Following the March 2007 Convention in Lisbon, the Prague Convention will be another occasion for the university
leaders from across Europe to come together to reflect on and react to the rapid developments taking place in higher
education across the continent.
Continuing the debate launched over the last two years on the governance, accountability and financing of
universities in Europe and taking account of the growing differentiation of institutional missions and
profiles, the Prague Convention will focus on the new drivers of change in European higher education. The goal is to
identify common European policies and strategies that will strengthen inversities as they respond to growing
expectations of society in meeting the global challenges of the twenty-first century.
The Convention will be organised around four thematic clusters:
1) the University as an inclusive and responsive institution,
2) universities as research institutions,
3) governing and managing complex institutions,
4) global outreach- Europe's interaction with the wider world.
Among the issues addressed will be: ensuring access and retention of students, developing institutional strategies
for lifelong learning, Master Degrees in Europe as a preparation for further academic study and professional
development, strengthening research careers in Europe's universities, university-business research collaboration,
Financial sustainability and funding, adjusting governance structures, concentration measures and mergers,
doctoral education as a driver for the internationalisation of teaching, research, and cooperation, transnational
programmes as a main stream activity for Europe's universities, building an international profile as an important
element of an institutional strategy.
One plenary session will be devoted to challenges for the next decade.
As in past, the EUA Convention is timed to take place just before the 2009 Bologna Ministerial meeting (28 - 29 April 2009 in Leuven/Lovain-la-Neuve) that will map out the future of the EHEA post-2010. The Convention sill therefore result in the formulation of a forward looking political declaration to be presented to the Bologna ministerial meeting, while, at the same time, promoting synergies between the European higher education and research areas. Audience: The Convention should be of interest to institutional leaders (rectors, vice rectors, heads of administration, students) as well as other organizations involved in educational policy: social partners, employers and senior government officials. The Commissioner Figel´ participation is confirmed.
