ECIU is ready to work on the European Education Area

The European Consortium of Innovative Universities (ECIU) welcomes thecreation of a European Education Area by 2025, as proposed by the European Commission. ECIUis the leading university consortium in innovation in teaching and learning,and has already been working on challenging conventional thinking for 20 years. 

Working on a more social Europeand realising jobs and inclusive growth is important. With its proposal for aEuropean Education Area, the European Commission wants to realise learning,studying and doing research not hampered by borders, by 2025. ECIU is glad thatthis is high on Europe’s agenda and looks forward to collaborate together withthe EU to realise these ambitions in a fast changing context.

ECIU has been working withprogrammes that perfectly fit the plans of the EU for over 20 years. In itstwin programmes and joint degrees, ECIU offers pre-established study programmesthat are fully recognised by ECIU universities. Engaging with wider society,e.g. by involving stakeholders in curriculum (re)design and in contributing toproblem-based learning, whilst ensuring a high quality, is a core business ofthe ECIU Universities.

Increasing mobility for students and staff

Mobility for all, realising atrue internal market for education, is another priority of the proposal by theEuropean Commission. At ECIU Universities, mobility is for all students and staff. ECIU wishes to nurture and sustaininternational minded students and staff and therefore offers exchange products.

The ECIU mobility programme forsupport staff is a tailor-made programme to individual staff member’sdevelopment needs. The student exchange programmes of the ECIU guarantee excellentlearning experiences at well-known and like-minded partner institutions. In theECIU Minor Programmes, students naturally follow a curriculum that is beingoffered by several member universities, pre-established and fully recognised byECIU Universities.

Offering these Minor programmes,ECIU can very well be seen as Europe’s first University Network. ECIU is readyto share its experiences and think along with the EU about initiating theSorbonne process and an EU Student Card, enhancing mobility experiences.

Lifelong learning

Furthermore, the ECIUUniversities embrace their role as lifelong educators, by offering international,inclusive and flexible education, independent of background, nationality andage. ECIU supports the aim of reaching a 25% share of people engaging inlearning throughout their lives and works actively to achieve this target.

Realising a European knowledge economy

ECIU calls for synergies with thealready existing European Research Area and European Higher Education Area. Ifwe want to realise a true European knowledge economy, Europe is in need of a comprehensiveknowledge policy including both research and education. ECIU Universitiesencourage their students to engage with research, the EU cannot lag behind inpolicies. A minimum investment of Member States to invest 5% of GDP ineducation is very important to realise a European knowledge economy.

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