Europe, Bologna and
Erasmus: Update on
Developments
UK HE International Unit
Overview
• Context: Higher education and research in
the EU context
• Erasmus for All
• Horizon 2020
• The Bologna Process and the European
Higher Education Agenda
Context: EU 2020 strategy
• The ‘Europe 2020’ strategy follows on from the Lisbon
Strategy (2000-2010) that set out to create “'the most
competitive and dynamic knowledge-based economy' in
the world
• 3% of the EU's GDP should be invested in R&D by 2020
• The share of early school leavers should be under 10%
and at least 40% of the population aged 30-34 should
have completed tertiary or equivalent education
The EU agenda for the
modernisation of Europe’s higher
education institutions
September 2011
Priorities
• putting higher education at the centre of
innovation, job creation and employability,
• increasing student mobility and
• improving links between HEIs, research
and business.
The next generation of EU
HE and Research
programmes
•
•
•
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New budgetary cycle: 2014-2020
Rationalising, simplifying, connecting
Focus on added value of European level
Europe in international context
Erasmus for All: More
money, less paperwork
• New European Commission programme
proposal to run from 2014-2020
• Unites the seven existing programmes for
education, youth, training and sport
• Proposed budget of €19 billion: an increase
of 70%
Erasmus for All:
Proposed changes
• Streamlined architecture supports three key
actions:
- Learning mobility
- Cooperation for innovation and good
practices
- Support for policy reform
• Focus on EU added value
Learning Mobility
• Staff mobility
• Mobility for HE students and vocational
education and training students
• Youth mobility including volunteering and
youth exchanges
• Opportunities beyond Europe’s borders
• Erasmus Master Student Loan Guarantee
Facility
Increased cooperation
• Strategic partnerships
• Knowledge Alliances and Sector Skills Alliances
• International cooperation and capacity building
Policy reform
• Policy tools
• Policy objectives
• Policy dialogue
UK HE Positions
Welcomes:
- Proposals to reduce administrative burdens
- Budget increase
- Emphasis on University-Business collaboration
- International dimension
- The UK HE sector is also interested to hear more
about the European Masters Student Loan
Guarantee Facility, provided it does not impinge
on Member State autonomy
Concerns
•
•
•
•
Very vague – need more details
Too good to be true?
EU tools for valorisation: U-Multirank
Also keen to ensure that the international
element of Erasmus for All includes all
regions
Horizon 2020: renewing the EU
research landscape
• 15% of the EU budget allocated for the current
Framework Programme has gone to UK
researchers.
• Total contribution of FP7 to UK research
expected to reach €7 billion.
• Annually, FP7 contributes 5% of the UK’s
national science budget, which is equivalent to
the spending power of a medium-sized UK
research council.
Value of EU research policy to UK
universities
Research Income at UK higher education institutions, 2008/09
European Commission / EU
Government bodies
5%
UK industry, commerce & public
corporations
5%
UK central government/local
authorities, health & hospital
authorities
12%
Other overseas
4%
EU other
1%
Other sources
1%
BBSRC, 4%
MRC, 4%
NERC, 2%
UK-based charities
15%
Research Councils
25%
EPSRC, 9%
ESRC, 2%
AHRC, 1%
STFC, 2%
Other, 1%
UK HE Funding councils
31%
Total (2008/09): £5,978 million
Source: Higher Education Statistics Agency (HESA) (2010): Finance Plus 2008/09
Horizon 2020: renewing the EU
research landscape
• ‘Horizon 2020’ is the proposed new EU programme for
research and innovation.
• 2014 – 2020, total budget of €80 billion – a substantial
increase on the budget for FP7
• H2020 brings together all existing EU programmes for
research and innovation under single umbrella: FP7,
Competitiveness and Innovation Framework Programme
(CIP) and the European Institute of Innovation and
Technology (EIT).
• Innovation focus
Horizon 2020: Three key
strands
• Excellent Science (€24.6 billion)
•
•
•
•
77% increase for ERC;
Special attention to Future and Emerging Technologies (FETs);
Researcher Careers;
International co-operation encouraged
• Societal Concerns (€31. 7 billion) :
•
•
•
•
•
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Health, demographic change and wellbeing;
Food security, sustainable agriculture and bio-economy;
Secure, clean and efficient energy;
Smart, green and integrated transport;
Climate action, resource efficiency and raw materials;
Inclusive, innovative and secure societies.
• Industrial Leadership (€17.9 billion).
Horizon 2020: Broadly aligned
with UK
HE sector interests
• Substantial budget increase for European Research
Council
• Continuation of excellence as underlying principle for
allocation of EU research funding
• Single set of administrative rules for all components of
Horizon 2020.
• Extension of administrative model of the European
Research Council across Horizon 2020, allowing a 100%
reimbursement rate.
• Move towards a more trust based control strategy eg.
acceptance of the accounting practices of all participants
Remaining issues for the UK HE
sector
• Increased role for the European Structural Funds in
capacity building and widening participation across
Europe.
• Cost declaration through full costing will not be possible.
• Specific Grand Challenges identified by the Commission
under the ‘Societal Concern’ strand of Horizon 2020
• Balance of funding between innovation and research
Key Bologna Process
Reforms
• Bachelor – Master – Doctoral cycles
(UK already uses this structure)
• Overarching Framework for Qualifications of the EHEA
(UK HE qualifications frameworks self-certified)
• European Standards and Guidelines for Quality
Assurance in the EHEA
(Quality Assurance Agency – QAA)
• European Credit Transfer System (ECTS)
(Experience of using credit – NUCCATS, SCQF)
• Diploma Supplement
(New challenge – development of HEAR)
Bologna Process 2009-2012:
Leuven Communiqué
 Student mobility: in 2020, 20% of students graduating in the
European Higher Education Area should have had a study or training
period abroad
 Lifelong Learning: Ministers formally acknowledged learning
outcomes as the basis for recognition of formal and informal learning.
 ‘Multidimensional transparency tools’: BFUG to monitor
development of classifications/typologies and rankings of HEIs
 Expanding Bologna’s remit: to include additional policy areas
 International dimension enhanced in 2009
Bucharest Ministerial
Summit: April 2012
Draft communiqué:
• In-depth implementation of Bologna Process tools
• Increased data collection and more transparency across the EHEA
• Monitor progress towards 2020 mobility targets
• Promote further convergence of programmes and recognition
• Discuss and endorse a revised framework for European Standards
and Guidelines
• Stakeholders meeting: 13 March 2012
• Chair of the International Unit, Professor Colin
Riordan, to attend Ministerial summit