This study focuses on the state and effectiveness of national funding systems of Higher Education to support the European Universities Initiative. Its focus lies on the mechanisms employed by Member States for the core funding of higher education institutions, in particular the mechanisms that include performance elements. More specifically, the…

The EU Working Group on Learning for Sustainability (LfS) is currently exploring how policy action can assist in the development and introduction of school curricula and appropriate pedagogies to improve opportunities for learning for sustainability in Europe's schools. This paper brings forward input on how learning for environmental…

This is an age of profound socio-economic and geopolitical change. While the world is increasingly interconnected it is also threatened by climate change and demographic transformation. Russia's invasion of Ukraine is aggravating the disruption caused by these seismic societal shifts. Meeting the challenges of a changing world requires new skills…

This report focuses on the evaluation of 'Higher education grant system for less privileged students' in Portugal, a grant program for students (coming from families) with low income whose purpose is to respond to the real needs of students, ensuring equity in the allocation of social benefits and, as a consequence, promoting social action that…

The European Green Deal and UN Sustainable Development Goals (SDGs) highlight that education, including re-/up-skilling, is crucial in order to transition to environmental sustainability. Education has an essential role to play by supporting citizens in developing the competences needed to live responsibly, change consumption models, design…

This report reviews the outcomes of Erasmus+ projects promoting inclusion in education, implemented between 2014 and 2020. Starting from an inventory of 120 Erasmus+ projects labelled as 'good practice' in the Erasmus+ projects database, 15 projects were selected for further examination as case studies. The report summarises the main findings of…

This technical report presents the results of a cross-case analysis of the eleven case studies conducted under the Higher Education for Smart Specialisation project during the period 2016-2020. The analysis identifies key themes and innovative practice examples from across case studies, developing a structured typology of innovative practices for…

This ESIR Focus Paper provides a 'deeper dive' into the role of European Universities in achieving systemic change in the post-pandemic economy and society. It builds on and complements ESIR's second Policy Brief, which offers guidance on how a 'protect-prepare-transform' approach in the post-pandemic Europe can ensure fast learning from…

The COVID-19 pandemic has resulted in temporary physical closures of schools and higher education institutions around the world. In higher education, approximately 220 million students globally have been affected due to the disruption caused by COVID-19, leaving policymakers and educational institutions with unprecedented challenges such as how to…

This report focuses on the social and economic resilience that might be achieved by well-designed and well-targeted investment in education. It provides a review of the individual and social returns of education in terms of both economic and non-economic effects. The most important economic benefits for individuals include better skills, better…

This report targets decision-makers and influencers within education systems who contribute to policy-making at European, Member State or local level, and who stimulate and facilitate the development and uptake of new educational content and resources. According to the latest EU statistics 9.39 million animals were used in research and testing in…

The Education and Training (ET) 2020 strategic framework for European cooperation in education and training is the main instrument to develop exchanges of information and experience on issues common to the education and training systems of the Member States (TFEU, art. 165 and 166). As part of the ET 2020 strategic framework, cooperation inter…

This report defines student-centred learning and teaching (hereafter also referred to as SCLT) as an overarching approach to designing higher education processes, which is founded on the concept of student agency. SCLT primarily concerns the capabilities of students to participate in, influence and take responsibility for their learning pathways…

Much is expected from higher education in regard to addressing the challenges that policy makers in the countries of the European Higher Education Area face. Higher education institutions should equip their graduates with the skills and competencies necessary for the successful entry into a volatile labour market, and more importantly, maintain…

Much is expected of higher education in addressing the challenges facing policy makers in the countries of the European higher education Area. Higher education institutions are expected to equip their graduates with the competencies needed to successfully enter a volatile labour market, and more importantly to maintain their employability…