EUA Newsletter 9/2006 ****************************************************************************************** * EUA Newsletter 9/2006 ****************************************************************************************** EC Communication on the Modernisation Agenda for Universities Adopted on 10 May 2006, the European Commission has finalised its Communication to the Cou European Parliament on "Delivering on the Modernisation Agenda for Universities: Education Innovation". This follows on from the 2005 Communication "Mobilising the Brainpower of Eur the universities to make their full contribution to the Lisbon Strategy" and from discussi of the universities that took place at the informal meeting of the European Council in Ham October 2005. The Communication points to the coordinated action required from Member Stat and the Commission that is required if universities are to achieve their potential as cruc centre of the knowledge triangle linking education, research and innovation. Many of the reforms recommended in the paper take up key issues that EUA has discussed in conferences and policy documents. In particular, at the top of its agenda, the Commission the importance of reducing the "funding gap" in higher education and recommends that the E within a decade, to "devote at least 2% of GDP (including both public and private funding) higher education sector". Member States are also urged to ensure real autonomy and account their universities, freeing them from "over-regulation and micromanagement". These are poi by EUA President, Professor Georg Winckler, who was among the experts consulted by the Com preparation of this document. EUA will analyse the Communication in more depth in the weeks to come, concentrating speci action points addressed to the universities that include recommendations to expand their f enhance their areas of excellence and develop their competitive position. Find out more on the EC's Communication on universities in Europe Consult EUA's recent policy statements in 2005-2006 linked to the key issues of the Commun Report on the Hampton Court meeting EUA Position on Proposed FP7 Cost Model Supported at Prague Workshop Hosted by the Czech Rectors' Conference and Charles University in Prague, EUA held a works on the theme of "Universities' Participation in FP7: Towards Full Cost Support". As an ini EUA Working Group on the Simplification of FP7 Funding Mechanisms, the workshop aimed at r within the EUA membership - with thirty university participants from the Czech Republic, S Estonia and Austria - to discuss the proposed new "Rules of Participation" and the major c imply, particularly with respect to the re-imbursement of research costs and how they will university sector in relation to the future sustainability of externally funded research p particular aim of the workshop was to assess and debate the prospects (and barriers) for u operate effectively on the eligible research costs model proposed in FP7. The workshop dem most universities in the region have used the Additional Costs (AC) model. Re-tr aining fo on eligible research costs would need considerable time and resources, particularly in ada systems. The workshop focussed debate on the "EUA Statement on the Rules of Participation Proposals Rates and Cost Models" which had been endorsed by the EUA Council meeting in Hamburg on 30 The EUA Statement took the position that in the FP7 Cooperation Programmes the flat rate p re-imbursement of indirect research costs should be fixed at 60% of total direct costs (on development activities for participating public bodies and higher education institutions) the level of re-imbursement of research project costs to universities remains on a par in AC model to the proposed FP7 eligible research costs model. The EUA viewpoint found strong university participants at the workshop. Without such a measure applying as a transition p universities in the region to prepare fully for eligible research cost accounting, there w serious risk of a fall in participation levels of New Member State uni versities in FP7. Read the outcomes of the Workshop in Prague Read EUA's Statement on the proposed support rates and cost models DG Research Study on the European Scientific Publication System Led by the Université Libre de Bruxelles and the Université des Sciences Sociales, Toulous Commission's Directorate General for Research published on 31 March 2006 a study on the Eu publication system entitled "Study on the economic and technical evolution of the scientif markets in Europe". As a contribution to the debate of the access to and dissemination of scientific publicati the study confirmed the essential role of scientific journals for research and the importa these publications ass accessible as possible. The study provides a number of recommendati access to be further discussed at a conference devoted to the subject to be held in autumn The European Commission would also like to hear the views of interested parties, and is th calling for reactions and contributions on the study and other issues linked to scientific Contributions should be sent to rtd-scientific-publication@cec.eu.int by 1 June 2006. Shou wish to respond, EUA would be grateful to also receive this feedback. Members can send the to info@eua.be. Learn more about the Study on the Scientific Publication System in Europe The Bologna Process and Australia: Next Steps The Australian Ministry for Education, Science and Training has published a discussion pap Bologna Process and Australia: Next Steps". The paper aims to stimulate discussion about t Process in Europe as well as the prospective implications it has for both domestic and int students in Australia as well as increased international cooperation. The paper is the fir consultation process in Australia on the opportunities and challenges of the Bologna Proce Find out more on the Australian paper on the Bologna reforms EUA Publications Guidelines for Quality Enhancement in European Joint Master Programmes The final report of the EUA project on European Masters New Evaluation Methodology (EMNEM) online and will be sent in hard copy format to members and partners in the coming three we up project to the EUA Joint Masters Project, the EMNEM Project produced guidelines to help involved in developing new joint master programmes or improving existing programmes. Read the report EUA Annual Report 2005 The report of activities for the Association in 2005 is now available online and will be s format to members and partners in the coming week. The report focuses on EUA's projects an 2005, in particular the European Higher Education Institutions Convention in Glasgow. Read the report EUA EVENTS Leadership Seminar on Leadership in an International Context, 12-14 June 2006 - last place In collaboration with the Leadership Foundation for Higher Education (UK) and the Centre f Management ZWM (Germany), and hosted by the University of Lausanne Designed as an interactive case-based learning experience with peer contributions, partici to contribute their own case studies and experiences while senior university leaders and l provide input for discussion and act as coaches in the process. The Seminar is highly relevant to in-coming Rectors, Presidents, Vice Chancellors, Directo or who have been in charge of a higher education institution for only a short period of ti also available for executive heads with a longer time in office if they wish to deepen the the issues of internationalisation. The final selection takes into account geographical cr a fruitful exchange of views and the number of participants will be limited to 25 in order effective learning process and a good networking atmosphere. As participation is limited and there are only a few places left, interested individuals a register as soon as possible in order to guarantee their participation. Please note that this is the first module of a series. A second module will take place in November 2006 (participants can register to each module separately). Find out more on the new Leadership Seminar European QA Forum: Final Reminder for Call for Papers - Deadline 31 May 2006 EUA is co-organising with ENQA, ESIB ad EURASHE a Forum entitled "Embedding Quality Cultur Education". The Forum will be hosted by the Technische Universität München, and will take November 2006. The main objective of this event is to bring together the higher education and QA communit European level - how internal QA procedures should be adapted to the changing higher educa and the implications this development holds for external evaluation procedures. EUA invites its members to respond to the attached Call for Papers on best practices in Qu and hopes that many of them will be able to participate in this important event. In additi to members, EUA offers to send updates on important developments in quality assurance dire members in charge of quality at their institution. If you would like your institution to r information, please transmit the names and contact details of the staff in question. Learn more about the European QA Forum Send your institution's QA contact details to EUA MEMBERS AND PARTNERS Council of Europe: Forum on Higher Education and Democratic Culture, 22-23 June 2006 The Council of Europe's Steering Committee for Higher Education and Research (CDESR) will on "Higher Education and Democratic Culture: Citizenship, Human Rights and Civic Responsib of Europe Headquarters in Strasbourg, France. More information NIAID 2006 Conference on Research, 24-30 June 2006 The National Institute of Allergy and Infectious Diseases (NIAID) in the United States wil conference on opportunities and collaborations with scientists from Central and Easters Eu countries, Russia and Ukraine. The conference will take place in Opatija, Croatia. More information EUNIS 2006 Conference on IT in Higher Education, 28-30 June 2006 Hosted and co-organised by the University of Tartu, the European University Information Sy Organisation (EUNIS) will hold its 2006 annual conference on "In Information Technology Sh of Higher Education?" More information International Academic Consortium on Global Education, 4-6 July 2006 Organised by the University of Warwick, UK, the AC21 International Forum 2006 on "Global E Universities in the 21st Century" is aimed at senior university academics ad administrator knowledge transfer specialists and student leaders. More information IAU 2006 International Conference on Internationalisation, 13-15 October 2006 The International Association of Universities (IAU) will hold its annual conference this y China, in conjunction with the China Education Association for International Exchange (CEA the event is "Internationalisation of Higher Education: New Directions, New Challenges. More information ELM 2006 Conference on the European Labour Market, 19-21 October 2006 Hosted by the University of Maastricht, the European Labour Market for Academic Graduates (ELM2006) will focus on themes related to the international employability of graduates of reform degrees. More information GUNI International Conference on Accreditation and QA, 27-29 November 2006 Hosted by the Universitat Politecnica de Catalunya, the Global University Network for Inno will hold its '3rd International Barcelona Conference on Higher Education' on the theme "A Quality Assurance: What is at Stake?". More information You will receive this newsletter on EUA activities every two weeks. To unsubscribe click here. If you have any questions, or require additional information, please contact info@eua.be. EUA - European University Association