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Brussels, 12 May 2006

COMMUNICATION FROM THE COMMISSION TO THE COUNCIL AND THE

EUROPEAN PARLIAMENT DELIVERING ON THE MODERNISATION AGENDA FOR UNIVERSITIES: EDUCATION, RESEARCH AND INNOVATION

Introduction

Modernisation of Europe's universities2, involving their interlinked roles of education, research and innovation, has been acknowledged not only as a core condition for the success of the broader Lisbon Strategy, but as part of the wider move towards an increasingly global and knowledge-based economy. The main items on the agenda for change have been identified3 and given added momentum by the European Council: at the informal meeting at Hampton Court in October 2005, R&D and universities were acknowledged as foundations of European competitiveness; the 2006 Spring European Council agreed on stronger action at European level to drive forward this agenda in universities and research, which should be implemented by the end of 2007 in the context of the renewed partnership for growth and employment4. In the National Reform Programmes based on the Integrated Guidelines for Growth and Jobs5, Member States refer generally to these issues, but few address them as a national priority. Yet these changes are necessary to regenerate Europe's own approach, not to replicate any imported model. They are equally necessary in order to reinforce the societal roles of universities in a culturally and linguistically diverse Europe.

For this purpose, alongside the fundamental local, regional and national roots of universities, the European framework is becoming increasingly important. The European dimension offers the potential benefits of larger scale operation greater diversity and intellectual richness of resources, plus opportunities for cooperation and competition between institutions.

In this respect the Commission has already proposed the establishment of the European Institute of Technology (EIT)6 which was welcomed by the 2006 Spring European Council as a new initiative specifically to address these challenges. It can contribute to improving Europe's capacity for scientific education, research and innovation, while providing an innovative model to inspire and drive change in existing universities, in particular by encouraging multi-disciplinarity and developing the strong partnerships with business that will ensure its relevance. Of course, the EIT alone cannot be the only solution in the drive to modernise Europe's universities.

The Commission acknowledges with thanks the contributions of all the experts who were consulted and offered comments and suggestions in the course of preparation of this document. In this document "universities" is taken to mean all higher education institutions, irrespective of their name and status in the Member States.

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Brussels, 10.5.2006 COM(2006) 208 final