EUA to host its second Funding Forum from 9 to 10 October at the University of Bergamo in Italy

Brussels, Belgium, 28-8-2014 — /EuropaWire/ — EUA is pleased to invite you to its second Funding Forum that will take place from 9 to 10 October at the University of Bergamo in Italy. Focusing on the theme: “strategies for efficient funding of universities”, a key question of the ongoing EUA-led DEFINE project, the Forum aims to provide a high-level, strategic platform for all higher education stakeholders to monitor, debate and shape developments related to the funding of higher education on a European level.

In the context of increased pressure on public resources, many governments across Europe have looked at designing more efficient ways of delivering funding to universities. These often include the introduction of so-called performance-based elements in funding systems. Some countries in Europe have also undertaken larger-scale restructuring of the sector, involving mergers of institutions or large excellence funding schemes, as a means to develop more efficiency within their higher education systems and reach other system-level objectives.

The programme of the 2nd EUA Funding Forum provides participants with opportunities to learn more about these and other important developments and debate a wide range of key issues connected to the funding of universities across Europe. University leaders and managers are expected to take part, as well as researchers, students, partners from business and foundations.

During the Forum, EUA will present its latest research on performance-based funding, mergers and concentration processes, and excellence funding schemes. The 2014 update of EUA’s Public Funding Observatory, a monitoring tool tracking the evolution of public funding to higher education institutions in more than 20 European countries, will also be released on that occasion.

University leaders will open the Forum discussions which will then be taken to parallel thematic sessions focusing on particular aspects such as the role of leadership in times of change or the impact of austerity policies on university activities. The first day will end with a dialogue with North American higher education experts comparing the two continents’ perspectives as regards higher education funding.

The second day will include a focus on European funding and how the new generation of EU funding programmes is having an impact on participating universities. Further parallel thematic sessions will give the chance to participants to learn more and debate a number of related topics in more detail, including the question of how evolving cost-sharing models affect students and universities. In the afternoon, the “funders” – from public authorities and funding councils, but also industry partners and foundations – will share their perspectives on how to achieve efficient and sustainable funding of higher education.

Discussions at the Forum will also contribute to the future higher education funding policy agenda at regional, national and European level.

The Forum website includes more information about the event, including the detailed programme.

Please note that prior registration is necessary for journalists as the number of places is limited. To register, please send an email to andrew.miller@eua.be.

The Forum is part of the DEFINE project (Designing strategies for efficient funding of higher education in Europe), which is supported by the Lifelong Learning Programme of the European Union.

Ends.

Please note also that unfortunately EUA cannot pay accommodation or travel costs for this event.

For further information please contact Andrew Miller: +32 2 743 1 159, email: andrew.miller@eua.be, The European University Association, as the representative organisation of both the European universities and the national rectors’ conferences, is the main voice of the higher education community in Europe. EUA’s mission is to promote the development of a coherent system of European higher education and research.

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