Research on Higher Education

The Higher Education systems in Europe are undergoing important transformations due to the need to invest in knowledge. The momentum of the Bologna process constitutes one of the largest driving forces that guides this century’s reforms in terms of the university.

The European Union must depend on its universities to achieve better economic and social development and to increase the competitiveness and to respond to the demands of students. Thus it can successfully guarantee labor market inclusion and academic training that is based on the excellence of qualifications.

Projects of reference: STUDIA XXI

The project STUDIA XXI began in 2009 with the aim of strengthening the institutional character of the university, its leadership capacity and its potential for innovation. The European Foundation Society and Education, with the corporate and financial support of Santander Universities Global Division, works towards the development of a common program of work in reflecting, articulating and channeling knowledge from research, diagnosis and evaluation concerning the political, civic, social and business interests in material which has to do with the university.

The critical reflection of the experts of Studia XXI reflected in the series formed by the 6 working documents is accompanied by Keys and Recommendations: a new critical and constructive perspective with the desire of contributing to policies which lead to excellence of universities.

Objectives

This line of analysis of the Institute of Educational and Social Studies has the fundamental objectives of boosting, strengthening and contributing to the debate about the new model of the european university. It accomplishes these aims by means of exchange of ideas and shared reflection concerning the challenges which they face.

Reports, courses and seminars

Society and Eduction Studio XXI presented “Universities and Businesses: Searching for Effective Synergy“.December 2018. More information.
Working Documents: http://www.studiaxxi.com/documentos-de-trabajo/
Working Journals: http://www.studiaxxi.com/cuadernos-de-trabajo/
The Mendéndez Pelayo International University (UIMP) hosted a course oranized by the Madri+d Knowledge Foundation for which the European Foundation Society and Education prepared a paper on “University Students’ Skills and the Demands of the Labor Market“. Sept 2017.
The University of Navarra accepted the second annual Building Universities Reputation award. March 2017
Realization of five opinion polls directed to the university community for the 3rd Meeting of Rectors of Universities which took place in Rio de Janeiro, 2014.
Society and Education, in collaboration with Socio-political analysts, published the report “La comunidad universidad opina.” 2014.
Report about the opinions, perceptions and expectations that the university community and spanish society have concerning their universities.
Report: The university community gives their opinion.
Presentation “Tendencies and global educational policy” in the conference Diploma de Alta Dirección de Universidades, DADU at the University Antonio Nebrija in September of 2014.

In the European environment, action thinking groups have arisen which are convinced of the role that higher education plays in the progress and development of member states. In the reference documents elaborated by the European Commission they ask for the collaboration of social agents, through independent entities and organizations ranging from businesses to universities and public powers to open an ambitious reflection concerning the challenges that modernization demands of higher education with the aim of attending to the demands of the economy and society. It is this aim that STUDIA XXI responds to.

From the beginning of its organizational activity, Society and Education has published reports, technical notes and activities related to the european higher education. The foundation has advised institutions and Spanish universities in their internationalization processes (2008-2009), in the design and communication of its strategic plan (2010), in the policies of quality (2008) and their teaching career (2009), in areas of Postgraduate and Doctoral studies (2010) and in Human Resources (2011). It has undertaken the European Conference of Convergence of higher education in Europe, Universities and the integrated system of professional development (2006), published in the series of Conferences and Seminars of 2007.