During this insightful discussion, The G
uild’s representatives, including Berit Eika (Pro-Rector, Aarhus University), Bálint Markó (Vice-Rector, Babeș Bolyai University) and Jo Angouri (Deputy Pro-Vice-Chancellor, University of Warwick), Jan Palmowski (Secretary-General, The Guild) and Ivana Didak (Head of Higher Education Policy, The Guild), expressed their gratitude to Executive Vice-President Mînzatu for prioritising this meeting early in her tenure signalling her interest in – and concern for – higher education and her proactive engagement with stakeholders in the sector.
The discussion revolved around the place of universities in addressing the acute challenges of the day. Guild members underlined the importance of developing a skills strategy that equipped graduates with the openness and capacity to learn throughout life. They also noted the importance of universities in strengthening values, public institutions and democratic discourse, in the face of disinformation and science denial.
In reflecting on how universities can help society to become more competitive and prepared for future challenges, The Guild noted the commitment of universities to be more agile, but that this also required strong support at the national/regional and European levels. In many national/regional systems, universities are discouraged from developing interdisciplinary, cutting-edge degrees through long externally imposed timelines and significant statutory hurdles. The Guild urged a new spirit of collaboration between governments, the European Commission, and the sector, to unleash all the potential of higher education institutions to enhance collaboration, and pedagogical innovation.
Following the meeting, Jan Palmowski said: ‘Given the range of her responsibilities, it is excellent that Executive Vice-President Mînzatu is keen to establish an early dialogue with universities. I was impressed by her willingness to listen and exchange ideas, and I look forward to working with her and her colleagues to ensure higher education is central in the Commission’s thinking about tackling Europe’s key challenges.’