WRITTEN QUESTION E-2173/00

by Salvador Garriga Polledo (PPE-DE) to the Commission

(7 July 2000)

Subject: Development of the relationship between universities and businesses within the EU

The concept of a university as a public service to society must also incorporate the idea that universities are essential to the business development of any society, for which reason Europe's economic environment requires a more flexible relationship between universities and businesses and also greater flexibility in the working practices of students and researchers.

It is plain to everyone that the harnessing of external resources which at the earliest opportunity establish a relationship between students and the employment market needs to be rethought, as must the arrangements for the constant updating to which the relationship between universities and businesses must be subject if imbalances are not to creep into that relationship one which is essential if the socio-economic context is to develop smoothly.

What Community policy has been conducted with a view to sustaining an on-going dialogue intended to safeguard the balance between universities and businesses? How has the Commission supported initiatives which are capable of monitoring the state of that dialogue on a permanent basis?

Answer given by Mrs Reding on behalf of the Commission

(17 October 2000)

The establishment of close relationships between universities and the business sector has been recognised by the Commission as one of the key elements for the development of the Community. The aim of bringing schools and business sector closer together is one of the general objectives aiming at the development of the knowledge society set out by the Commission in its white paper Teaching and learning Towards the learning society(1). Moreover, in its communication Towards a Europe of knowledge(2), the Commission identifies the economic partners, and in particular small and medium-sized enterprises (SMEs), as one of the main parties involved. The communication from the Commission Challenges for enterprise policy in the knowledge-driven economy(3) has confirmed the need to promote an entrepreneurial culture in our society, bringing knowledge about business and entrepreneurship into the education systems.

Since 1986 the Community programmes in the fields of education and vocational training provide students with a wide range of possibilities to experience internships or vocational training schemes abroad. The Comett programme (1986-1994)(4) has supported the placement of 28 000 students and about 1 000 staff exchanges between universities and entreprises. The Erasmus action of the Socrates programme(5), which has allowed from 1987 to 2000 the mobility of about 700 000 students, also foresees the possibility of spending part of the study period abroad under the form of an internship. Leonardo da Vinci(6) (1995-1999) has supported 822 projects of placements in entreprises involving 40 000 students and young graduates.

The decisions establishing the second phase of Socrates(7) and Leonardo da Vinci(8) stress that in implementing the measures of the programme, the Commission and Member States shall have regard to the priorities set out in the employment guidelines adopted by the Council, as part of a coordinated employment strategy.

In these guidelines, defined in the framework of the Luxembourg process and inspiring the national action plans (NAPs) for employment, the education and training aspects are addressed as a means to promote employability and entrepreneurship (Guidelines 6 and 11 in particular).

Moreover, the Europass Training(9) for the promotion of European pathways in work-linked training, including apprenticeship, encourages cooperation between institutions involved in vocational training, including universities, and entreprises.

The action plan for promoting entrepreneurship and competitiveness, which was endorsed by the Industry Council in April 1999, lists a series of actions to be taken at Community and Member State level, including actions about education and training for entrepreneurship. All Member States have reported to the Commission on the state of these initiatives.

Several studies, conferences, fora on the cooperation between universities and business have been or will be supported by the Commission, including a Forum on education and training for entrepreneurship (Nice Sophia Antipolis, 19-20 October 2000) and a Business educational network in Europe (BENE) between educational organisations involved in the training of entrepreneurs, which is expected to be fully operational in 2002.

(1) COM(95) 590 final.

(2) COM(97) 563 final.

(3) COM(2000) 256 final.

(4) Council decision 86/365/EEC of 24 July 1986 adopting the programme on cooperation between universities and enterprises regarding training in the field of technology (Comett); OJ L 222, 8.8.1986 and Council Decision 89/27/EEC of 16 December 1988 adopting the second phase of the programme on cooperation between universities and industry regarding training in the field of technology (Comett II) (1990 to 1994) (OJ L 13, 17.1.1989).

(5) Parliament and Council Decision No 819/95/EC of 11.4.1995 (OJ L 87, 20.4.1995).

(6) Council Decision 94/819/EC of 6.12.1994 (OJ L 340, 29.12.1994).

(7) Parliament and Council Decision No 253/2000/EC of 24.1.2000 (OJ L 28, 3.2.2000).

(8) Council Decision No 382/1999/EC of 26.4.1999 (OJ L 146, 11.6.1999).

(9) Council Decision 1999/51/EC of 21.12.1998 (OJ L 17, 22.1.1999).