BRUSSELS, 18 JAN -
The EU Commission today launches its strategy for the university of the future which, between now and 2024, will have to lead to the creation of the European diploma and redesign
- as long as the member states are reactive - higher education.
"More than a Bologna 2.0 we are a mega-Bologna", commented the commissioner and vice-president Margaritis Schinas
presenting the initiative in Strasbourg.
By 'Bologna' we mean the first nucleus of trans-European cooperation on education, which took its steps right from the Emilian capital, seat of the oldest Western university.
But now we are looking to the future and the commission puts the synergy between universities, regions and businesses at the center of the strategy, so that higher education is an important player in the "green and digital" transition, and the "transnational" information offer, facilitating study paths in various European countries.
"We want to make Europe a leader in education, it must both attract new talent and support its own, and for the first time we are adopting a package designed for this purpose", underlined Commissioner Mariya Gabriel.
Good.
In practice, the Commission will support, with dedicated funding, the expansion of the Alliance of Universities - the universities pioneers in community projects - up to over 500 institutions by 2024, with inter-university campuses dedicated to students, researchers and teachers.
Then we will work on a new legal statute for partner universities, with the aim of issuing truly 'European' degrees - the goal is to broaden the scope after 2024, with member states called upon to legislate to implement the Announcements.
Finally, a more substantial European student card, alongside the national one, to have access to concessions, transport discounts and cultural initiatives throughout Europe.
