University-Business Dialogue: Thematic forum
From the Crisis to Recovery - the Role of Higher Education Institutions and Business Co-operation
Masaryk University, Faculty of Social Sciences, Brno, Czech Republic
2nd – 3rd February 2010
The European Commission in partnership with the Ministry of Education, Youth and Sports of the Czech Republic and the Masaryk University in Brno organized a thematic forum on "From the Crisis to Recovery - the Role of Higher Education Institutions and Business Co-operation" in Masaryk University, Faculty of Social Sciences, Brno, Czech Republic, on 2nd – 3rd February 2010. This forum is part of the University-Business Dialogue initiative launched by the European Commission to improve the cooperation between Higher Education and Business and to provide on European level a platform for a lasting dialogue between the relevant stakeholders.
Programme
List of participants
Final report
Speeches and presentations
OFFICIAL OPENING SESSION |
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Chairperson: Mr Jiri Nantl, Chief legal and policy officer, Masaryk University |
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MS Jana Matesová, Vice-Minister for Education, Youth and Sports, Czech Republic |
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Mr Jordi Curell, Director, Directorate General Education and Culture, European Commission |
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Dr Keith Herrmann, Deputy CEO, The Council for Industry and Higher Education |
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Mr. Jan Muehlfeit, Chairman Europe, Microsoft Corporation |
PARALLEL SEMINARS: UNIVERSITY-BUSINESS PARTNERSHIPS - "FACING THE CRISIS, PREPARING THE RECOVERY" |
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Seminar 1: Upskilling the workforce and building new partnerships between Universities and Business |
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In times of economic downturn where individuals, businesses and sectors are being affected by cutbacks and change, higher education can play a significant role in helping
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Moderator: Professor Jan Slovák, Director of Technology Transfer, Masaryk University |
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Dr. Margarete Remmert-Rieper, Programme Manager, TuTech Innovation GmbH |
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Professor Alison McCleery, Mr Ed Craig, Edinburgh Napier University |
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Dr. C.A. Kees-Jan van Dorp, Research Director, EADTU |
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Dr. Pieter de Bock, Corporate Account Manager, Technical University of Eindhoven, NL |
Seminar 2: Making graduates fit for the future |
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| Through cooperation, both businesses and Higher Education can work together to ensure that graduates have the right skills sets for now and for the future. University careers offices can help match graduates to opportunities, courses can provide increasing important skills sets through entrepreneurship training, new methods of delivery and also through multidisciplinary approaches to the delivery of knowledge. New graduates can maintain their links to institutions and benefit from continuing education to develop skills and knowledge which can be applied in the work place. |
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Moderator: Mr. Michael Hörig, Programme Manager, European University Association (EUA) |
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Mr. Oscar Cubillo, Director of Expansion and Development, Fundación Universidad-Empresa, Madrid |
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Mr. Paul Blackmore, Director, Centre for Employability, Enterprise & Careers (CEEC), Lancaster University |
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Ms Francesca Binetti, Project Manager, CDOnet, Vienna |
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Professor Fernando Joaquim Tavares Rocha, University of Aveiro |
Seminar 3: Corporate social responsibility – Win Win situation for business and higher education |
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| CSR can be defined as a concept whereby companies integrate their social and environmental concerns within the ambit of the business. It is increasingly present in the vocabulary and strategies of businesses. The European Council in Lisbon 2000 made a formal proposal to stimulate CSR across European Businesses with a particular emphasis on lifelong learning, work organization, equal opportunities, social inclusion and sustainable development. Corporate Social Responsibility also has an increasing role to play in the way universities operate. Universities work within their regions and communities, supporting a range of stakeholders including the future businesses and work force of Europe. Businesses working with Universities will also increasingly be looking for how aligned they are with their own values. |
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Moderator: Mr. Michal Kadera, Director, Czech Business Representation to the EU (CEBRE) |
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Ms Valerie Bockstette, Senior Consultant, FSG – Social Impact Advisors |
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Mr. Tomáš Nejedlo, Executive Director, Business Leaders Forum |
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Mr. Paul Hacking, Nottingham Trent University / Ms Jeanne Booth, Independent Education and Business Consultant, Nottingham Trent University / , Independent Education and Business Consultant |
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Ms Monika Ladmanová, Corporate Citizenship and Corporate Affairs Specialist, IBM |
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Mr. Břetislav Dančák, Vice-Dean for international relations, Faculty of Social Studies, Masaryk University |
PLENARY SESSION: CONCLUSIONS - PANEL DISCUSSION
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Moderator: Dr Guy Haug |
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Professor Jan Slovák, Director of Technology Transfer, Masaryk University, Presentation of conclusions of seminars from previous day |
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Ms Daniela Červencová, Corporate Communication, Bayer s.r.o. |
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Ms. Margarete Rudzki, Policy Advisor, Education & training, employment and social affairs, EUROCHAMBRES |
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Professor Jacek Leśkow, Vice-Rector for Scientific Affairs; Novy Sacz Graduate School of Business – National Louis University, Nowy Sacz, Poland |
CLOSING SESSION: PERSPECTIVES FOR THE FUTURE |
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Moderator: Professor Mikuláš Bek, Vice-Rector, Masaryk University |
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Professor Jakub Fischer, National Manager, Team for Higher Education Reform; Vice-Dean, Faculty of Informatics and Statistics, University of Economics, Prague |
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Mr. Jose Luis Lopez de Silanes, Chairman, Compañía Logística de Hidrocarburos, CLH S.A; President of Consejo Social, Universidad de La Rioja |
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Professor Sabine Remdisch, Vice-President, Leuphana University Lüneburg |
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Mr. Pavel Kafka, Vice-President, Confederation of Industry of the Czech Republic |
