Transparency in higher education
Europe's universities have a good average level, but they do not generate enough world-class research. While all institutions should share certain common values and tasks, they do not all need to have the same balance between education and research, or the same mix of services and academic disciplines.
There is widespread recognition that European universities need to modernise in the face of increasing global competition. EU-level actions aim to support these efforts, with a particular focus on helping institutions to diversify according to their strengths.
The Commission supports several related initiatives to allow easier comparison between institutions across the EU. Together they should enhance transparency about the different missions and performances of higher education and research institutes.
Quality assurance
Efforts also focus on systematic quality reviews of higher education, and ensuring their comparability though the use of common standards and guidelines. Several initiatives and organisations within the European Higher Education Area (Bologna Process) contribute to these quality assurance actions:
- The European Association for Quality Assurance in higher education (ENQA) produces regular quality reviews
- The European Standards and Guidelines for Quality Assurance enhance the comparability of the quality reviews
- The Qrossroads website gives access to these reviews
- The European Quality Assurance Register (EQAR) lists trustworthy agencies carrying out quality assurance activities
More information
- Official document: The basis for the EU actions on transparency are laid out in "Delivering on the modernisation agenda for universities: education, research and innovation", Communication from the Commission to the Council and the European Parliament (May 2006)
- Official document: Modernising universities for Europe's competitiveness in a global knowledge economy, Council Resolution (November 2007)
- Official text: The European Commission produces triennial reports on progress in the development of quality assurance systems in Member States and on co-operation activities at European level. The first such report was released in September 2009
