The document discusses the European Commission's renewed modernization agenda for higher education. It outlines three main areas of focus: 1) Promoting relevant learning and teaching by improving skills alignment and use of digital technologies. 2) Helping higher education institutions become strong regional innovators through interdisciplinary collaboration. 3) Creating a real EU higher education and research space by removing barriers to cross-border cooperation and mobility. The Commission will launch consultations to develop specific policy proposals by late 2016 focused on these broad themes.

1. A renewed modernisation agenda for
higher education
Julie Anderson, European Commission
Hagen, 29 October 2015

2. "To support
the action of
Member
States"
(art. 165)
1. Evidence-based
agenda setting:
pinpointing problems
and effective solutions
Modernisation agenda
Participation in Bologna
Process
Studies, analysis, data
2. Policy cooperation
and support: peer
learning, review and
counselling involving
governments and
institutions
ET 2020 working group,
DG HE
3. Programme funding
to individuals and
organisations
Erasmus+
Individual mobility
actions (KA 1)
Cooperation projects
(KA 2)
Other support for policy
reform (KA 3)
Horizon 2020
(researchers, research
and innovation)
European Structural and
Investment Funds (ESF)
European Commission's role

3. Europe 2020
• 10-year strategy for smart, sustainable growth
• 5 high-level targets, of which one is education:
• 40% tertiary attainment (37.9%)*
• 10% early school-leaving (11.1%)*
*2014 figures

4. 4
0
10
20
30
40
50
60
70
IT RO MT SK CZ BG DE PT HR HU EL EU LV AT SI PL ES BE FR DK NL FI EE UK SE IE CY LU LT
Tertiary education attainment among
30-34 year olds in 2014
Short Cycle (ISCED 5) Bachelor (ISCED 6) Master's (ISCED 7) Doctoral (ISCED 8) Headline Target National Target

5. ET2020
• Lifelong learning and mobility
• Quality and efficiency
• Promoting equity, social cohesion and active
citizenship
• Enhancing creativity and innovation, including
entrepreneurship
• Benchmarks: employability of graduates
(80.5%)* and lifelong learning (10.7%)*
*2014 figures
5

6. Five key priorities:
• Quantity: widening access, reducing drop-out
• Quality and relevance: programmes,
teaching and teachers
• International cooperation and mobility
• Knowledge triangle
• Ensuring adequate, efficient funding
and tailoring governance
Modernisation Agenda for HE

7. Challenges
• Economic and social challenges
• Expanding student population
• Need to raise quality of learning and teaching*
• Skills gaps and mismatches
• New technologies*
• Flexible learning pathways
• Need for effective HE systems–value for money
*High-Level Group on the Modernisation of Higher
Education reports

8. Process
• Consultation process to be launched in late
November
• Meetings with stakeholders
• Cooperation with Presidencies: NL Presidency
conference
• Formulate policy by late 2016

9. Broad Themes
• Promote relevant learning and
teaching
• Help HEIs become strong regional
innovators
• Create a real EU higher education and
research space

10. Relevance
• Better system-level intelligence and steering
• Student-centred learning and teaching
• Effective use of digital technologies
• Help HEIs link better to the outside world:
work-based learning and university-employer
interaction
• Support active and engaged citizens and
strengthen civic responsibility in universities

11. Regional Innovation
• University as centre of regional innovation
• Encourage institutional specialisation
according to regional strengths
• Inter-disciplinary and inter-sectoral
cooperation
• Optimise digital networking to support
linkages between HEIs and regional actors

12. International Cooperation
• A more coordinated EU approach to cross-
border cooperation between HEIs
• Removing barriers to and promoting student,
researcher and staff mobility
• Improving the recognition of academic
qualifications

13. Digitalisation Opportunities
• Make courses more student-centred
• Facilitate national and international
cooperation between institutions
• Innovate: develop new forms of courses
• Improve access and lifelong learning
HOWEVER:
• Need to ensure quality assurance, recognition
and support for students and teachers

14. Digitalisation Actions
• High-Level Group on the Modernisation of
Higher Education report on new modes of
learning and teaching in higher education,
October 2014: 15 recommendations
• Changing Pedagogical Landscapes study
• Studies on open education with Institute for
Prospective Technological Studies
• Peer learning with member states

15. Views?
• Are the three broad areas relevant in your
higher education context?
• Are there other areas on which you would like
to see an EU focus?
• How can the European Commission support
institutions in the areas of online, open and
flexible education?