Europe’s strength "is based on its universities

Citation

(2003), "Europe’s strength "is based on its universities", Education + Training, Vol. 45 No. 8/9. https://doi.org/10.1108/et.2003.00445hab.012

Europe’s strength "is based on its universities"

Europe’s strength "is based on its universities"

Europe’s strength is based on its universities, says Philippe Busquin, European commissioner responsible for research. He told a conference in Geneva, Switzerland, that “the living spirit” of universities had played a decisive role in developing European culture, modern science in Europe and its application in industry. Basic research was the cornerstone of the knowledge economy.

He conceded, however, that Europe’s universities faced difficulties, particularly in relation to competition with their US counterparts and the increasing student population. He said that such challenges required changes that were not always compatible with traditional structures. The best way to tackle these challenges was at the European level “as all these questions have a strong European dimension”.