At the start of the new Erasmus+ programme (2021-2027), universities are struggling to meet the mobility expectations of their students. Although the programme promised to be more inclusive and accessible, the actual level of funding universities received in 2021 for Key Action 1 remained at the level of 2018 funding.
In the first newsletter of 2022, we focus on the European Strategy for Universities, with The Guild’s response to the just-released documents as well as Secretary-General Jan Palmowski's insights on them. See also our statements on the Horizon Europe application process and the Lump Sum Pilot. Save the date also for the upcoming ARUA and The Guild virtual panel, organised on 14 February ahead of the AU-EU summit.
On 18 January the European Commission presented the European strategy for universities as a way to articulate a transformative vision for the higher education sector. The Guild welcomes the strategy as a framework which recognizes the rich potential and contribution of Europe’s universities to our society through research, education and innovation. We wish to thank Commissioner Gabriel and Vice-President Schinas for their constructive consultations with the sector and acknowledging many of the views expressed by The Guild’s presidents.
In their first meeting of 2022, The Guild Vice-Presidents discussed how the Pact for Research and Innovation, and the Council Conclusions on ERA Governance, would be implemented.
The application process for Horizon Europe calls requires further clarity while a more stable and user-friendly submission platform is needed, researchers and research support officers from The Guild universities highlight.
The Guild calls for university grant and financial managers to be included in any further evaluations of Horizon lump sum funding.
The African Research Universities Alliance (ARUA) and The Guild emphasise the critical importance of strengthening African research universities in a wholistic way, calling to action the African Union (AU) and the European Union (EU), national governments, public science bodies, and universities and their communities themselves.
This issue of The Guild's newsletter includes our recommendations for the Commission's proposal for an AI Act and for the European Research Area to strengthen and deepen excellence in less R&I performing widening countries. See also highlights from the ARUA and The Guild conference and our virtual seminar with the University of Tartu.
Following the progress report of the Slovenian presidency, circulated at the end of November, The Guild voices its concerns on the burdens the European Commission’s proposal for an Artificial Intelligence (AI) Act may impose on research and researchers and calls for the Commission to involve researchers in the future monitoring and amendment processes of the Act.
The third instalment of The Guild’s virtual seminar, organised together with the University of Tartu on 29 November 2021, drew attention to the role of universities in integrating international students in local labour markets.
Bringing together 250 participants from across Europe and Africa, The Guild and the African Research Universities Alliance (ARUA) organised a virtual conference on 22 November 2021 to discuss how R&I should become central to the AU-EU partnership in a sustainable way.
The Guild calls for the new European Research Area (ERA) to develop and implement a holistic vision to strengthen and deepen excellence in less R&I performing (Widening) countries.
The Guild joins 19 European research and innovation actors in calling for research and innovation to be placed at the core of the debates within the Conference on the Future of Europe.
In this issue we share highlights from the upcoming ARUA and The Guild conference and our virtual seminar with the University of Tartu. See also our statements on knowledge valorisation and the UK's association to Horizon Europe, along with our COP26 articles highlighting our member universities' efforts in tackling climate change.
With the 2021 United Nations Climate Change Conference, COP26, taking place in Glasgow, The Guild’s universities are stressing the critical contributions universities can and must make to accelerate action towards the Paris Agreement goals. The Guild shares highlights from its member universities on how the institutions, researchers and students are leading the change towards environmental sustainability, connecting the institutional, social, economic, technological and scientific responses needed to respond to the climate crisis.
The European Union’s research and innovation community representing over 1,000 universities and universities of applied sciences, 56 academies of science, 38 research performing and funding organisations, 33 rectors’ conferences, as well as 120 regional organisations, call for the European Commission and President Ursula von der Leyen to finalise the United Kingdom’s association to Horizon Europe immediately.
With the 2021 United Nations Climate Change Conference, COP26, taking place in Glasgow, The Guild’s universities are stressing the critical contributions universities can and must make to accelerate action towards the Paris Agreement goals. The Guild shares highlights from its member universities on how the institutions, researchers and students are leading the change towards environmental sustainability, connecting the institutional, social, economic, technological and scientific responses needed to respond to the climate crisis.
With the 2021 United Nations Climate Change Conference, COP26, taking place in Glasgow, The Guild’s universities are stressing the critical contributions universities can and must make to accelerate action towards the Paris Agreement goals. The Guild shares highlights from its member universities on how the institutions, researchers and students are leading the change towards environmental sustainability, connecting the institutional, social, economic, technological and scientific responses needed to respond to the climate crisis.
On 22 October, The Guild’s Presidents gathered for their general assembly, at a time when the Commission and the Council are articulating key strategic initiatives in research, innovation and education.
As the EU reforms its Guiding Principles for Knowledge Valorisation, The Guild calls for dedicated funding streams for knowledge transfer activities, and capacity-building measures to enhance the capacities of researchers and technology transfer offices to innovate.
Over 200 scientists are calling to strengthen the African research capacities in environmental sciences, voicing their support for the joint initiative of The Guild and the African Research Universities Alliance (ARUA). The signatories emphasise the importance of safeguarding biodiversity and Africa’s natural resources, and highlight the critical role the new generation of African scientists will play on this.
In this issue: highlights from The Guild and ARUA info session on doctoral training opportunities and our virtual seminar with Aarhus University on standards. See also our statements on the ERA governance and Afghanistan as well as opinion pieces from Secretary-General Jan Palmowski on the State of the Union speech, the European strategy for universities, and the Competitiveness Council of 28 September.
On 7 October, the African Research University Alliance (ARUA) and The Guild organised a virtual info session on EU calls focused on funding opportunities for strategic partnerships, collaborative doctoral training and institutional mobility schemes open for researchers and students in African and European universities.
Responding to the Competitiveness Council meeting of 28 September, The Guild reaffirms its support for the draft Council Conclusions in three key areas. The Guild also joins 15 higher education networks in urging the Commission and the member states to include stakeholders in the co-creation and implementation of ERA governance.