News
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25 Nov 2020EUA calls on Iranian authorities to release Dr Amadreza Djalali and suspend death sentence
On 25 November, EUA President Michael Murphy expressed grave concern for the well-being of Dr Ahmadreza Djalali in a letter addressed to the Iranian leadership.
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19 Nov 2020EUA-coordinated project puts a spotlight on recognition
This summer, EUA launched the new Erasmus+ co-funded “Spotlight on recognition” project. It aims to support higher education staff responsible for recognition processes and decisions by enhancing their capacities in terms of recognition procedures in compliance with the Lisbon Recognition Convention.
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18 Nov 2020EUA welcomes 15 new members
On 30 October, the EUA Council accepted the applications of 15 new individual full members.
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17 Nov 2020Academic freedom and institutional autonomy: developments in Europe and beyond
Recent months have seen important events regarding academic freedom, both in Europe and globally. There have been violations of democratic and human rights in Belarus, including threats against students and staff of universities – which were widely condemned. Last month, the Court of Justice of the European Union (ECJ) ruled that the Hungarian government violated EU law when it amended its education law in 2017. The EJC ruling drew welcome attention to growing violations of academic freedom and institutional autonomy, which are essential for successful universities and vibrant democratic societies in Europe and beyond.
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10 Nov 2020Green light for EU seven-year budget: European institutions’ deal tops up Horizon Europe and Erasmus+
The European Parliament and EU Council negotiating team finally agreed on the EU’s multiannual financial framework, a process made more complex than ever this time due to the pandemic and the related new recovery package, the difficulties of striking a deal among member states, and the strongly diverging negotiating positions of the two institutions.
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02 Nov 2020Belarus: Statement of the European University Association (EUA) and the European Students’ Union (ESU)
The European University Association (EUA) and the European Students’ Union (ESU) are concerned by the grave violations of democratic and human rights that continue to be witnessed in Belarus. The two organisations strongly condemn recent threats of expulsion, dismissal or conscription into the military directed against students and staff of Belarusian universities.
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22 Oct 2020HRK, UNIKO and VSNU unite in call for EU investment in education, research and innovation
The presidents of the German Rectors’ Conference (HRK), Universities Austria (UNIKO) and the Association of Universities in the Netherlands (VSNU), all EUA members, have published a common statement urging governments to recognise the value of education, research and innovation in the EU Multiannual Financial Framework.
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12 Oct 2020Hungary: EU court rules education amendments unlawful
On 6 October 2020, the Court of Justice of the European Union (ECJ) ruled that the Hungarian government violated EU law in 2017 when it changed its education legislation. The amendments made headlines as they ultimately led the Central European University (CEU), an EUA member, to move most of its operations from Budapest to Vienna.
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30 Sep 2020European Commission presents flagship package for education, research and innovation
On 30 September, the European Commission presented a package of three major initiatives aimed at unlocking Europe’s potential in education, research and innovation. The Commission published two dedicated Communications on the European Education Area and the European Research Area. It also presented the updated Digital Education Action Plan, whose purpose is to support the use of technology in education and the development of digital competences.
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18 Sep 2020EUA joins forces with UNESCO for a global transition to Open Science
EUA has joined the UNESCO Global Open Science Partnership. The purpose of this partnership is to work towards a global consensus on the transition to Open Science and the adoption of a UNESCO Recommendation on Open Science in 2021.
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17 Sep 2020Knowledge must be at the heart of plans to revitalise Europe
The European University Association’s response to Ursula von der Leyen’s State of the Union speech
Under President Ursula von der Leyen, the European Commission has set an ambitious agenda for Europe, for the green and digital transitions of the continent and for Europe’s role in the world. These ambitions require a solid knowledge base, sustained by common investments and policy frameworks, otherwise Europe risks becoming irrelevant.
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02 Sep 2020Bologna Process: EUA hosts seven-part webinar series
EUA is pleased to present a seven-part webinar series on the different areas of work in the Bologna Process. The series is composed of seven webinars and will run from 29 September until 1 December.
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27 Aug 2020Quality assurance: E4 Group publishes statement stressing relevance of ESG
The E4 Group (ENQA, EUA, EURASHE and ESU) has issued a joint statement reinforcing the relevance of the Standards and Guidelines for Quality Assurance in the European Higher Education Area (ESG). The statement, “The ESG in the changing landscape of higher education”, reinforces the purpose and focus of quality assurance and the ESG.
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23 Jul 2020EUA welcomes European Parliament resolution calling for more future-oriented EU budget deal
The European Parliament met on 23 July in an extraordinary plenary session to adopt a resolution declaring that it does not accept the budget deal made by EU leaders on 21 July. EUA welcomes the resolution and supports the European Parliament in its call for more funding for research, innovation and the Green Deal.
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22 Jul 2020UK and Horizon Europe: EUA signs Wellcome Trust statement calling for full association
EUA and more than 100 individuals and organisations have signed a statement by the British foundation Wellcome Trust that argues for full UK association to the Horizon Europe programme.
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21 Jul 2020EU leaders cut research and innovation to reach deal
On 21 July, EU leaders agreed on the next EU seven-year budget and the associated recovery plan after a long and difficult summit spanning over four days. The outcome reveals a failure to invest strategically in the future, with curtailed ambitions towards research, innovation and education.
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14 Jul 2020University associations unite to urge EU policy makers to invest in education, research and innovation
European leaders meet this week on 17-18 July with the goal of reaching an agreement on the European Union’s next seven-year budget and the related recovery plan to help the EU’s economy back on its feet. On this occasion, EUA and 14 partner university associations reiterate the urgent need to invest in research, innovation and education to precisely achieve long-term, sustainable recovery, as well as strategic resilience for the continent.
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14 Jul 2020European Commission launches a new Skills Agenda
On 1 July, the European Commission launched the European Skills Agenda for sustainable competitiveness, social fairness and resilience. It defines 12 actions for upskilling (improving existing skills) and reskilling (training in new skills) for the coming five years. With this Agenda, the European Commission aims to address structural gaps and to enable the transition of the existing systems to a green and digital economy. The Agenda comes amid enhanced social and economic challenges, as Europe steps out of the lockdown and enters into the recovery phase.
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13 Jul 2020Romanian president moves to reject ban on gender studies
On 10 July, Romanian President Klaus Iohannis submitted an appeal to the country’s Constitutional Court regarding an amendment passed by the Parliament that would prohibit gender studies in all education institutions. The Romanian Parliament approved the amendment to the education law on 16 June. The move sparked an outcry in the academic world and among civil society organisations with many declaring it a clear infringement on academic freedom, contradicting fundamental rights guaranteed by the Romanian Constitution and international conventions.
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10 Jul 2020European Universities Initiative: 24 new alliances selected
On 9 July, the European Commission announced the selection results of the second pilot call under the European Universities Initiative. Out of 62 applications, 24 new university alliances were chosen with a total of 165 participating higher education institutions from 26 countries. 122 of those are EUA members. The Association congratulates them for this success.
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