Two new initiatives have recently been presented by the European Commission with the aim of increasing the contribution of universities and other higher education institutions to face Europe’s major challenges such as climate change, the digital transformation, and aging population. The Commission believes that the entire higher education sector has a unique position at the crossroads of education, research, and innovation, in shaping sustainable and resilient economies, and supporting universities on the provision of high-quality life-long learning opportunities with a focus on the most needed skills and competences to face today’s economic and societal demands.

The first proposal, the European strategy for universities, proposes a set of actions to support Europe’s universities towards achieving four objectives: strengthen the European dimension of higher education and research, consolidate universities as lighthouses of our European way of life, empower universities as key actors of change in the green and digital transition and reinforce universities as drivers of EU’s global role and leadership.

The second proposal focuses on building bridges for effective European higher education cooperation, by facilitating the implementation of joint transnational educational programmes and activities, pooling capacity, and resources, or awarding joint degrees. Member states are invited to act and create appropriate conditions at national level for enabling such closer and sustainable transnational cooperation.

Read more on the next steps for both strategies here