Education policy

Universities should not be viewed as graduate factories. They need to get back to their core ethos, and educate students to think. Learning by doing is the way forward

Researchers and academics across Europe decry absence of research and education in Mariya Gabriel’s new job title

This chart from the OECD demonstrates how, across generations, education rates are changing. For many countries, the direction is strikingly positive; in others, change is harder to see. 

Alliances are sprouting up to take advantage of the funding, but universities wonder how far the money will go

There has been progress towards the 2020 targets, but EU averages hide differences in attainment between and within member states. More effort is needed, notably on basic skills, where the EU is actually falling behind its objectives

Makeover at the top as director general for research and innovation, Robert-Jan Smits is replaced by Jean-Eric Paquet and new recruits are lined up for nine other posts

Élysée urges pilot programme next year for 20 ‘European university’ networks and broad EU funding – to boost innovation, education and research

Leaders from 28 member states will discuss proposals to set up university networks, remove obstacles to mobility in education, and form a European Education Area in which ‘learning, studying and doing research is not hampered by borders’