EUA Research Policy

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EUA Research Policy

• Dr John H Smith
• Deputy Secretary-General
• European University Association
• UNICA
• 7FP The Role of the Universities
• University of Vienna, Austria
• November 29 30, 2007

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Overview of Presentation

• The European University Association (EUA) in
  Brussels Independent stakeholder for Europes
  Universities
• Current European Research Policy Framework
• How EUA approaches key European Policy debates
  and provides input 6 selected issues
• Doctoral Programme reform / Research Careers
• FP7 support rates and cost models
• Dialogue with European Research Council
• University / Business collaboration and knowledge
  transfer
• Open Access and scientific publishing
• Green Paper on the future of the European
  Research Area
• Maximizing European, National and Regional
  Research Opportunities

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The European University Association (EUA) in
Brussels Independent Stakeholder for Europes
Universities

• Created in 2001 (as a result of the merger of the
  Confederation of European University Rectors,
  CRE, and the European Union University Rectors
  Association)
• Non-governmental Membership-based Organisation
• 780 Universities in 46 countries (individual
  members), 34 National Rectors Conferences
  (collective members) and university networks
  (affiliate members)
• Policy Focus ERA and EHEA
• Support to Members projects, workshops,
  conferences, web-based newsletters, targeted
  information and policy statements/positions

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Current European Research Policy Framework

• 7th Research Framework Programme (with longer
  duration 7 years, major innovations European
  Research Council eligible research costs
  contract model further coordination between
  national and European research programmes through
  new mechanisms such as ERA-NET and Regions of
  Knowledge)
• European Structural and Social Funds new
  emphasis on Lisbon Objectives in Research and
  Innovation
• European Researchers Charter and Code of
  Conduct/Research Careers and Mobility /
  Researchers Passport
• European Institute of Technology
• Communication on Modernisation Agenda for
  Universities
• Communication on Improving Knowledge Transfer
  between Research Institutions and Industry
• Green Paper on Future of the European Research
  Area Consultation and Follow-Up

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The Changing Context

• The EU Lisbon agenda a refocused strategy
  around research innovation
• The importance of universities in building a
  knowledge society in Europe
• Globalisation, growing competition with an ever
  more global market for education and research
• More differentiation institutional profiling
• ? Europe needs strong institutions that are
  diverse, adequately funded, autonomous and
  accountable (London Communiqué, May 2007)

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EUA Research Policy How it Evolves
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Key Issue IEUA Work on Doctoral Programme
Reform Linking the Bologna and Lisbon Objectives

• Starting point Doctoral research is the first
  formative stage of a research career (both
  problems and opportunities have to be addressed
  here)
• End Point Employability  careers in both
  academic and non-academic sectors and
  intersectorial mobility
• Meeting Lisbon Objectives fulfilling the need
  for more highly skilled professionals
• Fostering Joined-up Government thinking (across
  the European Institutions, national ministries,
  research councils etc) on doctoral programme
  financing and career development
• EUA projects on Doctoral Programmes and Doctoral
  Careers
• EUA provides independent input to the
  Intergovernmental Bologna Process 3rd Cycle
  (London Communique, May 2007)
• EUA publishes results of its 3rd cycle activities
  (September 2007) Doctoral Programmes in Europes
  Universities Achievements and Challenges
• 2008 Launching of EUA Council for Doctoral
  Education

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Key Issue IIEUA Position on FP7 Support Rates
and Cost Models

• Three Main Issues
• Universities that opted for the FP6 Additional
  Costs model held serious concerns that the level
  of research cost reimbursement under FP7 eligible
  costs model would not reach that achieved under
  FP6
• FP7 should be a transition period to allow
  universities to develop further their accounting
  systems to be able to operate fully within the
  proposed eligible research costs model
• The most critical issue was the level of  flat
  rate  for indirect research costs reimbursement
  in the case of the many universities that where
  not yet able to identify fully their indirect
  costs. EC had proposed a 20 flat rate

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Key Issue II (Continued)

• EUA Proposal
• The flat rate payment (on research and
  development activities for public bodies and
  higher education institutions) for indirect
  eligible research costs should be fixed at 60 of
  total direct eligible costs
• Such a fixed flat rate would provide an incentive
  to universities to develop their accounting
  systems to be able to operate on full eligible
  cost principles by the end of FP7
• EUA mounted a strategic campaign to present its
  case for 60 to the European Commission and
  European Parliament which met with success

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Key Issue IIIEuropean Research Council

• EUA contributed as an strong advocate of the need
  for a European Research Council from its 2003
  position paper onwards
• EUA Ad Hoc Working Group on the ERC (comprised of
  Rectors and Vice-Rectors for Research) provided
  input to the European Commission at the FP7
  development phase on ERC (2005/6)
• EUA invited by the ERC Identification Committee
  to nominate prospective candidates for the
  membership of the ERC Scientific Council
• Dialogue established by the EUA Research Policy
  Working Group with ERC Scientific Council
  providing viewpoints / feedback on ERC strategy
  papers, structure of review panels and their
  membership, ERC grants cost model
• ERC President, Professor Fotis Kafatos, invited
  to EUA Lisbon Convention (March 2007) in a
  session devoted to debate and exchange on ERC and
  its future policy development

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Key Issue IVUniversity/Enterprise Research
Collaboration and Knowledge Transfer

• Issue is a central plank of the Modernisation
  agenda for Universities
• Demonstrate Good Practice EUA has held
  conferences and workshops bringing together
  university/enterprise good practices
• Produce Guidelines for Good Practice Together
  with partner organisations from industry (EIRMA),
  research and technology organisations (EARTO),
  and university-based knowledge transfer offices
  (PROTON) EUA has published the Responsible
  Partnering Guidelines (2005)
• Promote and Disseminate Validation workshops
  held between university and businesses to gain
  critical feedback and revision the Responsible
  Partnering Guidelines were presented in a
  special session the European Business Summit in
  March 2006
• Dialogue with European Commission Responsible
  Partnering Guidelines provide input to the EC
  Communication on Knowledge Transfer
• Responsible Partnering Conference State of the
  art University / Business collaboration 3 4
  December 2007 Lisbon

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Key Issue VOpen Access and Scientific Publishing

• Bottom-up demand from EUA membership on the need
  for a university stakeholder perspective to be
  brought into the policy debate
• Open Access Working Group established in 2007,
  Chairman Professor Sijbolt Noorda (NL)
• Complements the work / activities of other expert
  groups e.g. UNICA Network, DG Research study on
  Scientific Publications Markets in Europe, EURAB
  and ERC positions
• Dual fold mission
• To raise awareness of the importance of the Open
  Access issue to University leadership and the
  wider University community, both in terms of its
  impact on the research process and its financial
  implications for university libraries
• To develop a common strategy for the university
  sector on key selected issues to be presented to
  policy maker
• Open Access Working Group presents its
  recommendations to EUA Council in January 2008

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Key Issue VIEUA position on Green Paper on the
Future of the ERA

• Continuity EUA input builds upon its views and
  positions (Presented from 2004 onwards) on
  proposals for 7th Research Framework Programme
  and new instruments such as the European Research
  Council
• Establishing universities as key stakeholders in
  the debate The EUA Lisbon Declaration Europes
  universities beyond 2010 Diversity with a common
  purpose (May 2007)
• Focusing on key issues Autonomy, Funding,
  Conditions for sustainable research missions, ERA
  and EHEA policy linkage, Knowledge Transfer and
  Innovation, Research and Teaching
• Engage in dialogue with European Institutions
  EUA Research Policy Working Group (chaired by EUA
  President) presents and discusses EUA viewpoints
  with European Commission officials and European
  Parliamentarians
• Gain feedback/input from EUA membership through
  Board and Council meetings, Conferences and
  Workshops and the EUA electronic newsletter used
  to bring full range of views into the debate
• Publish and widely disseminate EUA viewpoint on
  ERA Green Paper in advance of the October 8-10th
  2007 Lisbon conference amongst membership and
  other stakeholders

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Maximising European, National and Regional
Research Opportunities Implications for the
Strategic Management of University Research

• Develop a coherent university institutional
  strategy for research and innovation linking FP7
  project and network funding with the new Regional
  Fund opportunities and the expanding number of
  national research and innovation programmes
• Develop strategies for ensuring both
  local/regional focus and global outreach as
  components of institutional strategy in areas of
  competitive strength
• Develop more differentiated strategic missions
  for research and innovation, including new
  approaches such as regional clusters of
  universities, and working with other partners
  (triple helix)
• Greater linkage between the ERA and EHEA policy
  instruments to foster continuity in the strategic
  development of the universitys teaching,
  research and innovation missions

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Thank you for your attention For further
information visit www.eua.be