Busquin says 'European higher education area' could boost ERA
EU Research Commissioner Philippe Busquin has said that the creation of a 'European higher education area' could reinforce the European research area (ERA) by further boosting EU research and competitiveness. Speaking at the University of Bologna in Italy on 5 November, Mr Busquin said that the 'Bologna process' of creating a European higher education area shares some objectives with the proposed European research area. 'On account of the multiple interactions between research and education, the two processes are linked in many ways and converge. They deal with similar problems and have similar objectives: both aim to make Europe more competitive, boost mobility, ensure quality and promote excellence,' he said. Commissioner Busquin added that there is 'important potential for synergy' between the Bologna process and the ERA, which must be promoted in order to optimise the combined benefits of the two projects. 'If they are implemented in a coherent and coordinated way, the ERA and the Bologna process will mutually reinforce each other in the creation of what can be called a European area of knowledge.' Mr Busquin said that the Commission services responsible for research, education and culture have begun to look at ways of building bridges between the two processes to allow greater coherence between them. Commissioner Busquin also said that the ERA is both 'an opportunity and a challenge' for universities, and that cooperation between universities and enterprises must be encouraged on a transnational scale. He said that many European universities are undergoing a profound process of change and reform, redefining their role and building new links with regional enterprises, and that this must be encouraged on a European level.
Countries
Italy