The (R)Evolution of European Education Policy: European Higher Education Alliances

Abstract

This article describes the development of Europe-wide higher education and research. The European Higher Education Area (EHEA) is an educational initiative of the European Commission designed to increase staff and student mobility and improve the employability of graduates. In addition, the ERASMUS programme has enabled millions of students to study abroad. In the field of research, the European Union is pursuing the vision of a unified European Research Area (ERA), open to the whole world and allowing the free transfer of researchers, scientific knowledge, and technologies. To link ERA and EHEA, European University Networks have been established to develop “European Joint Degrees” to educate highly qualified future graduates with European values. The European University on REsponsible Consumption And PROduction (EURECA-PRO) has the ambitious goal of not only strengthening the EHEA and ERA but also of mapping the circularity of materials and material flows, including their environmental impacts, in teaching and research.