21.4.2022
EN
Official Journal of the European Union
C 167/11
— bolstering Europe’s recovery and response to the digital and green transitions; — deepening the European sense of belonging based on common values.
INVITES THE COMMISSION AND THE MEMBER STATES, IN LINE WITH THEIR RESPECTIVE COMPETENCES AND WITH DUE REGARD FOR THE PRINCIPLE OF SUBSIDIARITY, TO ENGAGE WITH HIGHER EDUCATION INSTITUTIONS AND STAKEHOLDERS WITH A VIEW TO ACHIEVING THE FOLLOWING KEY OBJECTIVES:
Strengthening the European dimension in higher education, research and innovation as well as the synergies between them 15.
Deeper transnational cooperation contributes to achieving the European Education Area and the new European Research Area in full synergy, by making HEIs stronger and increasing the quality of higher education, research and innovation in Europe as a whole.
Through new dimensions, formats and opportunities for mobility across disciplines and sectors and across borders, together with attractive and sustainable academic and research careers as well as open education and open science, it enables them to better tackle societal challenges and equip students, lifelong learners and researchers with the right knowledge, skills and competences for their future professional and personal development.
Particular attention should be paid to students and young researchers who have seen their studies and careers strongly impacted by the pandemic, as well as those from rural and remote areas, such as outermost regions. 16.
Alliances of HEIs, such as the ‘European Universities’, can demonstrate the potential of extensive and long-term institutional higher education cooperation.
Such alliances have the potential to generate real European added value by achieving critical mass on a European scale through the long-term commitment of all involved parties.
They facilitate free movement across Europe for study, work and research purposes based on common interests.
Through a strong degree of integration, transparency and openness, they can have a transformative impact within and for Europe.
Coordination and complementarity with other European, national, regional, local, and, where relevant, international initiatives and networks will enhance their transformative impact. 17.
Unlocking the full added value of alliances of HEIs such as the ‘European Universities’ calls for further support at European and, where appropriate, national level through a step-by-step approach.
As catalysts of institutional transformation, these alliances should, where appropriate, be supported in developing a strong research and innovation dimension and in implementing innovative joint educational programmes at all levels, within a studentcentred, research and innovation driven approach, which could possibly award joint degrees based on European criteria co-created with Member States and relevant stakeholders, in accordance with the instruments of the Bologna Process.
These alliances should also be supported, where appropriate, in improving human resources management, in terms of possible joint recruitment of academics and researchers; in promoting the development of attractive and sustainable careers; and in mutualising resources and structures, for instance laboratories and platforms. 18.
While fully recognising the value of face-to-face learning and physical mobility, as well as the need for balanced brain circulation, HEIs should be encouraged to further support all types of mobility of students, staff and researchers, which contributes to academic success and personal achievement by enabling all students, staff and researchers to acquire international and intercultural competences through the internationalisation of curricula or participation in innovative international environments in their home institutions. 19.
The European Year of Youth has an enabling role in this respect.
It is worth recalling the target that at least 20 % of the graduates in the European Higher Education Area should have experienced a study or training period abroad, as reaffirmed in the Rome Ministerial Communiqué of 19 November 2020, and the support to be given to the European Universities initiative to reach the ambitious target of 50 % mobile students, as set out in the Council conclusions on the European Universities initiative – Bridging higher education, research, innovation and society: Paving the way for a new dimension in European higher education. 20.
To achieve these targets, Member States and the Commission, in cooperation with HEIs, should also strive to simplify administrative procedures for institutions, including by further widening the implementation of the European Student Card initiative and by further implementing the automatic mutual recognition of academic qualifications and study periods abroad, in cooperation with the National Academic Recognition Information Centres (NARIC).
HEIs should be encouraged to make full use of digital tools for mobility and recognition, promote multilingualism, interculturality and inclusion of students with fewer opportunities on their campuses, and embed mobility in their curricula.