CERI Eye: Universities in a competitive and changing world: strengthening ties

Dirk Van Damme reports back from the:

General Assembly meeting of the Santander Group ‘Universities in a competitive and changing world: strengthening ties’,  in Cluj (Romania) on 12 June 2009

I traveled to Cluj in the Western part of Romania, a university city where the Santander Group, one of Europe’s leading networks of universities, held its General Assembly meeting.

I was invited to give the keynote speech in the opening plenary session on ‘European universities in a changing world’. 
I sketched the economic, demographic and social environment for European higher education. Then I focused on what in my view are the critical challenges for European universities today:

1) acces, equity and success;

2) quality, excellence and ranking; and

3) internationalization and globalization.

Finally I developed the argument that addressing these challenges demanded more change and innovation. During the speech I also focused on the consequences of the crisis for higher education (drawing attention also to the upcoming IMHE conference "Higher Education at a Time of Crisis: Challenges and Opportunities" in Copenhagen to be held on  28 - 30 June 2009.

• Download the PowerPoint presentation