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The Future of European Universities

La Vanguardia reports on the future of EU Universities in a blueprint by the Bruegel think-thank.

September 17, 2008

The results of the blueprint entitled “Higher education: An agenda for reforming the European university” are reported and discussed by the Barcelona-based newspaper La Vanguardia. This blueprint was conducted by the Bruegel organization. Bruegel is a European think tank devoted to international economics. It was created in Brussels in early 2005 with the intention of bringing a new voice into Europe’s economic policy discussions. The name Bruegel refers to the ‘Brussels European and Global Economic Laboratory”.

One of the authors of the blueprint, Prof. Andreu Mas-Colell, formerly Minister for Science of the Government of Catalonia, and future Secretary General of the European Research Council, explains his viewpoint in the La Vanguardia article. ICFO Director, Prof Lluis Torner, contributes an accompanying comment.

The Bruegel study explores the reasons for the underperformance of European centers in Shangai’s ranking of world universities. According to this analysis, the level of student mobility in Europe is low; a more generalist curriculum may contribute to reducing failure rates; and selection at entry, specialization and mobility should be encouraged. Increased funding, autonomy, mobility and completion are the policy recommendations of the study.

In his contribution, Prof. Lluís Torner discusses the “ecosystem of innovation”, i.e. the set of institutions that transform knowledge into wealth. He remarks that a key ingredient to nurture innovation and to sustain innovation nests (namely, environments that cultivate innovation) is the availability of world-class research Universities.

Prof. Andreu Mas-Colell underlines the key importance of burocracy-free Universities able to provide the best talent. He discusses the main policy recommendations given in the report: Increased funding for universities: increased funding for universities, increased university autonomy, increased mobility and completion.

Signature
Mr. Eduardo Carvalho Brandão and Prof. Lluís Torner
Prof. Andreu-Mas-Colell