Slimmer investeren in EU

Nieuws | de redactie
14 juli 2014 | Europa moet zijn geld veel slimmer inzetten. Dan kan het als ‘kenniscontinent’ een leidende rol spelen bij kennis en innovatie voor nieuwe groei. Anka Mulder (TU Delft) zet in de Huffington Post uiteen ‘hoe, wat en waar’.

Zij onderstreept allereerst het goede nieuws, dat “that Europe is potentially in a strong position to seize this agenda. And, in Brussels, its importance is taken seriously. Indeed, at a time when the overall EU budget has decreased for the first time ever, programmes such as Erasmus+ and Horizon 2020 continue to receive significant funding increases.

However, the truth is that Europe is still falling behind other areas of the world on this agenda. Part of the reason is that education largely remains a national-level responsibility and the record of individual countries is uneven.

This reflects not just lack of prioritisation in some member states. In addition, there are post-crisis budget cutbacks, plus the fact that many member states are not using EU Structural and Investment Funds for funding research infrastructures, despite encouragement from Brussels.”

Huiswerk voor Juncker

Net als tijdens het recente EP-debat in Delft vertelt zij in het Amerikaanse blog een ongemakkelijke waarheid over de EU-investeringen in mobiliteit. Die kosten veel geld, maar bereiken slechts enkele procenten van de HO-deelnemers.

De agenda voor Juncker c.s. is daarom duidelijk en praktisch. “Greater synergy is needed between Europe’s programmes, including Horizon 2020, Erasmus+ and Europe’s Smart Specialisation Strategies. By combining these and designing smarter ways to invest, there is significant opportunity to enhance outcomes.

To be sure, some positive steps have been taken in this direction. For instance, the EU Knowledge and Innovation Communities (KICs) which integrate all three sides of the ‘knowledge triangle (higher education, research, and business). Unfortunately, however, KICs are currently exceptions in a fragmented landscape.

One key ‘missing’ way that synergy can be driven between research and education is blended learning. That is, offering online education in combination with face to face, practical class room learning and lab time.”

Hier leest u de volledige bijdrage van Anka Mulder


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