During the first thematic event, ‘Universities Fast Forward – Value in Diversity’, senior representatives of UnILiON universities will showcase the societal and economic value of university education and research, followed by a panel discussion with high-level policymakers and a reception.

In recent times, the European Research and Higher Education Policy has attracted a lot of attention: next to the discussions around the upcoming Framework Programme for Research and Innovation, Horizon Europe, the Commission is pursuing its Agenda for the Modernisation of Universities. Moreover, since President Macron's speech at the Sorbonne and the Gothenburg Summit 2017, the European Universities' Initiative comes increasingly to the fore in order to improve the international competitiveness of European Higher Education. This shows the extent to which the Agenda is becoming relevant for research actors and policymakers in the EU.

Universities fulfill a lot of different roles in their respective environment and all of them contribute in their own way to the creation of knowledge, and thus to societal needs and the economy. The UnILiON participants therefore wish to challenge the emerging assumption that the main aim of universities should be to produce graduates exactly fitting to market needs.

Against this background, the UnILiON thematic event will showcase and discuss the different nature and roles of universities around questions like:

• How can universities contribute to a stronger link of the European Research Area and the European Higher Education Area?

• What kind of research is provided?

• What is the objective of the education in different types of universities and Europe?

UnILiON (Universities Informal Liaison Offices Network) is a newly established, informal network consisting of 39 university liaison offices collaborating in Brussels and representing more than 110 universities.

DATE AND TIME

Tue 16 October 2018

17:30 – 21:00 CEST

Fondation Universitaire

11 Rue d'Egmont

1000 Brussels

Registration is open via the Eventbrite link: https://www.eventbrite.co.uk/e/universities-fast-forward-value-in-diversity-registration-47210540999

For more information, please contact the UnILiON organisation team: This email address is being protected from spambots. You need JavaScript enabled to view it.