Fraternité 2020 !

Fraternité 2020 what is it? From French this word means "brotherhood". Fraternité 2020 (F2020) is a European Citizens' Initiative initiated at the Young European Citizens’ Convention, Cluny 2010. F2020's objective is to enhance EU exchange programmes such as Erasmus or the European Voluntary Service (EVS) to contribute to a united Europe based on solidarity among citizens.

Currently, geographic mobility in the EU is relatively low. Popularity of student exchange programs such as Erasmus, is limited, for example, in 2006 only 1% of all students in the EU took part in the program. One of the reasons why such a small number of students benefit from the Erasmus program is insufficient financial support.

F2020 suggests three measures to increase mobility:

1. - The Commission shall use existing EU funds more consistently to encourage mobility. Also, it shall promote more funds for exchange programmes in the future. Eventually, 10 percent of the EU budget shall be used on these programmes.
2. - Increased efforts shall be made for participants to develop intercultural skills, e.g. by offering language classes and classes about the host country's traditions, history, society etc.
3. - Progress in the field of mobility shall be better monitored e.g. through Eurostat or Eurobarometer surveys.

Below is the video promoting the initiative F2020, enjoy!

From my perspective, programs such as Erasmus and EVS are very important. I have many friends who are or have participated in these programs and their relations are very positive. With many people they met during the program keep in touch to this day.
:"3

To help ERASMUS !

Recently we wrote about the plans for the reduction of EU programs. It was to be expected that the academic community doesn't remain passive to European Commission's plan.

And it started...

On the portal facebook was created  initiative to collect signatures  for a petition to the European Commission.

This is one of the professors of IHECS started this citizens' initiative. This event will consist in collecting 1 million signatures in order to introduce a new law / bill by the European Commission. This action was not only to preserve the ERASMUS program, but also to obtain more resources for its implementation and continuation in the future!

Also if you want you can vote here:
http://en.fraternite2020.eu/sign.html


The next time a little bit more about the citizens initiative!!!

Greek Ministry says "No" to universities

The Greek Ministry has decided to reduce the number of universities. The issue is so serious that Greece has little universities. There are 40 for a country of 11 million people. Education Minister Costas Arvanitopoulos argues that decisions to need to reduce costs. According to the Ministry assurances modernization of higher education institutions network will be supported by the new law and will lead to a reduction in maintenance costs and better management of these institutions.

After all, the main mechanism for modernization will be fusion of different universities, what meets with the counter university employees and students. Another problem is the unclear situation private universities whose future is still not certain and will depend on parliamentary corrections.

It is worth noticing that, until recently, private institutions were not considered to higher education in Greece (against the law of the European Union), more importantly, many of the private universities have better results than public universities.

Financial problem with ERASMUS

Recently became known about the problems related with the financing of the ERASMUS program. It turns out that only the end of December 2012, students are confident of grants under the Erasmus program. For the first semester, the European Commission has already transferred 99.13% of the required funds for the program, but the lack of € 90 million to finance the second semester students travel abroad.
The European Commission ensures that the problem will be solved, however large numbers of students and student organizations are worried that these problems will decrease the number of applications of students to attend in the program. In october The European Commission wants to present the solution of the problem, the final decision be known at the end of 2012. 

It is not excluded that in order to ensure the future of the Erasmus program, and many other projects, the EU should increase the budget of the Union. Unfortunately, already seven countries have refused to increase the budget for the year 2013 by 6.8% (~ 100 billion €), which threatening the future of many EU programs. These countries are Austria, United Kingdom, France, Germany, Finland, the Netherlands and Sweden.

"Upgrading Europe" (2012-2015) - new EU & EUCA project

Dr Susana del Rio - leading supervision of the project

Recently his inauguration was a new European project. This project was named "Upgrading Europe" and is strongly supported by the EUCA. Years of operation of the project have been set for 2012 to 2015. The official opening took place at a conference in Rome on 25 June 2012 - '"The Role of European Youth Mobility on Future Employment".
The objective of the event is to launch a high-level debate with representatives from institutions and with civil society stakeholders on how international mobility, within the context of European citizenship, can contribute to increased youth employability by improving the quality and effectiveness of exchange programs.

Project "Upgrading Europe" is project that will offer greater visibility to the value of Europe and will promote a European Union with a quality transnational democracy and ready to face the challenges of the XXI century.

The main patron and chairman of the project is Dr. Susana del Rio - inter alia member of the Committee of Independent Experts of the European Commission on Science, Society and Governance and Framework Programme: Citizens and governance in the knowledge based society.

"G" - University of Groningen

University of Groningen logo

After a short pause it's time for the next letter in our Universitys alphabet! :D

"G" like... University of Groningen (Rijksuniversiteit Groningen) it's the second best university in the Netherlands. It has a high european (13th place) and worldwide (76th) note.European world.
The University of Groningen located in the city of Groningen, was founded in 1614. It is one of the oldest universities in the Netherlands as well as one of its largest.It is a member of the distinguished Coimbra Group.The University of Groningen is in the top 3 of European research universities in the specializations: ecology, material sciences, chemistry and astronomy.

University of Groningen localization

Motto: "Verbum domini lucerna pedibus nostris" - "The word of the Lord is a light for our feet"

Front of the main building

University in numbers:
Established: 1614
Academic staff: 5 000 employees
Students: 27 699
Annual turnover: 550 mln €

Coimbra Group - the oldest in Europe

CG logo

Today once again I will present one of the more prestigious groups - Group of Coimbra. The Coimbra Group (CG) is a network of 40 European universities, some among the oldest and most prestigious in Europe. It was founded in 1985 and formally constituted by charter in 1987. Name of the organization comes from one of the oldest in Europe, the University of Coimbra (Portugal), who was in 1985 celebrated 700 anniversary of its founding.



Otherwise...
"...an association of long-established European comprehensive, multidisciplinary universities of high international standard committed to creating special academic and cultural ties in order to promote, for the benefit of its members, internationalization, academic collaboration, excellence in learning and research, and service to society. It is also the purpose of the Group to influence European education and research policy and to develop best practice through the mutual exchange of experience."
- Coimbra Group

Coimbra University which gave the name of the organization

The purpose of this organization is to strengthen ties between Europe's oldest universities, which offer high standards of teaching. Its members have to take care of the development of academic cooperation, and through the mutual exchange of experience continually improve the quality of its research and teaching level, and thus to serve the public. Also sets itself the task of influencing the European policy in education.

News: Oxford University - skirt for men, bow tie for a woman.

Oxford students dressed in examination

In a move to please its transgender student community, the Oxford University has introduced a new academic dress code which allows men to wear skirts or stockings to exams and formal occasions while women can wear suits or white bow ties.

Under the old regulations, male students were required to wear a dark suit with dark socks, black shoes, a white bow tie, and a plain white shirt and collar beneath their black gowns when attending formal occasions such as examinations.
Female students have to wear a dark skirt or trousers, a white blouse, a black ribbon tied in a bow at the neck, black stockings and shoes.

The dress code is strictly enforced by the university authorities, which have the power to punish students who breach the rules.
Punishments range from fines to rustication -the suspension of a student for a period of time or expulsion.

Of course, nobody to take over the whole thing, were it not that Oxford is one of the most restrictive universities. Now think about your university "dress code".

I personally dont offend, of course if this does not lead to this....

THE EUROPAEUM Organization

The Europaeum logo

Today rather than letters, will be an association The Europaeum. The Europaeum is an organisation of ten leading European universities.
It was conceived of in 1990–1991 by Lord Weidenfeld and Sir Ronnie Grierson to support the advancement of education through the encouragement of European studies in the University of Oxford and other European institutions of higher education having links with Oxford
 for the movement of academic staff and students between these institutions; and for the study of the languages, history, cultures and professions of the people of Europe.

The Europaeum runs one joint MA Programme in European History and Civilization. Partner universities in this programme are the University of Leiden, Université Paris 1 Panthéon-Sorbonne and the University of Oxford. The Europaeum also organizes summerschools and conferences. Europaeum Visiting Professors teach at partner institutions.
It was written that the members are leading European universities. But as for me it should be established - leading universities of the member countries.We see that the Member Universities are centers of higher rated and lower rated in Europe and worldwide.

Europaeum - source:  http://www.europaeum.org

MEMBERS:

Italy	University of Bologna
Czech Republic	Charles University in Prague
Finland	University of Helsinki
France	University of Paris 1 Pantheon-Sorbonne
Germany	University of Bonn
Netherlands	Leiden University
Poland	Jagiellonian University (Cracow)
Switzerland	Graduate Institute of International and Development Studies, Geneva
United Kingdom	University of Oxford
Portugal	Associate member: Institute of Political Studies, Catholic University of Portugal
Spain	Associate member: Fundación Ortega Marañón (FOM), Madrid

Europaeum seems to be a nice organization. Especially considering it my university - Jagiellonian University - is a member of this association. : )

"F" - University of Freiburg

University of Freiburg logo

"F" like... University of Freiburg is another German university in our university alphabet. Is a public research university located in Freiburg im Breisgau, Baden-Württemberg, Germany.The university was founded in 1457 by the Habsburg dynasty as the second university in Austrian-Habsburg territory after the University of Vienna. Today, Freiburg is the fifth-oldest university in Germany, with a long tradition of teaching the humanities, social sciences and natural sciences.

University of Freiburg localization

The university is made up of 11 faculties and attracts students from across Germany as well as from over 120 other countries. Foreign students constitute about 16% of total student numbers.

Motto: "Die Wahrheit wird euch frei machen" - "The Truth Will Set You free"

The University of Freiburg has been home to some of the greatest minds of the Western tradition, including such eminent figures as Hannah Arendt, Rudolf Carnap, David Daube, Johann Eck, Hans-Georg Gadamer, Friedrich Hayek, Martin Heidegger, Edmund Husserl, Friedrich Meinecke, and Max Weber. In addition, 19 Nobel laureates are affiliated with the University of Freiburg.

Kollegiengebäude II and central university square.

In university rankings published by German magazines and periodicals (Der Spiegel, Die Zeit, Focus, etc.) the University of Freiburg has established itself as one of Germany's top universities. According to the Webometrics ranking it occupies seventh place in Europe and 57 on the world.

Kollegiengebäude I, erected in 1913 as main building of the university.

University in numbers:
Established 1457
Type: public university
Endowment: 268,3 mio EUR p.a., Medical Center ca. 560 mio EUR p.a.
Admin. staff: 4,578 scientific staff (including Medical Center)
Students: 21,622
Association: EUA, IFPU, EUCOR, LERU

"E" - University of Edinburgh

University of Edinburgh logo

"E" like... University of Edinburgh founded in 1583, is a public research university located in Edinburgh, the capital city of Scotland.

Regarded as one of the most prestigious universities in the world, the university is ranked 6th and 7th in Europe according to the 2011 QS and Times Higher Education Ranking and 20th in the world by the 2011 QS rankings.



The university played an important role in leading Edinburgh to its reputation as a chief intellectual centre during the Age of Enlightenment, and helped give the city the nickname of the Athens of the north! Graduates of the university include some of the major figures of modern history, including the naturalist Charles Darwin, physicist James Clerk Maxwell, former Prime Minister of the United Kingdom Gordon Brown, inventor Alexander Graham Bell, first president of Tanzania Julius Nyerere i wielu innych! The University is also associated with 9 Nobel Prize winners, 1 Abel Prize winner and a host of Olympic gold medallists.

University of Edinburgh localization

The university is deeply embedded in the fabric of the city, with many of the buildings in the historic Old Town belonging to the university. Edinburgh receives approximately 47,000 applications every year, making it the third most popular university in the UK by volume of applicants! Entrance is intensely competitive, with 12 applications per place in the last admissions cycle - really hard, I could forget : P

The universitiy's "Old college"

It is the only Scottish university to be a member of both the elite Russell Group, and the League of European Research Universities, a consortium of 21 of Europe's most prominent and renowned research universities. In addition, the University has both historical links and current partnerships with prestigious academic institutions in the United States and Canada, including members of the Ivy League and U15 - About the above will be written not one post ^^

This university is one of my favorites in the world. Why? - One of the best universities in the world, the beauty and character of Scotland. It is a thing of the Scots can be really proud.

The university in numbers:
Established: 1583

Endowment: £236.512 million

Academic staff: 3,315

Students: 30,377

Associations:

- Russell Group

- Coimbra Group

- LERU

- Universitas 21

- EUA

- Universities UK

- Universities Scotland

"D" - Technische Universität Dresden

"D" like... Technische Universität Dresden 
(Dresden University of Technology) it is the largest university in the state of Saxony and one of the ten largest universities in Germany with around 35,000 students!

TUD logo

        Motto: "Wissen schafft Brücken" -
           "Knowledge creates bridges"

In 1828, for the preparation of human resources professionals in the field of engineering and construction of ships for the rapidly growing industry, it was "Royal-Saxon Institute of Technology." Founding director of the university was Wilhelm Gotthelf Lohrmann, who built the Institute in one of the pavilions on terraces Brühla.W school reform has become the "Royal Polytechnical School" and therefore can be equated with the "Royal-Saxon Freiberg" (now University of Technology Freiberg Mining Academy ") as the best technical university in Saxony.

In 1961, under the resolution of the GDR government changed the name to "Technical University of Dresden." At that time, worked eight faculties with more than 10 000 students. During this time he fell also intend to run in the GDR on the basis of aircraft production in Dresden developed a prototype aircraft type 152nd. 


In 2003 the University celebrated its 175th anniversary, during which dedicated the new Main Building of the National and University Library at the Main Campus. At the same time was the creation of Dresden International University.

The main auditorium

The university offers a comprehensive spectrum of courses and research. It has a high reputation in technical fields such as electrical engineering, computer science, photo optics, engine construction and traffic logistics.
The university is considered highly underfunded. Until 2020 more than 1,000 jobs are to be cut at Saxon universities, including Dresden University of Technology. As of 2012 there is an annual funding gap of about 50 million Euros. Since March 2012, every single new or extended employment contract needs to be personally approved by the Minister-President of Saxony.

TUD localization

The university is currently developing new strategies to make itself more independent from state funding and decision making. As one of the first universities in Germany it has opened a branch in Hanoi.

The university in numbers:
established: 1828
number of students: 34,993
number of employees: 6,123
number of faculties: 14
approx. total budget:500 Million €
number of foreign students: 3,442 (9.8%)
associated: PEGASUS, TIME

"C" - University of Cambridge

University of Cambridge crest

"C" like... University of Cambridge. This unit no needs introduction to anyone. The second oldest English after Oxford University, founded in 1209. It is located in Cambridge, in central England. Considered one of the best universities in Europe and worldwide. Oxford and Cambridge Universities are defined collectively as Oxbridge.
University of Cambridge consists of several independent colleges, of which the oldest is Peterhouse. Others include the Corpus Christi, King's, Queens', Trinity, Magdalene, Christ's, Wolfson.
Known around the world are racing of eights in the Oxford-Cambridge rowing.
Graduates of Cambridge have won 65 Nobel Prizes, more than any other university graduates in the world!

Motto: "Hinc lucem et pocula sacra" -"From here, light and sacred draughts"

UoC localization

Established: 1209
Endowment :4.3 billion £
Academic staff 5,999
Students 18,448

Associated:
- Russell Group
- Coimbra Group
- EUA
- G5
- LERU
- IARU

"B" - University of Bologna

"B" like... University of Bologna (Università di Bologna) - one of the largest universities in Italy. The oldest university in the western world (founded: 1088)!

UdB's logo

Motto: "Alma mater studiorum" - "Nourishing mother of [the] studies"

University of Bologna is historically famous for its teaching of canon and civil law.
The University of Bologna has adopted a Multicampus structure in order to permit the diffusion of educational offering and the activation of a stabile research activity on the premises with the intent to better the functionality and quality of university community life. There is also University of Bologna Campus in Buenos Aires which offers interdisciplinary study programmes on different subjects.

 UdB's localization

Founded: 1088
Working now: 924 years
Number of students: ~ 100 000
Membership: Coimbra Group, Europaeum, Utrecht Network

One of the main buildings of the university

University alphabet... "A" - University of Amsterdam

Welcome! Today I begin my university A B C ^ ^. universities will be presented with the European leaders.

Today....
"A" like University of Amsterdam (Universiteit van Amsterdam)
University of Amsterdam (Universiteit van Amsterdam) is a scientific university, located in Amsterdam, the Netherlands.
University of Amsterdam is one of the largest and most important in Europe.

UvA logo

It consists of seven faculties:

-> humanities
-> social sciences
-> economy
-> right
-> natural science
-> medicine
-> dentistry

This year, we should also make Uva birthday wishes. This year will be celebrated the celebration of 380 years of operations!

                                          

The University is a pretty international, so as many as 85 master's degree courses are offered in English, as well as many of the Dutch language courses and English.
Year of foundation: 1632
Budget: 487 million €
Number of students: 23 thousand.
Number of employees: 5 thousand.

"Youth on the way"

"Youth on the way" to jeden z przewodnich projektów w strategii UE 2020. This is what interests TKQG9VY5GR27  us is the aim of the project is to improve performance and increase the attractiveness of European higher education arena international and improve the quality of all levels of education and training in the EU, bringing together excellence and equity, by encouraging mobility of students and trainees and to improve the situation youth labor market.

Commission's intention to include:
- Integrate the performance of European cooperation programs
between universities and research (such as Erasmus, Erasmus Mundus, Tempus and Marie Curie) and combine it with
programs and national resources.
- Stimulate the modernization agenda for higher education (curriculum, administration and finance).
- Explore the possibilities of promoting entrepreneurship through mobility programs for
young professionals.
- Launch a policy framework for employment of young people, identifying
strategy to reduce youth unemployment.

At the national level, Member States will need:
- Ensure adequate investment in education and training at all levels (from
pre-school to higher education).
- Improve educational outcomes, using an integrated approach in each segment of the system
(pre-school, primary, secondary, vocational and higher), having regard to core competencies and
seeking to reduce the number of early school leavers.
- Increase the openness and relevance of education systems through the creation of a national qualifications framework and better linking educational outcomes with labor market needs.
- Help young people into the labor market.

Something important... EU 2020 Strategy

Continuing the topic of cooperation and the EU's influence on higher educationcan not forget about very important project of the European Commission which is the EU 2020.


What is the strategy for 2020?


EU 2020 is a new, long-term socio-economic program of the European Union (EU). Three overriding priorities of the EU's new strategy are:

-> Smart growth (development of an economy based on knowledge and innovation);
-> Sustainable development (the promotion of a sustainable economy - effectively using the resources -> more greenand also competitive);
-> Inclusive growth (strengthening economy characterized by high employment and economic, social and territorial).



One of the goals outlined in the EU's new strategy is to achieve a rate of 3% of spending on research and development (the overall level of public and private investment in R & D). At the same time, there is work on an indicator that reflects the intensity of R & D and innovation.


If at any document talks about R & D, knowledge and innovation is becoming an integral part of universities.



One of the main objectives is to reduce the number of early school leavers to 10% from the current 15% and increase the proportion of people aged 30-34 with higher education from 31% to at least 40%.
He has to lead to such programs, one of the flagship strategy - "Youth in the way."
Leading EU's project "Youth on the move" aims to improve the performance of education systems and improve the attractiveness of European higher education internationally.

More about "Youth on the move" project later ^^

The European Union and higher education

Certainly, most met with the name of the European Commission - Education and Training. EU in the framework of its activities is also dealing with education at all levels from base to higher education. Today a little about the EU's influence on development of higher education in a united Europe.

Higher education plays an essential role in society, creating new knowledge, transferring it to students and fostering innovation. EU-level actions help higher education institutions throughout Europe in their efforts to modernise, both in terms of the courses they offer and the way they operate.

How the European Commission impact on higher education ?...

- By working closely with policy-makers from Member States to help them develop their higher education policies. The Commission published a modernisation agenda for higher education in 2011, identifying five priority reform areas for action.


- The Commission actively supports the Bologna Process, the inter-governmental process which promotes reforms in higher education with 47 countries, leading to establishing a 'European Higher Education Area'.


- By encouraging the exchange of examples of good policy practice between different countries.


- The Erasmus Programme funds around 200 000 students every year to study or work abroad, along with other projects to increase co-operation.


- There are a number of European programmes to promote co-operation in higher education with countries beyond the EU, including Tempus and Erasmus Mundus.

So you see, there is a lot of programs and the system which deals with education in general. About many details, programs will be written later.