Commission to push university-business links[fr][de] 

Commissioner for Education and Training Ján Figel' said European universities have significant untapped potential, "especially in their ability to establish links with the business community". 

Speaking at the second edition of the University-Business Forum on 5-6 February, he praised universities that allow industry representatives to sit on boards that review curricula to ensure they are relevant to the labour market. 

"Employers report that many graduates do not have the right mix of knowledge and skills for them. In particular, they ask for more cross-cutting and transferable skills. So, this is a suggestion for academia." 

He said the Commission would publish a Communication on 'University-Business Cooperation' in April to establish a set of good practices. It will be a "recipe" for partnership between education and industry, he added. 

The EU executive's priorities are enhancing learner mobility by expanding the Erasmus programme, improving efficiency of education and training, promoting innovation, creativity and entrepreneurship; and modernising Europe's universities. 

Commissioner Figel' said he respects and supports subsidiarity, announcing his intention to share best practice across the Union rather than to seek harmonisation per se. 

Professor Tadeusz Luty, a member of the board of the European University Association (EUA) and a former rector of Wrocław University of Technology, said Europe's higher education system must satisfy the demand for high level competences and skills if it is be competitive. 

He said it was important to "respect and accommodate the values and legitimate interests of both communities," while fostering closer links. "Autonomous and well-funded universities in a diversified system, with shared objectives and values, will be key drivers for the economic, social and cultural development of Europe." 

Czech Education Minister Ondřej Liška said the Czech EU Presidency would host a conference in April to look at concrete ways to bring education closer to industry. 

He said he wanted the debate to be reflected in the conclusions of the Council of Ministers at the end of the Czech Presidency. 

"Communication, cooperation and partnerships between the education sector and business community are crucial not only for boosting economic growth but also for improving employability of all individuals and ensuring social cohesion," the minsiter declared. 

He also stressed that humanities and art subjects bring significant potential for innovation and practical examples of this should be shared. 

Ana Patricia Botín, executive chairman of the board at Banesto, a Spanish internet bank, and president of the Fundación Conocimiento y Desarrollo (CYD), urged universities to consider the employability of their graduates. 

"To develop an entrepreneurial culture, public and private sectors must be involved in developing curriculum. Companies must provide input on needs to universities in order to improve the quality of research," Botín said, adding that universities should play a bigger role in innovation through spin-off companies and technology parks. 

Andrea Benassi, secretary-general of the European Association of Craft, Small and Medium-sized Enterprises  (UEAPME) said universities can support training and innovation in companies of all sizes. 

"The lack of cooperation culture between universities and SMEs require the development of a better understanding of each other and the only realistic way to progress in this is to involve professional organisations," Benassi said. 

He called on the Commission to establish a database with good examples of where universities have proposed special curricula for SME management.