On 18 October, EUA and EARMA, the European Association of Research Managers and Administrators, co-organised a seminar entitled "Higher education cooperation for development and Sustainable Development Goals: Meeting global and regional challenges". The seminar was hosted by MEP Bogdan Wenta at the European Parliament, in Brussels. Representatives from the higher education and research worlds and policy makers from the European Commission and the European Parliament discussed the contributions made by the higher education sector and research institutes to the cooperation for development agenda, with the view to contribute to the Sustainable Development Goals (SDGs). More...

Concretely the discussion touched upon examples such as the currently debated reform of the EU copyright directive where open access principles are at stake, the EU blue card, an instrument to facilitate mobility of highly skilled labour or the new skills agenda, including measures to foster digital skills provision, an important means to foster open minds. Participants agreed that while openness was an important principle for research, education and the economy, a careful discussion should take place on the limits of openness, for instance with regard to data from patients or minors and in the area of defence. The same applies to openness in the sense of the free flow of talents which also bears the danger of brain drain, further disadvantaging certain regions and creating knowledge deserts. The importance of investment, both in research and education infrastructure, was mentioned in this connection. More...

Independent Colleges and Universities of Texas (ICUT) is partnering with Johnson Controls to assess and evaluate campus-wide infrastructure needs for more than 40 member institution campuses. More...

In an unpredictable and insecure global political scene, the United Nations’ Sustainable Development Goals (SDGs) are intended to tackle pressing global challenges. More...