Universities and higher education in the European knowledge area

The European Parliament adopted the resolution by Mrs Cristina GUTIERREZ CORTINEZ (EPP-ED, E) on higher education. (Please refer to the summary dated 23/05/02). It should also be added that the Parliament calls on the Commission and the Member States to promote the establishment of a European university seat, essentially to: - act as a centre for meetings and exchange of experience, promoting the establishment of joint projects; - supply and exchange information on common programmes, types of instruction, the introduction of quality assessment systems and their outcome, and postgraduate training; - enable universities to be represented in European institutions and policy; - inform students or citizen wishing to study at European universities of possibilities available; - promote convergence among and the competitiveness of universities at European and international level. As regards funding, the resolution points out that the Member States and regions with higher education responsibilities must ensure that public universities have the funding required to enable them to perform their teaching and research roles to a sufficiently high standard. Lastly, it considers that academic activity and university research findings need to occupy a more prominent place in the mass media.�