EURASHE organised a seminar on regional development titled ‘Higher Education as a Driver of Regional Development – Applied Sciences & Research within Diversified Higher Education Systems and Their Role in Knowledge Exchange and Regional Development‘ in Bratislava (Slovakia) on 6-7 December 2016.
(Photograph: CC by-sa by Kurt Bauschardt)

More information on Bratislava is available on www.visitbratislava.com
12.30 – Registration and coffee
13.00 – Opening of the seminar and welcome words
Slovak Ministry of Education, Science, Research and Youth (Slovakia)
Stéphane Lauwick, President, EURASHE (France)
doc. Ing. Ján Piteľ, PhD, Vice-Dean for Science and Research Activities, Technical University Kosice (TUK) (Slovakia)
13.30 – Plenary session: keynote speakers
Role and Mission of European Universities of Applied Sciences as actors in regional knowledge exchange, Michal Karpíšek, Secretary-General, EURASHE (Belgium)
Potential role and missions of Slovak HE within regional development agenda, lessons learnt from the project “Higher Education as a Driver of the Knowledge Society Development” (Slovakia), Peter Obdržálek, Head of Centre for Educational Management at the Faculty of Management, Comenius University in Bratislava (Slovakia)
Promoting HEIs regional knowledge exchange – An overview of development of Irish Institutes of Technology, their regional engagement and growing focus on applied research and entrepreneurship, Richard Thorn, Emeritus President, Institute of Technology, Sligo (Ireland)
Presentation of following working sessions
14.50 – Coffee break
15.10 – Parallel workshop presentations of best practices and moderated discussions
Regional foundations of Austrian UAS and their contribution to regional development (Austria), Prof. Dr. Michael Roither, Vice Rector for International Relations, University of Applied Sciences Burgenland (UASB) (Austria)
Professional Higher Education: Regional Integration – Regional Innovation, The German Baden-Wurttemberg Cooperative State University, Prof. Dr. phil.habil. Ulf-Daniel Ehlers, Vice-President of the Baden-Württemberg Cooperative State University (DHBW) in Stuttgart (Germany)
SMEs perspective on collaboration with HE institutions, Mika Tuuliainen, Head of Educational Affairs, Federation of Finnish Enterprises (FFE) (Finland)
16.30 – Plenary session, panel discussion on workshop results
Presentation of the results from the working sessions’ discussions and further discussion
moderated by Stéphane Lauwick, President, EURASHE (France)
17.30 – End of day 1
19.30 – Seminar reception at Hotel Saffron 4*, Radlinského 27, 811 07 Bratislava, Slovakia
9.00 – Registration
9.30 – Plenary session: keynote speakers
Moderated by Armando Pires, Vice-President, EURASHE (Portugal)
Higher education contribution to regional development as a key issue for the modernisation and development agenda, Dr Norman Apsley, Chief Executive, Catalyst Inc (Ireland)
Slovak industry expectations for increasing the regional knowledge triangle cooperation (Slovakia), Jaroslav Holeček, Executive Vice President of the Automotive Industry Association of the Slovak Republic
Presentation of following working sessions
10.15 – Parallel workshop presentations of best practices and moderated discussions
The Role of Professional Higher Education in Regional Development – Good Practice in Northern Hungary, Prof. Dr. László Dinya, EKU-KRC Gyöngyös (Hungary)
Challenges for higher education diversification to enhance their engagement with the regions and businesses, Karel Šima, Senior researcher and consultant, Centre for Higher Education Studies Prague, (Czech Republic)
11.30 – Plenary session, panel discussion on workshop results
Presentation of the results from the working sessions’ discussions and further discussion
Moderated by Armando Pires, Vice-President, EURASHE (Portugal)
12.00 – Role of Universities of Applied Sciences in European modernisation policy, Adam Tyson, Head of Unit for Higher Education and Erasmus, European Commission
12.40 – Presentation of conclusions
doc. Ing. Ján Piteľ, PhD, Vice-Dean for Science and Research Activities, Technical University Kosice (TUK) (Slovakia)
Peter Obdržálek, Head of Centre for Educational Management at the Faculty of Management, Comenius University in Bratislava (Slovakia)
12.50 – Closing of the seminar
Stéphane Lauwick, President, EURASHE (France)
13.00 – Light networking lunch
13:45 – Central European networking session for the identification of potential themes and forms of joint cooperation after the seminar, focused primarily on Visegrad countries (Czech Republic, Hungary, Poland, Slovakia) and Austria
14.00 – 16.00 – EURASHE Committee for Strategic Advice (CSA) – restricted meeting for CSA members only
Background
The tasks and roles of higher education within the modern society have enhanced substantially and got stratified resulting into a diversified landscape of higher education programmes and institutions. Besides the traditional universities with a strong focus on knowledge creation and research a growing number of higher education institutions focus on other agendas – teaching and learning role, internationalisation, providing expert capacity for public discussion, transfer of existing knowledge to society and the world of work, promotion and development of the region and community in which they operate. On the contrary to the traditional academic activities and values the latter tasks are quite often confronted with misperceptions and misinterpretation of necessary support and challenges.
The regional dimension of higher education, community and enterprise development, mutual communication between higher education institutions, region and the world of work including small and medium-size enterprises (SMEs) is strongly embedded within the mission of the Universities of Applied Sciences (UAS), their values and characteristics and contribute to strengthening their links to regional community and labour market.
Diversification of universities’ mission and roles has been an issue for the Slovak government for the last decade, with numerous attempts and systemic arrangements to strengthen links of Slovak universities to labour market, in order to release a part of their capacity for contribution to the regional development. However, these issues represent a challenge for a number of other countries, as well, and are also at the centre of attention of EURASHE. The seminar will provide a suitable opportunity to set a platform for exchange of views, experience and lessons learnt and for discussing various solutions from the international perspective, yet paying a reasonable attention to the Slovak agenda, as well.
Objectives
The aim of the event is to:
- Generate discussion and ideas on how to further develop the knowledge exchange including applied research and learning needs reflection in cooperation between European higher education institutions and various regional actors
- Showcase good practices from different European countries regarding regional cooperation including students’ engagement
- Share and discuss experiences and expectations from different sides; higher education, businesses and students. Exchange ideas on priorities for regional-focused activities between the European and Slovak actors in order to promote a networking platform and further cooperation of the seminar participants
- Based on the workshop discussions, draft conclusions regarding challenges and possible approaches to addressing regional knowledge exchange and a role of higher education at European, as well as Slovak level
The event presents the key topics of regional cooperation from the European perspective, but simultaneously also presenting the specific Slovak aspects within the regional development.














Travel to Bratislava
Using Bratislava Airport (BTS): There is a bus connection from Bratislava airport to the city centre. When taking the bus, please note that bus drivers do not sell bus tickets. Additional information here. You can also take a taxi from the airport for about 20€.
Using Vienna International Airport (Schwechat): Vienna International Airport, located in Schwechat can also be used to travel to Bratislava. There is a direct bus connection from the airport to the centre of Bratislava. Buses leave from the airport approx. every 30 minutes and the journey takes about 50 minutes. The cost of a ticket varies according to the time and bus company from 4 to 9 €. Buses go either to Bratislava Bus Station (Autobusová Stanica, Mlynské Nivy) or Most SNP (depending on the bus company you choose). There are three bus companies offering transport from Schwechat Airport to Bratislava: Slovaklines, Regiojet, Blagus
Seminar location
The seminar will take place at Comenius University Science Park Bratislava, located at Ilkovičova 8, 841 04 Karlova Ves, Slovakia. It is shown in yellow on the map underneath.
The seminar reception will take place at Hotel Saffron 4*, Radlinského 27, 811 07 Bratislava, Slovakia. It is shown in pink on the map underneath.
Accommodation
Following is a selection of hotels near the seminar venue. They are shown in red on the map underneath.
- Hotel Saffron 4*, Radlinského 27, 811 07 Bratislava, Slovakia – website – 4,1 km from the seminar location – 31 single and 31 double rooms are pre-booked until 20 November, participants can book by email with the code ‘EURASHE’ for a single room at EUR 65/night and a double room at EUR 75/night
- Hotel ibis Bratislava Centrum 3*, Zamocka 38, 811 01 Bratislava, Slovakia – website – 3,1 km from the seminar location – starting at EUR 55/night
- HOTEL MAX INN 3*, Pri Suchom mlyne 7507/7, 811 04 Bratislava, Slovakia – website – 2,3 km from the seminar location – starting at EUR 70/night
- Falkensteiner Hotel Bratislava 4*, Pilárikova 7372/5, 811 03 Bratislava, Slovakia – website – 2,9 km from the seminar location – starting at EUR 109/night
Map
View Seminar on Regional Development – Bratislava 2016 in Google Maps here.
Organisers



Registration fee
The registration fee includes attendance at the seminar, all materials (documentation and welcome package), coffee breaks, the seminar reception on Tuesday 6 February and the lunch on 7 December for participants. The fee does not cover travel and accommodation expenses.
The registration fees are set as follows:
- Regular participants (non-members of EURASHE): EUR 99
- Members of EURASHE: EUR 75
- Participants from Slovakia: EUR 60
- Seminar reception for a companion (spouse/partner only) on 6 December: EUR 25
Additionally, participants can order additional copies of the Manual for IQA handed over at registrations, whose fees are set as follows:
- Regular participants (non-members of EURASHE): EUR 39
- Members of EURASHE: EUR 19
There is a possibility to pay your fee in cash on the spot. Should you wish to do so, an administrative fee of EUR 20 may be charged in addition to your registration fee.
Cancellation
Cancellations must be sent in writing to eurashe@eurashe.eu.
Cancellations received prior to 23 November 2016 will be reimbursed fully, minus a EUR 20 handling fee. Cancellations received between 23 and 30 November 2016 will be reimbursed in the amount of 50% of the participation fee, minus a EUR 20 handling fee. Participants who cancel after 30 November 2016 or do not attend the seminar will be liable to pay the entire registration fee.
Substitutes may be accepted at any time, provided that the secretariat is informed of the change.
Confirmation
The registration will be confirmed by an email. However, please note that your registration will be completed and considered final only when your payment has been received.
Should you have any questions, please do not hesitate to contact the secretariat at eurashe@eurashe.eu.
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