EURASHE’s President, Prof. Andreas G. Orphanides (CY), opening the Annual Conference

The event was hosted by the Banku Augstskola – BA School of Business and Finance (website – our member) at the Radisson Blu Hotel Latvija, in cooperation with the Danish Rectors’ Conference – University Colleges Denmark (website – our member) and the FLLLEX project (website).

For the first time a really theme-bound conference of EURASHE was organised, which produced a Conference rich in subject specific content. Keynote speakers provided the wider background for the two themes. Joeri van den Steenhoven (NL) reflected on the modernisation of the welfare society and the role of (higher) education in Lifelong learning, social innovation and the welfare society. Jørn Henrik Petersen (DK) discussed a dilemma embedded in all European societies: a weakening of individual responsibility as the State has taken over and the role of the welfare society and (higher) education in this sense.

Couch discussion with both Key Note speakers, Jørn Henrik Petersen (DK – left), Joeri van den Steenhoven (NL – middle), and EURASHE’s Vice-President Michal Karpíšek (CZ – right)

On this occasion the FLLLEX project has also been presented, in particular the instrument which has been developed in order to implement Lifelong Learning strategies in higher education institutions: the FLLLEX-Radar. This is a project initiated and supported by EURASHE, which aims at identifying challenges and implications of the incorporation of Lifelong Learning into European Higher Education institutions.

Participants of the Conference in the main Conference room

More information on the Conference, the presentations delivered by the Speakers, descriptions of the different sessions and much more will be available on the dedicated page of the Conference soon… 

EURASHE is pleased to announce that a Conference report will be published in the coming weeks.

Following the Annual Conference a Crosscutting Session on Policy, and the 2012 EURASHE General Assembly have been also organised.

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Learn more on the 22nd Annual Conference on its dedicated page

Read more on previous EURASHE Annual Conferences in the specific section

Learn about the FLLLEX project here

Discover our members here

Read about EURASHE’s 2012 General Assembly here, and the Crosscutting Session on Policy here 

EURASHE’s President, Prof. Andreas G. Orphanides (CY – first row, left) amongst other Heads of Delegation © UEFISCDI

In the interactive panel discussion in the plenary meeting at the opening of the Ministerial Conference, EURASHE’s President, Prof. Andreas G. Orphanides, underlined the fact that the relevance of the Bologna Process lies in the fact that it has strengthened the internal cohesion of European HE, while managing to respect its enormous diversity and its proper values, and it put Europe and European HE on the map creating the basis and prospect for a competitive European HE in a global perspective, while enhancing the employment prospects of the European graduates. He stressed the role of stakeholder organisations in implementing the process, which is for EURASHE continuing on the path of fully involving the HE institutions, in support of the welfare society, through knowledge creation and regional development. Stressing also the importance of Quality and Innovation as sine qua non in achieving competitiveness of EHEA, Prof. Orphanides proposed that action programs on Bologna reforms are developed and launched on a European level, promoting, encouraging and supporting the implementation of the reforms via bilateral and multilateral agreements between institutions (and stakeholders).

In the various thematic sessions and discussion groups, EURASHE’s message to the governments and HE stakeholders was passed by EURASHE’s delegation, based on the Association’s input in the Ministerial Communiqué, which was released at the beginning of and endorsed at the conclusion of the conference.

EURASHE favours a higher education that focuses on making graduates employable in a sustainable way, in continuous contact with stakeholders in HE, with the support of a lifelong learning framework and a student-centred approach, and based on a transparent and quality-assured provision of programmes, irrespective of the institutional or country context.

The role of the Bologna tools’ was a recurring theme in EURASHE’s input in both the Communiqué and the Ministerial Conference and Bologna Policy Forum proceedings, with a focus on a student-centred approach, learning outcomes and qualifications frameworks. At the same time we were professing our firm belief that, where the country context allows it, there is a specific role for Universities of Applied Sciences in the creation and practical development of knowledge and its technological applications. This message was also expressed in the joint policy paper with UASNet, “Position paper on Research and Innovation”, which was presented to the Ministers, alongside our overall message for this Conference, “Towards a diversified, responsive and competitive European Higher Education”.

After the conference, President Orphanides participated in the official press conference, together with the Ministers of Romania, Denmark and Armenia, and the President of ESU, where he stressed that the Ministerial Conference was very successful, and he voiced his satisfaction for its major conclusions in relation to EURASHE’s recommendations and proposals.

Conference Room - © UEFISCDI

You can learn more on the EHEA

You can learn more on the BFUG and EURASHE’s involvement

You can learn more on our partner UASnet

You can read our policy paper and position paper in our library

The coalition of stakeholders involved in lifelong learning praises the proposed budget of 19 billion EUR while acknowledging that it is a minimum allocation necessary to have a real impact in the current economic crisis and to match the ambitious targets of the Europe 2020 strategy. It also welcomes the commitment to simplify the programme. However it considers that some adjustments could be brought to the proposed Regulation in order to ensure a greater impact and European added value. This concerns the need to reinforce the lifelong learning dimension and the recognition of key and transversal competences and skills gained through non-formal education, to strengthen the complementary aims of learning – active citizenship, social inclusion and employability as equally important.

Furthermore, it is crucial to better acknowledge the importance of civil dialogue and civil society and the support to them. The coalition invites EU institutions to take into account the arguments that underlie each of these statements. It also presents very concrete proposals in order to simplify the management and administration of the future programme. You can read the proposals in the Coalition’s Position Paper on “Erasmus for All”.

EURASHE is a member of the Coalition and supports its goals; it is composed of:

EURASHE is pleased to invite you to its 22nd Annual Conference titled “Responding to challenges for European higher education: Lifelong learning and the Welfare Society”.

On this occasion the FLLLEX project will be presented, in particular the instrument which has been developed in order to implement Lifelong Learning strategies in higher education institutions. This is a project initiated and supported by EURASHE, which aims at identifying challenges and implications of the incorporation of Lifelong Learning into European Higher Education institutions.

The event will be hosted by the BA School of Business and Finance in Riga (our member) and held on 10th and 11th May 2012 at the Radisson Blu Hotel Latvija.

Our member, the Danish Rectors’ Conference – University Colleges Denmark (UC-DK) is also a partner of this event. UC-DK is a policy-making and coordinating body of professionally-oriented higher education at university college level.

This interesting event will be followed by a crosscutting Workshop session on policy, which will be held in the afternoon of 11 May in the framework of the 2012 EURASHE General Assembly at the same venue (NEW DATES!).

Learn more on the Conference -  Click here to register to the event!

       The Final Programme of the Conference can be read here

On Monday 12 March 2012, EURASHE and

Here you can read the invitation letter (Dutch; PDF)

More than 25 participants from Russia, Ukraine and Belgium attended the Workshop. They include the Provost of Kiev Law University of the Ukranian Academy of Science; lecturers from the Vrije Universiteit Brussel as well as Universiteit Gent.

Stefan Delplace, EURASHE‘s Secretary General represented the organisation along Simone Goetschalckx on behalf of FLAMENCO.

More information is available on a dedicated page.

Over the past 18 months, the West of Scotland Colleges’ Partnership (WoSCoP) led a transnational team of experts in the field of adult education to undertake two studies aimed at analysing and exploiting the results of two Grundtvig Measures – (i) European Co-operation Projects, Networks and Accompanying Measures and (ii) In-Service Training activities.

The results of these extensive studies have just been published and, amongst other things, they highlight examples of interesting and sector-leading practice, provide information and advice on disseminating and exploiting project results, suggest improvements in the field of in-service training and provide details of relevant networks, publishing houses and conferences across the 31 eligible countries.

To access the studies please follow these links:

1. Study number 1: Grundtvig European co-operation projects, networks and accompanying measures

2. Study number 2: Grundtvig In-service training activities

DOBA Faculty of Applied Business and Social Studies Maribor invites you to attend the Dynamic Entrepreneurship for Economic Growth – Promoting sustainable growth for the prosperity and new jobs scientific conference with international attendance that will be organised on 7 and 8 May 2012 at the Habakuk Hotel in Maribor in cooperation with the Ministry of the Economy of the Republic of Slovenia, the Chamber of Commerce and Industry of Slovenia and the Dnevnik publishing house.

This year’s central theme is dynamic entrepreneurship and the contribution of companies with high growth potential to the reactivation of economic growth. The conference is aimed at reacting to the challenges of the environment, which is eagerly awaiting development and growth, while at the same time facilitating dialogue between the economy and higher education for a comprehensive approach.

Furthermore, you are invited to present your views and your activities relating to the theme of the conference with a scientific paper.

More information on the conference can be found in the EURASHE calendar.

Go to the dedicated page of the project in order to learn more on the launch conference.

“Ovidius” University of Costantza, Romania, conferred upon the President of EURASHE, Professor Andreas G. Orphanides, the title Doctor Honoris Causa. The conferment ceremony took place in Aula Magna of the University at Costantza, and it was led, on behalf of the Senate, by the Rector, Professor Victor Ciupina, together with the Vice-Rectors and the Deans of the Faculties of the University, on 20 January 2012.

Vice-Rector Professor Nicolae Dură and His Grace the Archbishop of Costantza and Dean of the Faculty of Theology Professor Theodosius read the reasoning of the Senate to honor Professor Orphanides, and they presented his curriculum vitae, his personality and his life achievements.

Inter alia, they mentioned the following: «We express a Laudatio today in honour of one of the great personalities of European education, Professor Andreas Orphanides, the Rector of European University Cyprus and President of the European Association of Institutions in Higher Education (EURASHE).  He has an impressive resumė that underlines both the remarkable path of his academic life and his fruitful involvement in the institutional organization and reform of higher education in his country and in the European Union. We are standing face-to-face with a great personality of the European cultural and academic world, whom our University honours by conferring upon him the title of Doctor Honoris Causa, with which he becomes one of our members. The Students and the Professors of our University are looking forward to welcome him to the lecture rooms of our University as one of our own Professors …». A polyphonic choir was singing during the ceremony.

On 15 December, a coalition of 30 European networks gathering thousands of organizations in secondary and higher education, vocational education and training, youth, adult education and popular education adopted common messages on the future “Erasmus for All” programme. The coalition praises the proposed budget of 19 billion EUR while acknowledging that is a minimum allocation necessary to have a real impact in the current economic crisis and to match the ambitious targets of the Europe 2020 strategy. It also welcomes the commitment to simplify the programme. However it considers that some adjustments could be brought to the proposed Regulation in order to ensure a greater impact and European added value. This concerns the need to reinforce the lifelong learning dimension and the recognition of competences and skills gained through non-formal education, to strengthen the complementary aims of learning – active citizenship, social inclusion as well as employability. Furthermore, it is crucial to better acknowledge the importance of civil dialogue and civil society and the support to them.

Read the press release of EUCIS-LLL.