The Young European Research Universities Network (YERUN) warmly welcomes the publication of the European Commission’s Communication “Achieving the European Education Area by 2025”. Such an ambitious Communication certainly comes at a unique moment, as the COVID-19 pandemic and the digital and green transitions are accelerating changes in the European education and training landscapes. Consequently, it seems important to develop new initiatives, foster investment in education and training, and achieve a stronger cooperation between the EU Member States so that all European citizens can benefit from high-quality education and training.
YERUN believes that the Communication perfectly acknowledges these needs and supports the will to further develop the European Education Area (EEA) along its 6 key dimensions. While generally welcoming the EEA’s policy objectives (I), YERUN also calls on EU policy-makers to further reinforce the EEA (II) by:
- Further enhancing quality in education, by bringing research and education closer together and by ensuring that the human and social dimensions are duly protected under the new digital setting;
- Accurately preparing teachers, staff and leaders for the future of education, by providing them with the training and tools they need;
- Working towards an increased recognition of professional qualifications across the EU, by ensuring synergies between EU education, research and employment policies;
- Embedding a true culture of societal engagement throughout the European higher education community, by encouraging universities to become more linked to their local ecosystems and to embark on a stronger cooperation with non-academic actors.
