The 11th European Quality Assurance Forum (EQAF) will take place in Ljubljana, Slovenia, from 17 to 19 November 2016. For the first time, a student organisation will be co-hosting the event, namely the Slovene Student Union (SSU).
Through a mix of plenary and parallel sessions, the 2016 EQAF, entitled “Quality in context – embedding improvement”, will combine practice-oriented or research-based discussions that will take place in the paper sessions and workshops with presentations of current developments in quality assurance. More...

Today the Spanish and European university students are deeply saddened due to the loss of many colleagues who have died in a traffic accident this morning in Tarragona, Spain. The Spanish National Union of Students (CREUP) and the European Students' Union (ESU) express our deepest condolences to the families and friends of the victims. Together we would like to send our full support of the Spanish and European students’ communities in these sad moments. More...

The European Students' Union organised the first EQUIP workshop in Amsterdam between 14th and 15th March 2016. Students, university professors, researchers, higher education professionals and policy-makers discussed the new European Standards and Guidelines for Quality Assurance in the European Higher Education Area - ESG 2015. More...

The system of higher education in the Czech Republic has been waiting for this essential reform for more than 10 years. On March 2016 all expectations met the reality and the act was passed through the Senate and signed by the president. However, some controversies occurred during its approving – linked to the issue of appointing professors. More...

By James Mancini. ”Disruptive innovation” is a popular term among researchers, businesses, consultancies and journalists discussing market change. While there is some debate about the precise application of the term, the phenomenon it describes is redefining markets around the world and the Latin American and Caribbean region is no exception. More...

By Luiz de Mello. A principal issue for governments with respect to the Sustainable Development Goals is how to align policies in practice given the breadth and complexity of the 17 SDGs and their 169 targets, the mixed track record of most governments in working horizontally, and the need to include an unprecedented range of public and private actors in both policy formulation and implementation. More...

The “Panama Papers” revelations have shone the light on Panama’s culture and practice of secrecy. Panama is the last major holdout that continues to allow funds to be hidden offshore from tax and law enforcement authorities. The OECD has been leading a global crackdown on these practices since 2009, working hand-in-hand with the G20. Through the Global Forum on Transparency and Exchange of Information, we have constantly and consistently warned of the risks of countries like Panama failing to comply with the international tax transparency standards. More...

By Jonathan Brooks. The new Sustainable Development Goals (SDGs) include a significant number of interconnected objectives related to agriculture and food. SDG 2 focuses explicitly on food by seeking to “end hunger, achieve food security and improved nutrition and promote sustainable agriculture”, but multiple other goals relate to challenges in the food system. More...

By Evdokia Moïsé and Silvia Sorescu. Good governance and streamlined procedures are essential features of an efficient border process. Cumbersome customs and other border procedures can directly raise trade transaction costs. Weak border governance can lead to hidden costs, resulting in time delays and uncertainties in the delivery of goods across borders. More...

By Gabriela Ramos. The Sustainable Development Goals (SDGs) are universal, multi-dimensional, and ambitious. To achieve them we need an integrated framework that promotes a growth path that respects the environment, and whose benefits are shared by all, not only by the privileged few. More...