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Knowledge Alliances and Sector Skills Alliances

Infoday 23rd November 2015

Context

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• Europe faces major economic, social and cultural challenges

Education is more important than ever!

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People

President Juncker: Agenda for Jobs, Growth, Fairness and Democratic Change

Number 1 Priority: Strengthen Europe's competitiveness, create jobs and growth.

• Europe needs to reduce unemployment, in particular youth unemployment

• Europe needs to create a climate of entrepreneurship

• Europe needs to stimulate innovation

Key role for education and training

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People

Education and Training 2020

Stocktaking exercice in 2014

Draft Joint Report adopted by Commission end of August

Final Joint Report adopted by Council and Commission on 23 November 2015

Valid until 2020

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People

Education and Training 2020

Strategic objectives confirmed:

Making lifelong learning and mobility a reality;

Improving the quality and efficiency of education and training;

Promoting equity, social cohesion and active citizenship;

Enhancing creativity and innovation, including entrepreneurship, at all levels of education and training

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People

Education and Training 2020

New priorities: Relevant and high-quality skills and competences developed through

lifelong learning, focusing on learning outcomes for employability, innovation, active citizenship and well-being;

Inclusive education, equality, non-discrimination and the promotion of civic competences;

Open and innovative education and training, including by fully embracing the digital era;

Strong support for teachers, trainers, school leaders and other educational staff;

Transparency and recognition of skills and qualifications to facilitate learning and labour mobility;

Sustainable investment, performance and efficiency of education and training systems.

Increasing tertiary

attainment levels

Improving the quality and relevance of

higher education

Strengthening quality through

mobility and cross-border cooperation

Linking higher education,

research and business for

excellence and regional

development

Improving governance and funding

…Key Priorities of the EU Agenda for the Modernisation of Higher Education

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Improving the quality and relevance of

higher education

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Involving employers and labour market institutions in the design and delivery of programmes, supporting staff exchanges and including practical experience in courses can help attune curricula to current and emerging labour market needs and foster employability and entrepreneurship.

Linking higher education,

research and business for

excellence and regional

development

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Encourage partnership and cooperation with business as a core activity of higher education institutions, through reward structures, incentives for multidisciplinary and cross-organisational cooperation, and the reduction of regulatory and administrative barriers to partnerships between institutions and other public and private actors.

Innovation

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People - key actors in innovation process

crucial role of education and learning; innovation is a people-driven process and education can help to make people more innovative.

Innovation in education and innovation through education

Business

Higher Education

Research

Knowledge Alliances: Cooperation for Innovation

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Knowledge Alliances are…

• transnational projects between HEIs and businesses

• open to any discipline, sector and to cross-sectoral cooperation

• meant to have a short and long-term impact on the wide range of stakeholders involved, at individual, organisational and systemic level

The partners share common goals and work together towards mutually beneficial results and outcomes

Knowledge Alliances

Goals … • Develop innovative ways of teaching and learning

• Stimulate entrepreneurship and entrepreneurial competence of students, academics and company staff

• Strengthen the flow and exchange of information and knowledge

• Stimulate the co-creation of knowledge and innovation

• Stimulate innovation in HE, Business and socio-economic environment

• Stimulate the cooperation between higher education institutions and companies

• Stimulate innovation in and through higher education

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Important factors in University-Business relations

Trust Respect Common interest Commitment Trust

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Call 2014

…230 applications were submitted 10 (6+4) funded projects

Call 2015 …200 applications were submitted

10 (8+2) funded projects

Competition is strong

Expectations are high

To emphasize …

• Partnership is key for the success: solid commitment from all partners, balance of participating businesses & HEIs

• Focus on innovation: in higher education and/or in companies, people, policy, …

• Impact: Results that will trigger short- and long-term impact (individual, organisation, eco-environment)

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To summarize

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• Higher Education Institutions (HEIs) - an important role to play in economic and social development. Address the challenges of the 21st century; to be better positioned to respond to demanding expectations, HEIs need to modernise. HEIs have to become more integrated into and take up significant responsibilities in society.

• People - key actors in innovation process crucial role of education and learning; innovation is a people-driven process and education can help to make people more innovative.

• Cooperation between the different stakeholders is essential No single actor or sector has sufficient knowledge or resources; it is important to develop a favourable climate, support a broad dialogue and coordination between individuals, universities and business, public and private institutions in order to create the best conditions possible to ensure economic and social growth.

Additional information on the internet

Erasmus+: http://ec.europa.eu/programmes/erasmus-plus/index_en.htm

Thank you very much!!!

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