Universitatis Europa - Universities of Europe

Fraternité 2020 !

2012-12-07T00:50:00.002-08:00

Fraternité 2020 what is it? From French this word means "brotherhood". Fraternité 2020 (F2020) is a European Citizens' Initiative initiated at the Young European Citizens’ Convention, Cluny 2010. F2020's objective is to enhance EU exchange programmes such as Erasmus or the European Voluntary Service (EVS) to contribute to a united Europe based on solidarity among citizens.

Currently, geographic mobility in the EU is relatively low. Popularity of student exchange programs such as Erasmus, is limited, for example, in 2006 only 1% of all students in the EU took part in the program. One of the reasons why such a small number of students benefit from the Erasmus program is insufficient financial support.

F2020 suggests three measures to increase mobility:

- The Commission shall use existing EU funds more consistently to encourage mobility. Also, it shall promote more funds for exchange programmes in the future. Eventually, 10 percent of the EU budget shall be used on these programmes.
- Increased efforts shall be made for participants to develop intercultural skills, e.g. by offering language classes and classes about the host country's traditions, history, society etc.
- Progress in the field of mobility shall be better monitored e.g. through Eurostat or Eurobarometer surveys.

Below is the video promoting the initiative F2020, enjoy!

From my perspective, programs such as Erasmus and EVS are very important. I have many friends who are or have participated in these programs and their relations are very positive. With many people they met during the program keep in touch to this day.
:"3

To help ERASMUS !

2012-11-23T08:34:00.001-08:00

Recently we wrote about the plans for the reduction of EU programs. It was to be expected that the academic community doesn't remain passive to European Commission's plan.

And it started...

On the portal facebook was created initiative to collect signatures for a petition to the European Commission.

This is one of the professors of IHECS started this citizens' initiative. This event will consist in collecting 1 million signatures in order to introduce a new law / bill by the European Commission. This action was not only to preserve the ERASMUS program, but also to obtain more resources for its implementation and continuation in the future!

Also if you want you can vote here:
http://en.fraternite2020.eu/sign.html

The next time a little bit more about the citizens initiative!!!

Greek Ministry says "No" to universities

2012-10-31T06:11:00.001-07:00

The Greek Ministry has decided to reduce the number of universities. The issue is so serious that Greece has little universities. There are 40 for a country of 11 million people. Education Minister Costas Arvanitopoulos argues that decisions to need to reduce costs. According to the Ministry assurances modernization of higher education institutions network will be supported by the new law and will lead to a reduction in maintenance costs and better management of these institutions.

After all, the main mechanism for modernization will be fusion of different universities, what meets with the counter university employees and students. Another problem is the unclear situation private universities whose future is still not certain and will depend on parliamentary corrections.

It is worth noticing that, until recently, private institutions were not considered to higher education in Greece (against the law of the European Union), more importantly, many of the private universities have better results than public universities.

Financial problem with ERASMUS

2012-10-12T05:00:00.005-07:00

Recently became known about the problems related with the financing of the ERASMUS program. It turns out that only the end of December 2012, students are confident of grants under the Erasmus program. For the first semester, the European Commission has already transferred 99.13% of the required funds for the program, but the lack of € 90 million to finance the second semester students travel abroad.
The European Commission ensures that the problem will be solved, however large numbers of students and student organizations are worried that these problems will decrease the number of applications of students to attend in the program. In october The European Commission wants to present the solution of the problem, the final decision be known at the end of 2012.

It is not excluded that in order to ensure the future of the Erasmus program, and many other projects, the EU should increase the budget of the Union. Unfortunately, already seven countries have refused to increase the budget for the year 2013 by 6.8% (~ 100 billion €), which threatening the future of many EU programs. These countries are Austria, United Kingdom, France, Germany, Finland, the Netherlands and Sweden.

"Upgrading Europe" (2012-2015) - new EU & EUCA project

2012-09-14T02:14:00.001-07:00

Dr Susana del Rio - leading supervision of the project

Recently his inauguration was a new European project. This project was named "Upgrading Europe" and is strongly supported by the EUCA. Years of operation of the project have been set for 2012 to 2015. The official opening took place at a conference in Rome on 25 June 2012 - '"The Role of European Youth Mobility on Future Employment".
The objective of the event is to launch a high-level debate with representatives from institutions and with civil society stakeholders on how international mobility, within the context of European citizenship, can contribute to increased youth employability by improving the quality and effectiveness of exchange programs.

Project "Upgrading Europe" is project that will offer greater visibility to the value of Europe and will promote a European Union with a quality transnational democracy and ready to face the challenges of the XXI century.

The main patron and chairman of the project is Dr. Susana del Rio - inter alia member of the Committee of Independent Experts of the European Commission on Science, Society and Governance and Framework Programme: Citizens and governance in the knowledge based society.

"G" - University of Groningen

2012-08-28T01:01:00.001-07:00

University of Groningen logo

After a short pause it's time for the next letter in our Universitys alphabet! :D

"G" like... University of Groningen (Rijksuniversiteit Groningen) it's the second best university in the Netherlands. It has a high european (13th place) and worldwide (76th) note.European world.
The University of Groningen located in the city of Groningen, was founded in 1614. It is one of the oldest universities in the Netherlands as well as one of its largest.It is a member of the distinguished Coimbra Group.The University of Groningen is in the top 3 of European research universities in the specializations: ecology, material sciences, chemistry and astronomy.

University of Groningen localization

Motto: "Verbum domini lucerna pedibus nostris" - "The word of the Lord is a light for our feet"

Front of the main building

University in numbers:
Established: 1614
Academic staff: 5 000 employees
Students: 27 699
Annual turnover: 550 mln €

Coimbra Group - the oldest in Europe

2012-08-16T00:48:00.003-07:00

CG logo

Today once again I will present one of the more prestigious groups - Group of Coimbra. The Coimbra Group (CG) is a network of 40 European universities, some among the oldest and most prestigious in Europe. It was founded in 1985 and formally constituted by charter in 1987. Name of the organization comes from one of the oldest in Europe, the University of Coimbra (Portugal), who was in 1985 celebrated 700 anniversary of its founding.

Otherwise...
"...an association of long-established European comprehensive, multidisciplinary universities of high international standard committed to creating special academic and cultural ties in order to promote, for the benefit of its members, internationalization, academic collaboration, excellence in learning and research, and service to society. It is also the purpose of the Group to influence European education and research policy and to develop best practice through the mutual exchange of experience."
- Coimbra Group

Coimbra University which gave the name of the organization

The purpose of this organization is to strengthen ties between Europe's oldest universities, which offer high standards of teaching. Its members have to take care of the development of academic cooperation, and through the mutual exchange of experience continually improve the quality of its research and teaching level, and thus to serve the public. Also sets itself the task of influencing the European policy in education.

News: Oxford University - skirt for men, bow tie for a woman.

2012-08-08T01:28:00.001-07:00

Oxford students dressed in examination

In a move to please its transgender student community, the Oxford University has introduced a new academic dress code which allows men to wear skirts or stockings to exams and formal occasions while women can wear suits or white bow ties.

Under the old regulations, male students were required to wear a dark suit with dark socks, black shoes, a white bow tie, and a plain white shirt and collar beneath their black gowns when attending formal occasions such as examinations.
Female students have to wear a dark skirt or trousers, a white blouse, a black ribbon tied in a bow at the neck, black stockings and shoes.

The dress code is strictly enforced by the university authorities, which have the power to punish students who breach the rules.
Punishments range from fines to rustication -the suspension of a student for a period of time or expulsion.

Of course, nobody to take over the whole thing, were it not that Oxford is one of the most restrictive universities. Now think about your university "dress code".

I personally dont offend, of course if this does not lead to this....

THE EUROPAEUM Organization

2012-08-03T01:48:00.000-07:00

The Europaeum logo

Today rather than letters, will be an association The Europaeum. The Europaeum is an organisation of ten leading European universities.
It was conceived of in 1990–1991 by Lord Weidenfeld and Sir Ronnie Grierson to support the advancement of education through the encouragement of European studies in the University of Oxford and other European institutions of higher education having links with Oxford
for the movement of academic staff and students between these institutions; and for the study of the languages, history, cultures and professions of the people of Europe.

The Europaeum runs one joint MA Programme in European History and Civilization. Partner universities in this programme are the University of Leiden, Université Paris 1 Panthéon-Sorbonne and the University of Oxford. The Europaeum also organizes summerschools and conferences. Europaeum Visiting Professors teach at partner institutions.
It was written that the members are leading European universities. But as for me it should be established - leading universities of the member countries.We see that the Member Universities are centers of higher rated and lower rated in Europe and worldwide.

Europaeum - source: http://www.europaeum.org

MEMBERS:

Italy	University of Bologna
Czech Republic	Charles University in Prague
Finland	University of Helsinki
France	University of Paris 1 Pantheon-Sorbonne
Germany	University of Bonn
Netherlands	Leiden University
Poland	Jagiellonian University (Cracow)
Switzerland	Graduate Institute of International and Development Studies, Geneva
United Kingdom	University of Oxford
Portugal	Associate member: Institute of Political Studies, Catholic University of Portugal
Spain	Associate member: Fundación Ortega Marañón (FOM), Madrid

Europaeum seems to be a nice organization. Especially considering it my university - Jagiellonian University - is a member of this association. : )

"F" - University of Freiburg

2012-07-30T02:46:00.001-07:00

University of Freiburg logo

"F" like... University of Freiburg is another German university in our university alphabet. Is a public research university located in Freiburg im Breisgau, Baden-Württemberg, Germany.The university was founded in 1457 by the Habsburg dynasty as the second university in Austrian-Habsburg territory after the University of Vienna. Today, Freiburg is the fifth-oldest university in Germany, with a long tradition of teaching the humanities, social sciences and natural sciences.

University of Freiburg localization

The university is made up of 11 faculties and attracts students from across Germany as well as from over 120 other countries. Foreign students constitute about 16% of total student numbers.

Motto: "Die Wahrheit wird euch frei machen" - "The Truth Will Set You free"

The University of Freiburg has been home to some of the greatest minds of the Western tradition, including such eminent figures as Hannah Arendt, Rudolf Carnap, David Daube, Johann Eck, Hans-Georg Gadamer, Friedrich Hayek, Martin Heidegger, Edmund Husserl, Friedrich Meinecke, and Max Weber. In addition, 19 Nobel laureates are affiliated with the University of Freiburg.

Kollegiengebäude II and central university square.

In university rankings published by German magazines and periodicals (Der Spiegel, Die Zeit, Focus, etc.) the University of Freiburg has established itself as one of Germany's top universities. According to the Webometrics ranking it occupies seventh place in Europe and 57 on the world.

Kollegiengebäude I, erected in 1913 as main building of the university.

University in numbers:
Established 1457
Type: public university
Endowment: 268,3 mio EUR p.a., Medical Center ca. 560 mio EUR p.a.
Admin. staff: 4,578 scientific staff (including Medical Center)
Students: 21,622
Association: EUA, IFPU, EUCOR, LERU

"E" - University of Edinburgh

2012-07-24T00:37:00.003-07:00

University of Edinburgh logo

"E" like... University of Edinburgh founded in 1583, is a public research university located in Edinburgh, the capital city of Scotland.

Regarded as one of the most prestigious universities in the world, the university is ranked 6th and 7th in Europe according to the 2011 QS and Times Higher Education Ranking and 20th in the world by the 2011 QS rankings.

The university played an important role in leading Edinburgh to its reputation as a chief intellectual centre during the Age of Enlightenment, and helped give the city the nickname of the Athens of the north! Graduates of the university include some of the major figures of modern history, including the naturalist Charles Darwin, physicist James Clerk Maxwell, former Prime Minister of the United Kingdom Gordon Brown, inventor Alexander Graham Bell, first president of Tanzania Julius Nyerere i wielu innych! The University is also associated with 9 Nobel Prize winners, 1 Abel Prize winner and a host of Olympic gold medallists.

University of Edinburgh localization

The university is deeply embedded in the fabric of the city, with many of the buildings in the historic Old Town belonging to the university. Edinburgh receives approximately 47,000 applications every year, making it the third most popular university in the UK by volume of applicants! Entrance is intensely competitive, with 12 applications per place in the last admissions cycle - really hard, I could forget : P

The universitiy's "Old college"

It is the only Scottish university to be a member of both the elite Russell Group, and the League of European Research Universities, a consortium of 21 of Europe's most prominent and renowned research universities. In addition, the University has both historical links and current partnerships with prestigious academic institutions in the United States and Canada, including members of the Ivy League and U15 - About the above will be written not one post ^^

This university is one of my favorites in the world. Why? - One of the best universities in the world, the beauty and character of Scotland. It is a thing of the Scots can be really proud.

The university in numbers:
Established: 1583

Endowment: £236.512 million

Academic staff: 3,315

Students: 30,377

Associations:

- Russell Group

- Coimbra Group

- LERU

- Universitas 21

- EUA

- Universities UK

- Universities Scotland

"D" - Technische Universität Dresden

2012-07-22T00:42:00.001-07:00

"D" like... Technische Universität Dresden
(Dresden University of Technology) it is the largest university in the state of Saxony and one of the ten largest universities in Germany with around 35,000 students!

TUD logo

Motto: "Wissen schafft Brücken" -
"Knowledge creates bridges"

In 1828, for the preparation of human resources professionals in the field of engineering and construction of ships for the rapidly growing industry, it was "Royal-Saxon Institute of Technology." Founding director of the university was Wilhelm Gotthelf Lohrmann, who built the Institute in one of the pavilions on terraces Brühla.W school reform has become the "Royal Polytechnical School" and therefore can be equated with the "Royal-Saxon Freiberg" (now University of Technology Freiberg Mining Academy ") as the best technical university in Saxony.

In 1961, under the resolution of the GDR government changed the name to "Technical University of Dresden." At that time, worked eight faculties with more than 10 000 students. During this time he fell also intend to run in the GDR on the basis of aircraft production in Dresden developed a prototype aircraft type 152nd.

In 2003 the University celebrated its 175th anniversary, during which dedicated the new Main Building of the National and University Library at the Main Campus. At the same time was the creation of Dresden International University.

The main auditorium

The university offers a comprehensive spectrum of courses and research. It has a high reputation in technical fields such as electrical engineering, computer science, photo optics, engine construction and traffic logistics.
The university is considered highly underfunded. Until 2020 more than 1,000 jobs are to be cut at Saxon universities, including Dresden University of Technology. As of 2012 there is an annual funding gap of about 50 million Euros. Since March 2012, every single new or extended employment contract needs to be personally approved by the Minister-President of Saxony.

TUD localization

The university is currently developing new strategies to make itself more independent from state funding and decision making. As one of the first universities in Germany it has opened a branch in Hanoi.

The university in numbers:
established: 1828
number of students: 34,993
number of employees: 6,123
number of faculties: 14
approx. total budget:500 Million €
number of foreign students: 3,442 (9.8%)
associated: PEGASUS, TIME

"C" - University of Cambridge

2012-07-20T04:42:00.001-07:00

University of Cambridge crest

"C" like... University of Cambridge. This unit no needs introduction to anyone. The second oldest English after Oxford University, founded in 1209. It is located in Cambridge, in central England. Considered one of the best universities in Europe and worldwide. Oxford and Cambridge Universities are defined collectively as Oxbridge.
University of Cambridge consists of several independent colleges, of which the oldest is Peterhouse. Others include the Corpus Christi, King's, Queens', Trinity, Magdalene, Christ's, Wolfson.
Known around the world are racing of eights in the Oxford-Cambridge rowing.
Graduates of Cambridge have won 65 Nobel Prizes, more than any other university graduates in the world!

Motto: "Hinc lucem et pocula sacra" -"From here, light and sacred draughts"

UoC localization

Established: 1209
Endowment :4.3 billion £
Academic staff 5,999
Students 18,448

Associated:
- Russell Group
- Coimbra Group
- EUA
- G5
- LERU
- IARU

"B" - University of Bologna

2012-07-15T23:24:00.001-07:00

"B" like... University of Bologna (Università di Bologna) - one of the largest universities in Italy. The oldest university in the western world (founded: 1088)!

UdB's logo

Motto: "Alma mater studiorum" - "Nourishing mother of [the] studies"

University of Bologna is historically famous for its teaching of canon and civil law.
The University of Bologna has adopted a Multicampus structure in order to permit the diffusion of educational offering and the activation of a stabile research activity on the premises with the intent to better the functionality and quality of university community life. There is also University of Bologna Campus in Buenos Aires which offers interdisciplinary study programmes on different subjects.

UdB's localization

Founded: 1088
Working now: 924 years
Number of students: ~ 100 000
Membership: Coimbra Group, Europaeum, Utrecht Network

One of the main buildings of the university

University alphabet... "A" - University of Amsterdam

2012-07-15T01:25:00.001-07:00

Welcome! Today I begin my university A B C ^ ^. universities will be presented with the European leaders.

Today....
"A" like University of Amsterdam (Universiteit van Amsterdam)
University of Amsterdam (Universiteit van Amsterdam) is a scientific university, located in Amsterdam, the Netherlands.
University of Amsterdam is one of the largest and most important in Europe.

UvA logo

It consists of seven faculties:

-> humanities
-> social sciences
-> economy
-> right
-> natural science
-> medicine
-> dentistry

This year, we should also make Uva birthday wishes. This year will be celebrated the celebration of 380 years of operations!

The University is a pretty international, so as many as 85 master's degree courses are offered in English, as well as many of the Dutch language courses and English.
Year of foundation: 1632
Budget: 487 million €
Number of students: 23 thousand.
Number of employees: 5 thousand.

"Youth on the way"

2012-07-12T03:13:00.001-07:00

"Youth on the way" to jeden z przewodnich projektów w strategii UE 2020. This is what interests TKQG9VY5GR27 us is the aim of the project is to improve performance and increase the attractiveness of European higher education arena international and improve the quality of all levels of education and training in the EU, bringing together excellence and equity, by encouraging mobility of students and trainees and to improve the situation youth labor market.

Commission's intention to include:
- Integrate the performance of European cooperation programs
between universities and research (such as Erasmus, Erasmus Mundus, Tempus and Marie Curie) and combine it with
programs and national resources.
- Stimulate the modernization agenda for higher education (curriculum, administration and finance).
- Explore the possibilities of promoting entrepreneurship through mobility programs for
young professionals.
- Launch a policy framework for employment of young people, identifying
strategy to reduce youth unemployment.

At the national level, Member States will need:
- Ensure adequate investment in education and training at all levels (from
pre-school to higher education).
- Improve educational outcomes, using an integrated approach in each segment of the system
(pre-school, primary, secondary, vocational and higher), having regard to core competencies and
seeking to reduce the number of early school leavers.
- Increase the openness and relevance of education systems through the creation of a national qualifications framework and better linking educational outcomes with labor market needs.
- Help young people into the labor market.

Something important... EU 2020 Strategy

2012-07-09T06:37:00.000-07:00

Continuing the topic of cooperation and the EU's influence on higher educationcan not forget about very important project of the European Commission which is the EU 2020.

What is the strategy for 2020?

EU 2020 is a new, long-term socio-economic program of the European Union (EU). Three overriding priorities of the EU's new strategy are:

-> Smart growth (development of an economy based on knowledge and innovation);
-> Sustainable development (the promotion of a sustainable economy - effectively using the resources -> more greenand also competitive);
-> Inclusive growth (strengthening economy characterized by high employment and economic, social and territorial).

One of the goals outlined in the EU's new strategy is to achieve a rate of 3% of spending on research and development (the overall level of public and private investment in R & D). At the same time, there is work on an indicator that reflects the intensity of R & D and innovation.

If at any document talks about R & D, knowledge and innovation is becoming an integral part of universities.

One of the main objectives is to reduce the number of early school leavers to 10% from the current 15% and increase the proportion of people aged 30-34 with higher education from 31% to at least 40%.
He has to lead to such programs, one of the flagship strategy - "Youth in the way."
Leading EU's project "Youth on the move" aims to improve the performance of education systems and improve the attractiveness of European higher education internationally.

More about "Youth on the move" project later ^^

The European Union and higher education

2012-07-08T00:25:00.001-07:00

Certainly, most met with the name of the European Commission - Education and Training. EU in the framework of its activities is also dealing with education at all levels from base to higher education. Today a little about the EU's influence on development of higher education in a united Europe.

Higher education plays an essential role in society, creating new knowledge, transferring it to students and fostering innovation. EU-level actions help higher education institutions throughout Europe in their efforts to modernise, both in terms of the courses they offer and the way they operate.

How the European Commission impact on higher education ?...

- By working closely with policy-makers from Member States to help them develop their higher education policies. The Commission published a modernisation agenda for higher education in 2011, identifying five priority reform areas for action.

- The Commission actively supports the Bologna Process, the inter-governmental process which promotes reforms in higher education with 47 countries, leading to establishing a 'European Higher Education Area'.

- By encouraging the exchange of examples of good policy practice between different countries.

- The Erasmus Programme funds around 200 000 students every year to study or work abroad, along with other projects to increase co-operation.

- There are a number of European programmes to promote co-operation in higher education with countries beyond the EU, including Tempus and Erasmus Mundus.

So you see, there is a lot of programs and the system which deals with education in general. About many details, programs will be written later.

Student Associations

2012-07-06T04:35:00.000-07:00

It was a bit about associations of universities ... Today a little about colleges and student associations.

What is a college ...?
College - the term related to various forms of higher education in English speaking countries, especially in England and USA, as well as in other Western European countries. Originally meant a place where university students live. Colleges also conducted their courses, especially in the initial system. This was the so-called collegiate system, which is derived from France. Today the college in the above sense operates in England.
(source: wikipedia.org)

EUCA logo

One of these associations is EUEA
EUCA is European Universitys Colleges Association. Formally founded in 2008, represents more than 30 000 students who live in 194 university dormitories, in five different countries (Belgium, Italy, Poland, Spain, United Kingdom). It is based in Brussels.
The main purpose of the organization is professional, scientific, cultural and personal development of students, formed without discrimination and with an individual approach to each person.

Below page EUCA in several different languages:
http://www.euca.eu/
There is no SINGLE consistent student organization in Europe or the world. But exist unions affiliating Student Association. One of such union is ESU - European Student's Union.

ESU logo

The European Students' Union (ESU) is the umbrella organisation of 45 National Unions of Students (NUS) from 38 countries (March 2012). The NUSes are open to all students in their respective country regardless of political persuasion, religion, ethnic or cultural origin, sexual orientation or social standing. Our members are also student-run, autonomous, representative and operate according to democratic principles.The aim of ESU is to represent and promote the educational, social, economic and cultural interests of students at the European level towards all relevant bodies and in particular the European Union, Bologna Follow Up Group, Council of Europe and UNESCO. Through its members, ESU represents over 11 million students in Europe.

Official ESU's page:
http://www.esu-online.org/

Parkinson, beware !!!

2012-06-28T06:07:00.000-07:00

Scottish and Californian universities will work on research into diseases such as Parkinson’s, First Minister Alex Salmond has announced.

The collaboration between Stanford, St Andrews and Heriot Watt was announced during Mr Salmond’s trip to the states. He added that Scotland had some of the world’s “best scientific minds” and its university sector was world class.

The Heriot Watt and St Andrews teams will work with research groups at Stanford to examine how stem cells grow and divide and how they change shape to form different types of tissue Stanford University is already collaborating with six Scottish universities on the SU2P project which has focused on the fields of life sciences and renewable energy.

St Andrews University

Stanford University

Heriot Watt University

Mr Salmond said: “This research has the potential to lead to incredible medical breakthroughs that could not only give new hope to millions but contribute enormously to the economies of both Scotland and California.”

He added: “Translating advances in the life sciences into medical practice and transforming cutting-edge technologies into ground-breaking diagnostic tools have been major focuses of stem cell research and applied physics activities at Stanford.

Who is offering what?

- Heriot Watt University – Expertise in microfluidics

- St Andrews University – Microscopic laser surgery of single cells and image analysis computer software

- Stanford University – Expertise in stem cell science, regenerative medicine, and optical instrumentation design

source: BBC News
Below the SUP2 projects homepage:
http://www.su2p.com/Home.aspx

Oxford encourages Northern Irish

2012-06-25T00:02:00.002-07:00

It is widely known is a financial practice of encouraging students from other regions. Interestingly, this is not quite legal. Oxford University recently announced financial support for students from Northern Ireland.

Oxford University has confirmed it will be extending its student financial support package, which is the most generous in the country for low-income students, to students from Northern Ireland as well as English students.

While it is not legally required to do so, the University feels that it is important to include potential students from Northern Ireland in encouraging applicants not to be deterred from applying to Oxford for financial reasons. Students from Northern Ireland will therefore be eligible for the most generous no-strings financial support for the lowest-income students of any university in England.

Students from Northern Ireland wishing to study at Oxford University from 2012 will have access to both government support and Oxford’s student support package – which for the lowest-income students will amount to more than £22,000 over three years.

Members of the Oxford University admissions team were in Northern Ireland last week for a regional conference for teachers – this was about clarifying the admissions process, as well as the student finance and funding package available at Oxford for Northern Irish students. All of this is part of the University’s efforts to make sure students and teachers have the most accurate information about what Oxford has to offer so that students aren’t put off from applying.

(source: http://www.universitiesnews.com)

1st European Universities Games 2012 !

2012-06-18T02:57:00.001-07:00

European Universities Games (EUG) is the largest European multisport student event, featuring 10 sports:
- basketball,
- handball,
- football,
- futsal,
- rugby 7s,
- volleyball,
- badminton,
- beach-volleyball,
- table tennis,
- tennis.

Logo of EUG 2012 Cordoba

The 1st edition of the European Universities Games will be held in Cordoba, Spain between July 13 and 23, 2012.

EUG 2012 ENTRY PROCEDURE & DEADLINE:
General Entry Form: 6 months (extended to March 1, 2012)
Quantitative Entry Form: 3 months
Individual Entry Form: 1 month
Certificate of Academic Eligibility (original): upon arrival

Underneath one of the clips that promote the Games in Cordoba:

In 2014, the 2nd European Universities Games will be held in Rotterdam, the Netherlands.

Logo of EUG 2014 Rotterdam

Underneath the link to the official website of the Olympic Games 2012:
http://www.eusagames2012.com/
and link to EUG 2014, which is still in development:
http://www.eugames2014.eu/

A few words about rankings

2012-06-17T09:46:00.000-07:00

Recently I got interested the individual rankings of universities in Europe and worldwide. Despite this that the blog is dedicated to universities in Europe, today I will present a little bit about the world ranking.

It turns out that the ranking of the ranking is not equal, because each institution / agency which creates a ranking based based on a different way of creation.

Example:

Cybermetrics Lab from Spain created a ranking for Europe, where first place is taken by Swiss Instytiute of Technology, Universities UK is only the later positions! Interestingly, the same agency creating the world ranking took into account the same university from Switzerland until the 24th place! ! ! All the above places are occupied by universities from the U.S. and other single countries. Sad ... but do not want to believe that none of the universities of Europe was not in the global top five.

Ranking made by Cybermetrics Lab, January 2012 (Spain)

Another ranking of the world created by Thomson Reuters from the UK seems to be more objective and "traditional". In ranking are appear the leading universities from Europe, such as the University of Oxford, University of Cambridge, Imperial College London, Swiss Federal Institute of Technology and others.

Ranking made by Thomson Reutres (UK)

These differences are obviously caused by the the methods of making such rankings. The agencies are taking other components to develop indicators.

Below you will find links to rankings referred to above. And of course I encourage you to check the ranking of yours university. ^ ^ My Jagiellonian University from Poland, in Cybermetrics Lab takes positions 203'rd... not bad, not bad :D

Links to rankings page:

http://www.webometrics.info/index.html

http://www.timeshighereducation.co.uk/world-university-rankings/

Wonderful adventure - happy birthday ERASMUS ! ! !

2012-06-16T08:48:00.000-07:00

Erasmus anniversary logo

Probably everyone had wanted to leave to study abroad the country - at least for a while. Nowadays, it's easy. With great pleasure I present one of the European programs on education, which in recent years beats records of popularity - ERASMUS !

The Erasmus program was created in 1987 as a student exchange program. Although it has expanded the scope and objectives in the following years, the main idea remains the same: to develop international co-operation between universities.

This year the program celebrates 25 years ERASMUS action. On this occasion, the European Commission has created such jubilee clip.

At the present day practically every participating country has an official website of the program, below link to the official homepage. I encourage you to take a look.

- http://www.esn.org/

To celebrate the 25th anniversary of the Erasmus programme, ESN is conducting two key European-wide projects:

Other Erasmus anniversary logo

SocialErasmus: ESN’s flagship project for 2012 encourages international students to volunteer and take part in social activities linked to charity, education or the environment. Events will be concentrated during a SocialErasmus Week that will take place from 4-11 of May 2012.

Ride for your Rights! (together with Campus Europae): For the second time, the Ride for your Rights! project will raise awareness of mobility rights through a European bike tour. This time, the ride will bring the bikers from Luxembourg to Brussels. Flag parades all around Europe will be organised by the ESN local sections to celebrate the arrival of the cyclists at the European Parliament.

(source: https://www.esn.org/content/25th-anniversary-erasmus-programme)

Erasmus already gathers many as 33 countries. These are all 27 EU countries, four countries of the European Economic Area: Iceland, Lichtenstein, Norway and Switzerland, and two candidate countries: Croatia and Turkey.

A lot of my friends decided to take advantage of the Erasmus program. How do you think what were their impressions? - Strongly positive :D. So what are you waiting ... All you need is a little bit of desire and free time.

"3, 2, 1... ignition!"

2012-06-16T04:45:00.000-07:00

EUA Logo"

Before the blog will focus on the latest events it is worth considering same organizational structure of European universities.To do this we must go back to 2001 when it established the European University Association (EUA).

What is the EUA ? ? ?
European University Association (EUA) - is an organization of higher education in Europe.In 2004, the EUA had over 700 members from 45 countries.The main task of the organization is to unify the process of educating students and conducting research in the framework of the Bologna Process.

Bologna Process Effects...Program initiated by signed by 29 ministers responsible for higher education on 19 June 1999 document.

Have you ever wondered who invented all these ECTS points ?
Answer -> Bologna ProcessPrincipal findings of Bologna Process:

introducing a point system for evaluating student achievement ECTS
division of studies in split-level
European cooperation in quality assurance and to develop criteria and methods of quality assessment systems
promoting the mobility of students and faculty
promotion of lifelong learning

The Bologna Process has met with a rather severe criticism in scientific circles throughout Europe. Widespread allegations that the new program are:

commercialization of higher education - most students choose to "study for the masses", ie a three-year Bachelor Degree.
decrease in the number of masters, the people over the full second-cycle (previously was a requirement for recognition as a university graduate).
collapse of smaller universities and departments, which Bologna system does not reach a sufficient number of graduate students (students leave after reaching
a bachelor), and change in undergraduate colleges or three academies.
fall and the decline in the significance of certain faculties and directions - proliferation of degree courses in business, administration and social sciences at the expense of medical science, agriculture, humanities, closing lines of niche
(eg esperantologia).
inability to reconcile some of the assumptions of the Bologna system (large number of students taking degree, the pool of items to choose from, mobility) with a fair education and taking care of studying (working in small groups).

I encourage you to think about how the Bologna Process impact on your university. ^^