Higher Education Reform and the Renewed Lisbon Strategy: Role of Member States and the European Commission

34 Pages Posted: 8 Feb 2007

See all articles by Rick van der Ploeg

Rick van der Ploeg

University of Oxford

Reinhilde Veugelers

Catholic University of Leuven (KUL) - Department of Applied Economics; Centre for Economic Policy Research (CEPR)

Date Written: January 2007

Abstract

This paper discusses rising enrolment rates, access, governance, underperformance in research and teaching, lack of internationalisation, private returns to education and the funding problems of European universities. Our proposals for reform are based on more autonomy for universities, higher tuition fees, more private funding, introduction of income-contingent loans, better governance, more competition and internationalisation. Apart from providing mutual policy learning opportunities, cross recognition of qualifications and furthering the goals of the Bologna reforms, the EU should promote mobility of students, researchers and teachers and open up national funding schemes. The EU should take more initiatives to fund research through the Structural Funds and the funds for "Competitiveness for Growth and Development," invest in EU flagships and facilitate global cooperation. The EIB can be a crucial driver for Higher Education in Europe by making income-contingent loans available.

Keywords: higher education, enrolment, access, governance, research, teaching, funding, tuition fees, income-contingent loans, open market for the EU, Bologna reforms, mobility, competition, subsidiarity, flagships

JEL Classification: H2, H4, I2

Suggested Citation

van der Ploeg, Frederick and Veugelers, Reinhilde, Higher Education Reform and the Renewed Lisbon Strategy: Role of Member States and the European Commission (January 2007). CESifo Working Paper Series No. 1901, Available at SSRN: https://ssrn.com/abstract=962045 or http://dx.doi.org/10.2139/ssrn.962045

Frederick Van der Ploeg (Contact Author)

University of Oxford ( email )

Manor Road Building
Manor Road
Oxford, OX1 3BJ
United Kingdom

Reinhilde Veugelers

Catholic University of Leuven (KUL) - Department of Applied Economics ( email )

Leuven, B-3000
Belgium
+32 16 32 6908 (Phone)
+32 16 32 6732 (Fax)

Centre for Economic Policy Research (CEPR)

London
United Kingdom

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