Students and universities: An academic community on the move

EUA and ESIB Joint Declaration

ESIB – The National Unions of Students in Europe (hereafter referred to as
ESIB) and EUA – European University Association (hereafter referred to as
EUA), representing more than 10 million students, 32 rectors’ conferences and
600 universities or equivalent institutions across the whole of Europe, present
together, for the first time, a shared vision for the future of Higher Education in
Europe. Universities are acknowledged as the main platform in which dialogue
and learning between the generations take place. While students have always
embraced their role in promoting reform and development, future work must be
undertaken in broader partnerships. This can only strengthen the role that
higher education plays in shaping and contributing towards civic society.

Students, Universities and Europe

The importance of universities and students working together at local, regional,
national and European level is clear. The future of Europe depends upon the
ability to build together a learning society based upon the diversity of cultures
and experience, and underpinned by shared values.

Both EUA and ESIB therefore signal their willingness to work together on issues
of importance for the Laeken Convention on the future of the European Union,
to make a significant contribution on the changing role of higher education in an
increasingly inter-connected global society. Students have a unique contribution
to make in the consultation of civil society that is being planned as part of the
Laeken process.

EUA and ESIB are committed to joint action at the European level. While the
following are current priorities – the construction of the European Higher
Education Area and the globalisation process – EUA and ESIB will also discuss,
further to this declaration, common fields of interest in achieving the “Europe of
knowledge”.

European Higher Education Area

The creation of the European Higher Education Area (EHEA) is an important
objective which both EUA and ESIB support and towards which we are already
contributing fully.

All key stakeholders must be involved in the process. Now that the creation of
the EHEA is entering the implementation phase, the active participation of
universities and students is of increased importance. ESIB and EUA are both
taking a pro-active approach to inform, encourage and support our members in
this respect. We are also both fully involved at European level in the various
groups and fora preparing the next stages of the EHEA.

The creation of the European Higher Education Area implies the reform of some
aspects of traditional existing practices in many countries of Europe. We would
like to draw attention to the following issues:

· Mobility

Increased and more flexible mobility of students and university staff is a
fundamental building block for the EHEA. Much work has already been done to
identify and remove barriers to mobility. We encourage the implementation of
the Mobility Action Plan developed under the French Presidency of the EU to
meet and exceed the targets established by the European Commission.

· Improving quality mechanisms

Effective and transparent quality assurance mechanisms are necessary in order
to ensure mutual trust and confidence across European higher education, thus
facilitating the recognition of qualifications, degrees and diplomas for both
academic and employment purposes. Quality assurance mechanisms must also
look to enhance the overall student experience (eg student support services
and extra- curricular development). Taken together these factors should foster a
quality culture within institutions and across the EHEA.

· A European credit accumulation and transfer system

Once the necessary quality assurance procedures are in place, our goal is to
remove barriers to recognition and credit accumulation to the extent that
institutions can pre-recognise existing qualifications using an agreed code of
practise that serves the interest of students and protects the autonomy of
institutions.

· Social Issues

Higher education in Europe should be democratic and accessible for all. Social
issues are central to the creation of the EHEA. These include a thorough and
comprehensive student support system, eg counselling, financial support, work
rights and practical legal advice. To achieve equality of opportunity in an
increasingly diverse university population, such a system must ensure
maximum flexibility.

· Links with the European Research Area

The construction of a European Higher Education Area should not be separated
from the development of a European Research Area (IRA). Integrated learning,
teaching and research is essential to the European vision of a democratic and
dynamic university system, and the construction of EHEA and IRA should
therefore be regarded as aspects of a common process.

· South Eastern Europe

The creation of the European Higher Education Area must be a truly European
process in order to gain the benefits of our continent’s diversity. We do not
consider South Eastern Europe as a peripheral region in this process, but fully
involved as an integral partner. The full inclusion of South Eastern Europe in the
EHEA will be an essential element for the success of the Stabilisation and
Accession Process leading to EU membership. EUA and ISIB are concerned
by the tendency to exclude some countries in South East Europe from the
developing ERA.

Europe and the globalisation process

Whilst global competition might be seen as a way to enhance the overall quality
of the higher education sector, the principles behind cooperation in the EHEA
and with other systems of higher education should be based on educational
solidarity.

Both EUA and ESIB share the opinion that education is a public good to the
individuals and societies, and not solely a tradable service. We consider that
current attempts to extend commitments in Higher Education Services within
the GATS framework are not in the best interests of higher education
institutions, students or society. Education is a fundamental human right. Higher
education should not be reduced to a commodity. Education should not be
covered by an agreement primarily concerned with promoting free trade.
EUA and ESIB promote internationalism. However, a system of regulations
must be developed from within the higher education community.

Conclusion

We affirm that ESIB and EUA are ready to contribute not only to the
construction of the European Higher Education Area but more generally to the
development of tomorrow’s Europe, in which our members and constituents will
play a leading, formulative role.