EUROPE: Report on creativity in higher education

11 May 2008

Contemporary society is characterised by rapid change in all spheres of life, and creativity has been identified as a key factor in tackling challenges caused by change as well as a driving force towards knowledge creation and socio-economic advances. Scholars have been studying change in recent years, yet little attention has been paid in Europe to how creativity and innovation can be enhanced within and by academe. A 2006-07 report from European University Association, Creativity in higher education, aims to contribute to the development of the European knowledge society by identifying good practices and providing universities and their major external stakeholders with recommendations on how to foster creativity.

"Progress towards a knowledge-based society and economy will require that European universities, as centres of knowledge creation, and their partners in society and government give creativity their full attention," says the report, and it continues: "If Europe should not succeed in strengthening creativity in higher education, the very goal of a European knowledge society would be at stake."

"Creativity in higher education", a project initiated by the European University Association and co-funded by the Socrates Programme of the European Commission, was designed to explore and enhance understanding of the concept, identity best practices and produce recommendations on creativity. The association invited 32 higher education institutions from 21 countries to cooperate in four networks during 2006 and 2007 that examined a range of conditions that might promote or hinder creativity in four themes - creative partnerships, creative learners, creative cities-regions, and creative higher education institutions.

Full report on the EUA site

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