European higher education : challenges and achievement

Universities in the European Union are called to support integration and pursue economic value, as evidenced in both European and national strategies. In line with this perspective, European higher education institutions strengthen the value of their education and knowledge output while reinforcing their economic basis. The former goal is in line with the greater competition among economies, the latter became important following the international crisis and the fiscal crisis of many European states. A particular feature of higher education institutions in the European Union is their role in supporting European integration, with particular concern for a unified labor market. Much of the EU action has thus been concentrated on moving governments and universities in the direction of pursuing the integration of national education systems. To do so, and given the limited EU competences in education, the European Commission has proposed strategies and goals and has provided (part of) the necessary resource basis. National governments in turn are called to implement the necessary reforms. The fundamental component of this approach is the so-called Bologna Process that created the European Higher Education Area. The core of the Process is to ensure comparability in the standards and quality of higher-education qualifications among European countries. The outcome of these processes has been important, but much remains to be done. The paper critically analyzes the evolution of the European higher education and research system within the frame of European integration and with a view to the goals pursued, the results achieved, and the challenges ahead.