | Cleared
|
The document
17.1 The Commission's Communication is based on its belief not
only that the universities can make an important contribution
to the achievement of the Lisbon objectives for growth and jobs
but also that they are not fulfilling their potential and require
modernisation.
17.2 The Communication comments on what the Commission
perceives as the weaknesses in the present state of European universities.
They include excessive control and regulation by Member States;
inadequate linkages between universities, industry and society;
insufficient funding of research and universities; obstacles to
the mobility of students and teachers across national borders;
and the failure of the universities to provide enough suitable
degree and non-degree training and retraining to meet the changing
needs of the labour market. The Communication also sets out the
action the Commission believes that Member States and the universities
should take to overcome these deficiencies and ensure that the
research and education of Europe's universities achieves the excellence
required for international competition.
17.3 Much of this is not new: notably, many of the
ideas are to be found in:
- the Commission Communication
"Mobilising the brainpower of Europe: enabling the universities
to make their full contribution to the Lisbon strategy":[50]
- the draft Recommendation on "further
European cooperation in quality assurance in higher education";[51]
and
- the Commission Communication on "Implementing
the renewed partnership for growth and jobs — developing
a knowledge flagship: the European Institute of Technology".[52]
17.4 However, this Communication contains some new
proposals, including the following:
- the EU should aim to devote
at least 2% of its GDP to higher education;
- the proportion of graduates who have spent at
least one term or semester abroad or with experience in industry
should double;
- national grants and loans to students should
be portable anywhere in the EU;
- no applicant should have to wait more than four
months for a decision on an application for recognition of his
or her academic or professional qualifications by another Member
State; and
- integration of its graduates into the labour
market should be one of the indicators of the quality of a university's
performance and rewarded in regulatory, funding and evaluation
systems.
17.5 The Communication says:
"The Commission is not a direct actor in
the modernisation of universities, but it can play a catalytic
role, providing political impetus and targeted funding in support
of reform and modernisation."[53]
It intends to do this through the open method of
coordination,[54] disseminating
best practice and supporting Member States' efforts. It also intends
to contribute to the modernisation of the universities through
its use of EU funds, such as the 7th EU Research and
Development Framework Programme and the Structural Funds. Moreover,
the Commission believes that the proposed European Institute for
Technology "will act as a flagship showing the value of [a]
modernised approach and mode of governance and partnership with
business".[55]
17.6 The Commission "invites the Council and
the European Parliament to give a clear message about the EU's
determination to achieve the necessary restructuring and modernisation
of universities, and to invite all concerned to take immediate
steps to take this agenda forward".[56]
The Government's view
17.7 The Minister of State for Higher Education and
Lifelong Learning at the Department for Education and Skills (Bill
Rammell) tells us that the Government regards the Communication
as a useful addition to the debate on university reform. The Government
supports the Commission's analysis and agrees that fundamental
reform is needed. It is keen, therefore, to encourage the Commission
to support peer learning and the exchange of good practice.
17.8 The Minister adds, however, that the Government
has reservations about some aspects of the Communication. For
example: the Government believes that it is for each Member State
to decide for itself:
- to what extent student grants
and loans should be portable elsewhere in the EU;
- how much to spend on higher education rather
than being expected to set a target of 2% of GDP; and
- whether to increase the proportion of people
taking part in mobility programmes (doubling the number who spend
at least a term or semester abroad would be difficult for the
UK, both as a sender and as a host).
Conclusion
17.9 The Commission's diagnosis of the need for
university reform and its prescription for change are familiar
from previous documents. We agree with the Government that the
Communication makes a useful contribution to thinking about university
modernisation. We also agree with the Government, however, that
it is for each Member State and university to decide what reforms
are required and that EU targets for funding or student mobility
are not appropriate.
17.10 The Communication is not binding and there
are no questions that we need put to the Minister about it. We
are, therefore, content to clear the document from scrutiny. We
draw it to the attention of the House because of the importance
of the universities' contribution to the economy and society.
50 See (26525) 8437/05: HC 34-i (2005-06), para 34
(4 July 2005). Back
51
See (26046) 13495/04: HC 34-viii (2005-06), para 11 (2 November
2005). Back
52
See (27325) 6844/06: HC 34-xxiii (2005-06), para 4 (29 March 2006). Back
53
Commission Communication, page 11. Back
54
The March 2000 European Council defined the open method of coordination.
It is designed to help Member States progressively develop their
own policies. It involves: European guidelines and timetables
for short-, medium- and long-term goals, with quantitative and
qualitative indicators and benchmarks; translating these European
guidelines into national and regional policies; and periodic monitoring,
evaluation and peer review. Back
55
Commission Communication, page 11. Back
56
Commission Communication, page 12. Back
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