Youth on the Move Briefing for Journalists

Dr. Lidia Borrell-DamianResearch and Innovation Unit

European University Association

Florence, 8 May 2011

Session on “Challenge and change: Developing

modern education and training systems in Europe”

Key Challenges for Universities’ Successful Integration of the EHEA and

ERA

1 Next stage of “Bologna” reforms implementation.

2 Research and Innovation – changing nature and mission diversity.

3 International competition and cooperation.

4 Building partnerships.

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Increasingly important in all areas of university missions, curricula development, research collaboration and innovation activities.‘Open Innovation’ model of university / business cooperation.Enhanced employability and entrepreneurial attitudes of university graduates, inter-sectoral exchange of staff and ‘knowledge exchange’In research and innovation activities building partnerships requires sound project management and improved intellectual property management reflecting respective interests.

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Universities Building Partnerships

Examples of Initiatives on University Partnerships

“Responsible Partnering Guidelines”Development of general guidelines based on good practices.

“European Platform of Universities Engaged in Energy Research” (EPUE)Mapping of university research and training capacity including collaboration with industry in the field of energy.

“Collaborative Doctoral Education” University-Industry partnerships for enhanced knowledge exchange

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Working together to strengthen research in Europe

4.1 Revised Responsible Partnering Guidelines

Example 1Revised Responsible Partnering Guidelines

Voluntary code of conduct reflecting

proven good practices in

collaborative research

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Universities addressing ‘Grand Challenges’

EUA has joined the new European Energy Research Alliance (EERA) which has been launched in the framework of the European Strategic Energy Technology Plan (SET-Plan)

EUA has decided to create a “European Platform of Universities Engaged in Energy Research” (EPUE) as a parallel mechanism for consultation and engagement by universities to that already established by the national research institutes.

EUA sees EERA as an important pilot action in the potential development of the new instrument of “joint programming” in which university-based research and post-graduate training needs to contribute and be strengthened.

Example 2European Platform of Universities Engaged in Energy Research (EPUE Platform)

Universities addressing ‘Grand Challenges’

Report cover

Example 3: Collaborative Doctoral Education

Twelve Recommendations for Situations Involving

Collaborative Research Training1. Identify knowledge/technological needs and challenges that need R&D input

2. Exchange views on knowledge/technological challenges with university/industry

3. Plan medium-long term R&D strategy (e.g. within five years)4. Develop high quality research proposals5. Know the costs of your research and identify funding sources6. Raise your awareness of the respective research environments in which to

collaborate in your field (university, industry)7. Develop/Participate in forums for soft ways of interaction between

students, researchers and industry experts with good research content (conferences, fairs, etc.)

8. Organise small-size highly-specialised workshops/meetings that pool experts from different research fields and sectors

9. Seek the right expertise to assist you (IPR issues, contractual issues, etc.)10.Formalise doctoral collaborations in solid and fair agreements combining

structure and flexibility11. Consider physical proximity as an asset to develop mutual trust - promote

face-to-face dialogue12.Commit to excellence in doctoral education, research and managementSource: DOC-CAREERS report

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Univ and Ind as Partners for research activity, Human Resources training and

entrepreneurship

University as a supplier of knowledge and Human Resources

Shorter term Longer term

Delimited contracts for a specific project

Short term internships for students

Short term secondments for academics within the firm and the opposite

Joint training programmes: “Chairs”

Joint laboratories

Doctoral Schemes/ Programmes

Special events organized with secondary or primary schools

University-Industry Collaborations

COLLABORATION TIME FRAME

…10…Source: EUA DOC-CAREERS Project

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UNIVERSITY INDUSTRY

GIVES ACCESS TO UNIVERSITIES

IS ACCESSIBLE THANKS TO UNIVERSITY

Doctoral Candidate in Collaborative Doctoral

Programmes

Collaborative Doctoral ProgrammesThe unique role of doctoral candidates as

a link between university and industry

Source: E. Chassagneux, EIRMA

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0 1 2 3 4 5

Technical Proficiency

Work in depth and at the frontiers of knowledge

Work accross disciplinary/functional boundaries

Originality and Creativity

Integrate ideas and resources from a wide pool of sources

Team Player

Explain and Communicate to non-specialists

Customer Orientation

Entrepreneurial Mindset

Social Skills, Experiences and other

Leadership Potential

Importance at the time of recruitment (scale form 0 to 5)

Doctorate Holders in Enterprises:What Skills Make them Employable?

Source: EUA DOC-CAREERS Project

Autonomy and Sustainable FundingTo support universities to move towards full costing of their activities, to diversifying their funding base and obtain sufficient public funding.

Priority Investment in Higher Education and ResearchThe current economic downturn has brought into focus more sharply the need for Europe to invest more in higher education and research to remain a globally competitive region.

A varied range of European Funding InstrumentsTo support the development of varied university missions across Europe and its regions to achieve the ‘modernisation agenda’ for Europe's’ Universities.

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Framework Conditions Required