The Government has announced its intention to make further changes to the regulation of higher education in England [Note 1]. These changes follow the 2011 Higher Education White Paper ‘Students at the heart of the system’ [Note 2], which sets out the Government’s plans for placing higher education on a financially sustainable footing, delivering a better quality student experience, and promoting social mobility.
The success of higher education in England is underpinned by the principles of institutional autonomy and academic freedom, and the new arrangements build on these strong foundations. The Government has asked HEFCE and the Regulatory Partnership Group (RPG) [Note 3] to implement them within existing legislation, while recognising that a new legislative framework will be required in the longer term.
Working in partnership with the RPG, HEFCE is asked to take on a regulatory oversight and coordination role [Note 4]. HEFCE is leading work on a number of strands of the new arrangements:
    * developing a register of higher education provision in England [Note 5]
    * consulting on proposed revisions to HEFCE’s Financial Memorandum [Note 6]
    * operating of a new system of specific-course designation for alternative providers [Note 7]
    * implementing further changes to student number controls, including extending them to alternative providers from 2014-15.
The Government has announced that it intends to delegate to HEFCE responsibility for the process of approving designation of HEFCE-funded universities and colleges, and for providing assurance that the agreed terms and conditions are met. Eligible courses at these institutions are and will continue to be designated automatically, allowing students to access student support. Institutions will not be required to undergo a separate designation process. This means that in practice there will be little change for existing institutions, and no additional administrative burden.
The RPG, which is chaired by HEFCE and the Student Loans Company (SLC), is publishing a summary of the current and proposed regulatory and funding arrangements, ‘Operating framework for higher education in England’ [Note 8]. Read more...

Le 3 millionième étudiant Erasmus français s'appelle Julien Maries, étudiant à Supagro Montpellier. D'après les chiffres publiés par la Commission européenne,  plus de trois millions d'étudiants ont bénéficié de bourses Erasmus depuis le lancement du programme en 1987.
Un étudiant dans chaque pays de l'Union européenne a donc été élu symboliquement comme le 3 millionième étudiant Erasmus parmi les 1800 candidatures venant de 34 pays qui sont parvenues à la Commission européenne  via l'association, Erasmus Student Network (ESN).
Julien Maries a effectué son stage Erasmus de 5 mois sur le petit campus de sciences agricoles d'Alnarp, près de Malmö, à l'extrême sud de la Suède. Il  a beaucoup apprécié l'accueil des étudiants suédois qui organisent des rencontres entre étudiants étrangers pour qu'ils fassent connaissance et lient des amitiés. S'inspirant de cet accueil qui l'a aidé à s'intégrer rapidement,  il a créé un site pour aider les futurs étudiants arrivant sur le sol suédois http://studentinsweden.jimdo.com.
Cette initiative a été particulièrement remarquée par la Commission. Outre tous les bénéfices professionnels et humains qu'il a retirés de son stage, il s'est fait des relations qui lui ont permis de décrocher un nouveau stage en Nouvelle zélande.

International Conference - Colloque International. 1er Octobre 2013, Université Matej Bel, Banská Bystrica, Slovaquie - Proposals for papers (title, abstract, profile or the author) should be sent before 30 July, 2013 to Gilles Rouet (gilles.rouet@gmail.com) and Radovan Gura (radova.gura@umb.sk).
Université Matej Bel, Banská Bystrica Faculté des sciences politiques et des relations internationales Chaire Jean Monnet « Identités et Cultures en Europe » Erasmus Expertise Observatoire Tunisien de la Sécurité Globale Nouvelle Université Bulgare, Sofia Laboratoire de Recherche en Management LAREQUOI, Université de Versailles St-Quentin-en-Yvelines Université Pierre-Mendès-France, Grenoble Université de Reims Champagne-Ardenne Alcide De Gasperi University of Euroregional Economy, Poland University of Warmia and Mazury, Poland LUM Jean Monnet University, Casamassima Institut d’Études Européennes et Internationales de Reims Sens Public.
International Conference Banská Bystrica 1th October 2013 Échanges, coopérations, politiques: l’Euromed de la connaissance Exchanges, Cooperations, Politicies: The Euromed of knowledge - Proposals for papers (title, abstract, profile or the author) should be sent before 30 July, 2013 to Gilles Rouet (gilles.rouet@gmail.com) and Radovan Gura (radova.gura@umb.sk).
L’Union pour la Méditerranée constitue un cadre de développement des relations euro-méditerranéennes, en particulier avec l’augmentation des mobilités et échanges d’étudiants, d’enseignants, de chercheurs, le renforcement des dialogues interculturels ou encore la mise en place de programmes conjoints d’études et de recherche. Spécialistes de tous domaines et acteurs de l’enseignement supérieur et de la recherche sont invités à venir échanger à Banská Bystrica, au centre de la Slovaquie, sur deux thématiques principales:
* Les perspectives politiques des relations euro-méditerranéennes. Avec plus ou moins d’intensité selon les époques, la Méditerranée est un lieu de rencontres, d’échanges et de confrontations politiques, culturelles, économiques ou religieuses. L’ensemble politique n’est pas unifié et l’intégration est loin d’être réalisée, mais de nouvelles formes de relations, entre pays méditerranéens et plus généralement au sein de l’espace euro-méditerranéen, sont susceptibles de se développer, dans le contexte des évolutions géopolitiques et économiques internationales et des conséquences des Printemps arabe.
The Union for the Mediterranean provides a framework for the development of Euro-Mediterranean relations, especially by means of increasing mobility and exchanges of students, teachers, researchers, by strengthening intercultural dialogue or by implementing joint programs of study and research. The specialists in all areas and actors in higher education and research are invited to participate in our conference in Banská Bystrica, in Central Slovakia, on the two main themes:
* The political prospects of Euro-Mediterranean relations. With more or less intensity depending on the period, the Mediterranean is a place of meetings, exchanges and political, cultural, economic or religious confrontations. Political accord has not been reached yet and the integration is far from being achieved, but new forms of relationships between Mediterranean countries and more generally within the Euro-Mediterranean area, are likely to develop in the context of international geopolitical and economic developments and of the consequences of the Arab Spring.
Cette session regroupera des analyses politiques et institutionnelles de la coopération euro-méditerranéenne dans différents domaines, en particulier en matière économique, culturel ou éducatif, mais aussi relativement aux questions de sécurité, de droits humains et d’évolutions démocratiques. Les spécificités de l’intégration euro-méditerranéenne seront analysées, notamment la question du besoin de coordination et d’harmonisation des institutions universitaires et des systèmes de formation et des modalités de transfert du savoir et de la connaissance au sein de l’espace.
* Le défi de l’employabilité des étudiants dans l’espace euro-méditerranéen: témoignages et analyses. Les établissements d’enseignement supérieur semblent s’inscrire dans une logique généralisée de professionnalisation, intégrant les mobilités dans cet objectif. L’enjeu est fondamental puisqu’il s’agit bien d’articuler les programmes de formation avec les besoins et les possibilités des sociétés et de réaliser une meilleure convergence entre processus d’apprentissage et réalité professionnelle, en particulier dans le contexte de généralisation d’une approche par compétences. La question de la compatibilité entre objectifs professionnels et projets des universités est centrale: s’agit-il d’une instrumentalisation, voire d’une aliénation de l’espace d’enseignement supérieur et de la recherche à un dogme économique discutable ou bien des effets des évolutions sociales, liés en particulier à l’évolution des comportements comme des usages sociaux, politiques, culturels et économiques? Le défi de l'employabilité constitue-t-il une réponse adaptée des institutions aux demandes des étudiants et des autres parties prenantes montrant en cela leurs capacités stratégiques ou ne traduit-il pas un conformisme comportemental et une soumission de ces institutions aux diktats politiques?
This session will bring together political and institutional analyses of the Euro-Mediterranean cooperation in various fields, especially economic, cultural and educational, but also on issues of security, human rights and democratic developments. The specifics of the Euro-Mediterranean integration will be analysed, including the question of the need for coordination and harmonization of academic institutions and training systems and methods of knowledge transfer in the area.
* The challenge of employability of students in the Euro-Mediterranean region: evidence and analysis. The higher education institutions appear to be included in general logic of professionalization, integrating mobility into this objective. The issue is vital since it is important to articulate the training programs to the needs and possibilities of the society and to achieve a greater convergence between learning and professional reality, especially in the context of generalization of a competency-based approach. The issue of the compatibility between professional goals and projects of universities is central: is it an instrumentalization, or even alienation of the space of higher education and of research to the exclusion of debatable economic dogma or effects of social developments, particularly related to evolution of social, political, cultural and economic behaviour? We can ask whether the challenge of employability is an appropriate institutional response to the requests from students and other parties, taking into account their strategic capabilities, or if this challenge translates to behavioural conformity and submission of these institutions to the political dictates?
- Proposals for papers (title, abstract, profile or the author) should be sent before 30 July, 2013 to Gilles Rouet (gilles.rouet@gmail.com) and Radovan Gura (radova.gura@umb.sk).

A new study shows that cross-border higher education affects only a very small minority of students within the EU, but it is on an upward curve.
The study maps the intensity and spread of the cross-border provision of higher education through franchising and validation agreements and the establishment of branch campuses. It also looks at whether and how Member States regulate this, and into issues of quality assurance.
The study finds that levels of cross-border provision of higher education are highest where outgoing student mobility is also high. This might suggest that insufficient domestic supply, limited to demand in specific areas, might be an important factor behind the increase in this kind of educational arrangement.
Levels of regulation vary among the Member States, and mainly concern incoming operators; countries tend not to regulate the 'export' of higher education. There is an overall lack of hard evidence as to the effects on quality. In terms of perception of the phenomenon, Ministries and quality assurance agencies tend to be rather neutral with regard to both benefits and perceived risks; providers tend to perceive fewer risks and more benefits, whilst rectors' conferences and umbrella organisations tend to see fewer benefits. Findings in the study suggest that a potentially fruitful field of action would relate to improving quality assurance of this type of provision of higher education.
More information
Final report, Annexes.

Figures released today reveal that more than 3 million students have benefitted from EU Erasmus grants since the exchange scheme's launch in 1987.
The statistics, covering the 2011-2012 academic year, also show that the programme enabled more than 250 000 Erasmus students – a new record – to spend part of their higher education studies abroad or to take up a job placement with a foreign company to boost their employability. More than 46 500 academic and administrative staff also received support from Erasmus to teach or train abroad, an experience designed to improve the quality of teaching and learning in the 33 countries which participate in the scheme (EU Member States, Iceland, Liechtenstein, Norway, Switzerland and Turkey). Read the full press release "Number of Erasmus students tops 3 million". Read more...

European universities need to think global, says Commission.
The international higher education landscape is changing dramatically in shape and size, with greater competition from countries such as China and India. This calls for an overhaul in the way Europe's 4 000 universities operate - not only internationally, but also in how they deliver education to European students in their home countries.
Today, the European Commission launches a new strategy, 'European higher education in the world' aiming to ensure European graduates gain the international skills they need to work anywhere in the world and that Europe remains the most attractive destination for international students. Erasmus+, the new EU programme for education, training, youth and sport, will allocate more than €400 million a year to support international student exchanges and increased cooperation between European universities and their partners worldwide.
Androulla Vassiliou, Commissioner for Education, Culture, Multilingualism and Youth, said: "European universities need to think global. They must act strategically to capitalise on Europe's reputation for top quality higher education. They need to promote international mobility of students and staff, provide world-class innovative curricula, as well as excellence in teaching and research. While many European universities have good links inside the EU, many lack a clear strategy for strengthening ties with non-European partners. This urgently needs to change. The Commission will support Member States so that they can develop their international higher education networks. There is no one-size-fits-all model for this: countries need to play to their strengths."
There are more than 19 million students in European Union universities and other higher education institutions. The Commission underlines that universities must also promote an international outlook among the 85% of students who are not mobile, so that they too acquire the international skills required in a globalised world. This means universities need to develop international curricula, promote language skills and expand digital learning. Overall, the number of higher education students in the world is expected to quadruple, from around 100 million in 2000 to 400 million in 2030, with particularly strong growth in Asia and Latin America. Europe currently attracts around 45% of all international students, but its competitors are rapidly increasing their investment in higher education. The largest providers of internationally mobile students are China, India and South Korea. The new Erasmus+ programme, to be launched in January 2014, will for the first time mainstream opportunities for students from beyond Europe's borders to spend part of their degree studies at a European university, or vice versa. 135 000 student and staff exchanges between the EU and the rest of the world will be funded - 100 000 more than under the existing Erasmus Mundus programme, in addition to 3 million student and staff exchanges within the EU. Read the full press release "European universities need to think global, says Commission".

By Chris Marshall. THE introduction of fees of up to £9,000 a year has failed to deter applications to Scotland’s universities, new figures show.
Details released yesterday by the University and Colleges Admission Service (Ucas) show a 6.1 per cent increase in applications to Scottish institutions by the 30 June deadline when compared with last year. While there was a modest 1.2 per cent increase in applications from Scots, there was a 13.9 per cent rise in applications from the rest of the UK.
Scottish students and those from elsewhere in the EU are exempt from the cost of tuition, but students from England, Northern Ireland and Wales must pay fees of up to £9,000 a year. The figures show Scotland’s universities appear to have weathered the introduction of higher-rate fees, which were first charged to students in 2012. At this stage of the application cycle last year, the number of people applying to Scottish universities from England was down 5.5 per cent. Read more...