In 2020-2021, The Guild network grew by one new member, Universitat Pompeu Fabra, the most highly ranked university on the Iberian Peninsula. Amidst the changes the pandemic has brought, the Guild’s Presidents reflected the key trends and challenges facing Europe’s universities in the coming decade.
The African Research Initiative for Scientific Excellence (ARISE) programme is currently open for applications. The Guild, together with the African Research Universities Alliance (ARUA), organised a webinar on 13 July to support and provide information for the researchers applying for the novel programme.
The Guild Summer School, hosted by the University of Glasgow, is taking place on 5-9 July. Bringing together almost fifty PhD candidates from multiple disciplines and from across Europe, this year’s Summer School zooms in on research communication.
Organised together with the University of Warwick, The Guild’s virtual seminar explored the potential of lifelong learning models, as representatives from European University alliances, the European Commission and EdTech providers debated the concrete benefits and challenges of flexible learning and micro-credentials. The seminar also provided a timely contribution to the European Commission’s public consultation on micro-credentials for lifelong learning and employability which is open until 13 July.
The Guild has issued its first newsletter, including the latest statements on academic freedom, European Research Area and the European Universities initiative as well as highlights from The Guild General Assembly meeting with Commissioner Gabriel and the launch of our third Insight Paper.
The Guild voices its concerns regarding the existing regulatory frameworks on health data which are putting medical research in Europe under a threat. Access to a large volume and diverse range of data is crucial for the improvement of diagnostic techniques and treatments, and for preventive and health strategies.
National Rectors’ Conferences, in cooperation with the European University Association, unite in calling for a European long-term commitment to strengthen the research excellence of African universities through ‘Clusters of Excellence’. This research capacity is essential, they argue, for the African Union’s Agenda 2063 to be realised.
As a core principle of the EU, academic freedom must be protected vigorously and decisively by the European Commission and all EU institutions. The Guild urges for the creation of a European Ombudsperson for the defence and support of academic freedom.
At the Guild’s General Assembly, convened on 8 June 2021, Presidents discussed how to strengthen universities through the European Research Area with Commissioner Mariya Gabriel.
The Guild, together with European Science, Technology and Innovation organisations, calls for a full association of Switzerland to Horizon Europe.
The Guild launched its third Insight Paper on 4 June 2021, bringing together representatives from academia, the European Commission, and university associations to discuss how higher education can embrace the digital transformation that is sweeping through the sector.
Higher education across Europe needs to cut red tape, engage with lifelong learning, and accelerate pedagogic innovation in a sustainable way to enable students to receive strong research-led education and develop relevant skills for the 21st century, according to the new Insight Paper published by The Guild of European Research-Intensive Universities.
The Guild joins other groups of research-intensive universities in Europe in voicing its concern regarding proposals to restrict the UK’s, Switzerland’s and potentially other countries’ access to parts of Horizon Europe.
In 2021, Universitat Pompeu Fabra joined The Guild as its twenty-first member. The Guild interviewed Rector Casals about the university, its vision for the future, and its passion for strengthening the pursuit of knowledge.
The Guild’s Vice-Presidents gathered on 8 January to discuss priorities for the new European Research Area (ERA) whilst welcoming the network’s 21st member: Pompeu Fabra University. Alongside academia-industry collaboration and promoting the diversity of university staff, topics such as Brexit and foreign interference were also part of the highly-attended meeting.
Just three decades old, Pompeu Fabra University (UPF) has swiftly conquered a notable position among the best universities in Europe and the world. By welcoming UPF as its twenty-first member, The Guild reiterates a commitment to representing some of Europe’s leading academic institutions, its students and researchers, in a comprehensive and thoughtful manner.
This year The Guild office prepared a special virtual message to wish you a happy holiday season!
The Guild welcomes the EU institutions’ agreement on Horizon Europe and Erasmus+
The Guild calls for an urgent funding boost to the Excellence Science Pillar of Horizon Europe, which covers the Marie Skłodowska-Curie Actions (MSCA) supporting the mobility of Europe’s best research talent, the European Research Council (ERC) as well as research infrastructures, in order to achieve a balanced resourcing of the three pillars of the programme.
The Guild welcomes the Commission Communication on the Pharmaceutical Strategy for Europe as an essential step towards the creation of a European Health Union.
After two months of intense negotiations, the European Parliament and the German Presidency of the Council give green light to a budget increase1 of €4bn to Horizon Europe, €2.2bn to Erasmus+ and €3.4bn to EU4Health, if unanimously approved by European leaders. The Guild calls the additional €4bn to be used for increasing the share of Horizon Europe’s Excellent Science Pillar.
The Guild voices its concern that ending ERDF support to universities’ research capacities undermines the goal of reducing the research and innovation divide in Europe.
On 23 October, Presidents of The Guild met for the second General Assembly of 2020. The participants had the opportunity to exchange views with Jean-Eric Paquet (Director-General, DG RTD) and Jean-Pierre Bourguignon (Interim President of the ERC) on Horizon Europe and on the role of research post-pandemic, as negotiations on the budget of Europe’s flagship programme resume between the European Parliament and the Council.