EUA is currently coordinating the EUREQA project* (“Empowering Universities to fulfil their responsibility for Quality Assurance”) which aims to support universities in the Western Balkans in developing their internal QA systems. In the context of this project, the EUA publication, “Examining Quality Culture” (parts II and III) has been translated into Albanian, Bosnian, Croatian and Serbian. Meanwhile, the third EUREQA training workshop took place in Bosnia and Herzegovina from 4 to 5 September.
“Examining Quality Culture in Higher Education Institutions” (EQC) was a project funded by the European Commission and coordinated by EUA (2009-2012), with the aim of identifying internal quality assurance processes in place in institutions, focusing in particular on the implementation of part 1 of the Standards and Guidelines for Quality Assurance in the European Higher Education Area (ESG). More...

The European Commission, in partnership with the German Rectors’ Conference (HRK) and the Confederation of German Employers’ Associations, will organise this thematic University-Business Forum focusing on cooperation between higher education and business.
The event, that will take place in Berlin, Germany, from 20 to 21 November 2014, will include plenary sessions and parallel sessions that will focus on a number of themes such as:

• Dual Study Programmes – Combining Academic and Professional Learning
• Adapting Higher Education to Lifelong Learning
• The Impact of University-Business Cooperation
• Higher Education and Entrepreneurship

The event looks to bring together policy makers and representatives from business, higher education and public authorities from across Europe.
More information on the event, programme and how to register is available here. More...

The Organisation for Economic Cooperation and Development (OECD) has published the latest (2014) edition of its “Education at a Glance – OECD Indicators” publication, which “provides data on the structure, finances, and performance of education systems in the OECD’s 34 member countries, as well as a number of partner countries”.
More information, including country notes, multilingual summaries, and the full publication, are available on the OECD website. More...

EURASHE, the European Association of Higher Education Institutions (HEIs) that offer “professionally oriented programmes and are engaged in applied and profession-related research”, are co-organising a Seminar on Professional Higher Education (PHE) entitled “Building bridges for a more professional higher education” in Otočec, Slovenia, on 16 and 17 October 2014.
For more information or to register, please visit the event website. More...

The 41st Bologna Follow Up Group Meeting was hosted by the Italian Minister of Education, Universities and Research in cooperation with the Free International University for Social Studies (LUISS) and was marked with the opening speeches of the Italian Minister of Education, Universities and Research, Ms. Stefania Giannini, the Secretary of the Congregation for Catholic Education, Archbishop Angelo Vincenzo Zani as well as the Armenian Minister of Education and Science, Mr. Armen Ashotyan.
Among other issues, the Ministers stressed the importance of the Bologna Process and noted that the political vision behind the Bologna reforms is still relevant.  It was also highlighted that there is a need of the cooperation of the EHEA countries since this idea lies at the root of the Bologna Process. Last but not least the important role of education in unrecognised territories was noted as a significant issue for further deliberations.
As for the upcoming Yerevan Ministerial Conference and the Fourth Bologna Policy Forum, Mr. Asotyan ensured that the best conditions will be provided for the participants. More...

A new project will analyse the wider impact of the research undertaken by UK universities.
The analysis, commissioned by HEFCE and partners [Note 1], will draw on the 6,975 impact case studies submitted to the 2014 Research Excellence Framework (REF) [Note 2]. Digital Science, a division of Macmillan Science & Education, will undertake the project; working in conjunction with its sister company Nature Publishing Group and the policy institute at King’s College, London. More...