March marks one year of the Union of Skills. EURASHE notes and welcomes the recent advancements, while reiterating the central role of Universities of Applied Sciences in high-level skills development, lifelong learning and regional development. Skills and competences are mistakenly placed at the periphery of the economic strategy, despite being essential for Europe’s competitiveness.
Since 2023, EURASHE has stepped up its efforts:
- EURASHE launched its Skills Community of Practice, a peer-learning platform bringing together its network around the topic of skills development, the European Year of Skills, and subsequently, the Union of Skills;
- Dedicating its 2023 Annual Conference “Skills for Europe” to how applied universities embed skills across teaching and applied research;
- Publishing a dedicated position paper, “Applied Sciences for the Union of Skills”.
More recently, EURASHE has:
- Established the Sounding Board for the European Universities Initiative, ensuring that the skills-oriented perspective is represented in the European Universities Initiative and the European Degree;
- Co-drafted joint higher education sector amendments to the next Erasmus+ regulation;
- Published a dedicated position paper on the post 2027 Multiannual Financial Framework to secure place-based investment in skills, applied research and regional innovation;
- Contributed to the consultation for the new European VET strategy as part of the Union of Skills, including co-organising a dedicated workshop with VET4EU2, making the case for integrated tertiary systems and permeability between VET and higher education;
- Organised a session next to DG HE in Warsaw on on “Harnessing European University Alliances for the Union of Skills”, dedicated to how alliances can act as skills hub for their regions;
- Co-organised skills-focused project labs and training strengthening members’ capacity to use Erasmus+ and Horizon Europe for up and reskilling projects and regional skills partnerships.
Looking ahead, EURASHE will continue to contribute to the European Skills High Level Board and the Union of Skills governance, bringing in the experience of applied universities.