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EUA: Extra investment ‘crucial’ to universities’ next decade

European University Association’s 10-year plan outlines need for extra funds and support for institutional autonomy

More investment is needed in research, innovation and education to meet the challenges of the next decade, with universities increasingly expected to provide both digital and physical learning and take a greater role in tackling societal issues, the European University Association has said in a vision paper for 2030.

“In order to thrive, universities need the right framework conditions: academic freedom, institutional autonomy, sufficient and sustainable funding and efficient support for collaboration,” says the EUA paper, published on 4 February. 

Core public funding for universities must correspond to their growing responsibilities, according to the EUA, which says that extra spending on both digital and physical infrastructure will be “crucial” for students and society more broadly, while investment in academics and staff will be “essential” to support their development.

The EUA, which represents about 800 universities in 48 countries, decries the “uneven playing field” of funding for universities across Europe, which it says has been exacerbated by Covid-19. 

“These differences reinforced by the economic crisis caused by the Covid-19 pandemic are likely to mark the next decade,” says the paper, adding that the pandemic will “cast a shadow over the coming years”.

But the EUA’s vision, which is for open, transnational universities working with an interdisciplinary approach, is meant to capture a future beyond the crisis, EUA secretary general Amanda Crowfoot told Research Professional News.

“It’s very important that we look beyond the current situation and respond to the fact that we’re in a very different world now with different challenges around sustainability, digitalisation [and a] changing labour market and workforce,” she said.

‘Inspirational and achievable’

The vision is meant to be “inspirational” but also “achievable” for universities, Crowfoot added, reflecting that some institutions may face shortfalls in their income.

“Obviously we want universities to have the best investment possible, since more investment means more ambition, potentially more changes and quicker progress, but that doesn’t mean certain things can’t be done without more funding,” she said.

For instance, Crowfoot suggested universities could lay the groundwork for reforming academic assessment and rewards by holding discussions on the subject: “This is something that doesn’t necessarily take a huge amount of financial investment—there are certainly things that can be done in getting conversations started.”

The vision states that European and national regulatory frameworks must protect universities’ autonomy and support their development, and that university leadership must be inclusive, transparent and accountable.

It says that reforming academic assessment should be a priority, alongside promoting interdisciplinarity and strengthening civic engagement.

Crowfoot said the EUA would continue to support its members by offering a platform for sharing best practice and reflecting on how to achieve the targets they set for themselves.

Correction 11/2—This article was updated to reflect that the vision paper was not co-authored by Crowfoot and EUA president Michael Murphy, as originally stated. Crowfoot and Murphy wrote the foreword and helped to develop the vision.