EUROPE: EUA ponders impact of global recession

The European University Association is devoting a conference in Italy this September to an exploration of how Europe's 5,000 universities can survive financially in the midst of a global recession and massive public funding cuts across the region.

Thomas Estermann, head of the Governance, Autonomy and Funding Unit at the EUA, said: "This is an extremely challenging time for higher education across Europe. Our monitoring work has shown there have already been major cuts to public spending in a number of countries while some governments have discarded commitments to increase higher education funding.

"Such trends are particularly worrisome for universities across Europe, whose continuing dependence on public funding puts their future sustainability under pressure."

The conference, Towards Financial Sustainability II: Diversifying Income Streams, will take place on 13-14 September at the University of Bologna. It will bring together experts, university leaders and politicians to discuss new strategies for diversifying income and funding streams at European universities.

A major part of the conference will explore the first findings of the EUDIS (European Universities Diversifying Income Streams) project, which researched the most successful strategies for securing alternative income sources for post-secondary schools.

The EUA is not giving up on lobbying Brussels for increased public spending, despite the economic downturn.

"The European University Association believes that more than ever in the current economic climate, governments should step up efforts to increase public funding for universities, which are at the centre of knowledge creation and development," Estermann said.

"Europe cannot risk losing a generation of talented people, nor should it put its research and innovation activities in jeopardy."

Registration information for the September conference can be found at: www.eua.be