The EU’s modernisation agenda for universities: the rising stars of French higher education. College of Europe Policy Brief #5.16, March 2016

Highman, Ludovic (2016) The EU’s modernisation agenda for universities: the rising stars of French higher education. College of Europe Policy Brief #5.16, March 2016. [Policy Paper]

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Abstract

Executive Summary > Several EU member states have embarked on major higher education reforms pertaining to structural issues (Germany, 2005-2007; Finland, 2010; France, 2008; Ireland, 2011). > The EU’s ‘modernisation’ agenda for higher education has urged member states to improve the governance and funding of higher education. > The quantitative growth in student numbers and the EU’s 2020 higher education attainment target of 40% of all 30-34 year olds has led to an increased strain on public resources. > Concentrating public resources in a small number of higher education institutions has become an increasingly popular policy choice. > Competitions that evaluate and reward the research intensity of a higher education institution will find it difficult to discourage a ‘one race for all’ type of competition. Such a competition is detrimental to diversity, however, because the stakes are too high.

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