Final DEFINE Focus Group in Nuremberg examines ‘excellence schemes’

On 11 and 12 June, the Friedrich-Alexander University of Erlangen-Nuremberg hosted a Focus Group bringing together university practitioners from several European countries in the framework of the EUA-led DEFINE project.
Participants presented and reflected on the characteristics of national funding mechanisms focusing on “excellence” in higher education and research. While certain “excellence schemes” have received significant attention across Europe, as for instance the German Initiative of Excellence, the discussions confirmed EUA findings that such schemes often differ in terms of their focus, size and processes.
The key points from the Focus Group will be presented in a report, to be released in the second semester of 2014, and will also be included in the overall analysis to be released at the 2nd EUA Funding Forum. The event will take place at the University of Bergamo on 9 and 10 October 2014 and will bring together the European higher education funding community to discuss strategies for efficient and sustainable funding of higher education in Europe. Registration for the event is currently open. More...