Beiträge zur Hochschulforschung - European University Association

More documents

Recommendations

Info

12 Jean-Marc Rapp An introduction to the European University Association’s work on financial sustainability Jean-Marc Rapp, EUA President In this paper, Professor Jean-Marc Rapp, President of the European University As- sociation, reviews the Association’s work on the topic of financial sustainability in the light of the developments that have had an impact of universities in Europe in the recent years. That includes general trends such as massification and rising costs for higher education; but also the economic crisis that continues to affect the sector today. The paper also explains the connections between the EUDIS study on income diversification and the European policies in the field of modernisation of higher education. The European University Association takes the view that financial sustainability is crucial and conditional on reliable, sufficient public funding, and adequate autonomy to be able to explore additional funding options. 1 Introduction EUA’s Experts Conference “Towards financially sustainable universities II: diversifying income streams” was an important milestone of the EUDIS project, co-funded by the European Commission. In this project, EUA partnered with HUMANE, the network of university heads of administration; the Bavarian State Institute for Higher Education Research and Planning, and the University of Bologna, which hosted the conference. The EUDIS project belongs to the second part of a work agenda that EUA set up some years ago around the topic of financial sustainability of European universities. This work is structured around three pillars, or key ideas: ■ Universities must be able to identify and better understand the costs of all their activities and projects; ■ Universities must maintain a reasonably diversified income structure to mitigate risks and enhance autonomy; ■ But this cannot be achieved without sufficient and sustainable public funding. This project came to a close in February 2011 and collected highly valuable data across Europe, through an online questionnaire to which many European universities respond- ed, but also through site visits and through the constant monitoring of the impact of the economic crisis on universities’ activities and financial structures. EUA is in a privileged position to achieve these tasks, with its membership of over 800 higher education institutions in 46 countries and the national rectors’ conferences of 35 countries in Europe. Beiträge zur Hochschulforschung, 33. Jahrgang, 2/2011
European University Association’s work on financial sustainability During the conference, EUA shared the findings of this project and invited high level experts from Europe and beyond to debate around the different conditions and aspects of income diversification. Participants from nearly 40 countries attended the event to share their expertise, whether as university leaders, national and European policy- makers, researchers, or partners. The conference therefore helped EUA elaborate clear messages and conclusions to inform policy-making both at national and European levels. It is important to underline a few key points to better situate the importance of financial sustainability for universities in Europe in the context of EUA’s work. 2 Universities’ financial sustainability under threat The costs of higher education and research have been growing rapidly. The reasons for this are well known; advances in the field of technology, particularly ICT and its wider usage in higher education and research, a growing participation rate, new soci- etal demands on institutions, rising pension costs and tougher quality requirements are increasing costs and necessitate additional financing. Despite the fact that universities are at the centre of knowledge creation and develop- ment, which itself is seen as one of the main motors of economic growth, public funding of higher education in most countries is not increasing or at least not increasing enough in real terms. “Massification” has led to the fact that the higher education budgets per student are relatively low in most European countries compared to Eu- rope’s competitors. Despite declarations of intent to increase spending on higher education and research, it is not very likely that public expenditure will grow signifi- cantly on average in Europe and therefore be able to keep up with rapidly inflating costs in the years to come. One of the reasons for this is that higher education and research have to compete with other priorities in public budgets (security, health, etc.). Demographic trends and an aging population point to the fact that the health sector is likely to take priority over higher education. The recent economic downturn has furthermore contributed to the decision in many European countries to decrease the levels of investment in higher education and research. Such trends are particularly worrisome for universities across Europe, whose continuing dependence on public funding puts their future sustainability under pressure. All the above reasons are forcing universities to respond by taking action. The first step is for universities to master their cost structures and identify the full costs of their activities for both internal and external purposes. While calling for vital additional financial support from public authorities, who have a responsibility for the universities’ Beiträge zur Hochschulforschung, 33. Jahrgang, 2/2011 13
Page 1: IHF Beiträge zur Bayerisches Staat
Page 4 and 5: Impressum Beiträge zur Hochschulfo
Page 6 and 7: 2 Orientation, themes and target au
Page 8 and 9: 4 Editorial Obwohl Hochschulen als
Page 10 and 11: 6 We would like to warmly thank the
Page 12 and 13: 8 Abstracts Partnerschaften und die
Page 14 and 15: 10 Abstracts Mark Lammerts: Challen
Page 18 and 19: 14 Jean-Marc Rapp long-term financi
Page 20 and 21: 16 Jean-Marc Rapp The European Unio
Page 22 and 23: 18 Thomas Estermann, Enora Bennetot
Page 44 and 45: 40 Nigel Thrift Income diversificat
Page 46 and 47: 42 Nigel Thrift that, on average in
Page 48 and 49: 44 Nigel Thrift relationships with
Page 50 and 51: 46 Nigel Thrift South Africa and Ta
Page 52 and 53: 48 Mark Lammerts Challenges of univ
Page 54 and 55: 50 Mark Lammerts Graph 3: Increasin
Page 56 and 57: 52 Mark Lammerts Joining forces wit
Page 58 and 59: 54 Mark Lammerts strategy building,
Page 60 and 61: 56 Mark Lammerts When talking to me
Page 62 and 63: 58 Joanna Motion, Adrian Beney Inco
Page 64 and 65: 60 Joanna Motion, Adrian Beney 3 Lo
Page 66 and 67:
62 Joanna Motion, Adrian Beney Ther
Page 68 and 69:
64 Joanna Motion, Adrian Beney able
Page 70 and 71:
66 Joanna Motion, Adrian Beney a lo
Page 72 and 73:
68 Sheila Gupta Professionalisation
Page 74 and 75:
70 Sheila Gupta ment structures. Go
Page 76 and 77:
72 Sheila Gupta institutions are of
Page 78 and 79:
74 Sheila Gupta ■ Delivering new
Page 80 and 81:
76 Michael Jansen Funding condition
Page 82 and 83:
78 Michael Jansen This is in partic
Page 84 and 85:
80 Michael Jansen 2012. This notabl
Page 86 and 87:
82 Michael Jansen which can only be
Page 88 and 89:
84 Michael Jansen ing the strategy
Page 90 and 91:
86 Thomas Estermann, Monika Steinel
Page 92 and 93:
Page 94 and 95:
Page 96 and 97:
92 Bibliography Bibliography Aartse
Page 98 and 99:
94 Hinweise für Autoren Hinweise f
Page 100 and 101:
IHF Bayerisches Staatsinstitut für
show all

Beiträge zur Hochschulforschung - European University Association

You also want an ePaper? Increase the reach of your titles

Delete template?

Save as template?