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. : )