MEPs approved, on 20 May, an own-initiative report by Pál Schmitt (EPP, Hungary) calling for strengthened links between business and universities. The resolution notes, however, that higher education institutions must retain their autonomy and public support. Suggestions contained in the resolution include a call on companies to providing scholarships for the young. A European industrial PhD scheme should also be co-financed by the EU. SMEs should be guaranteed better access to university education and research by increased public funding and simplified bureaucracy.

Schmitt’s resolution additionally urges European universities to reform curricula. Other ideas voted by MEPs include following up young graduates more closely in terms of the socio-economic usefulness of education programmes. A culture of ‘entrepreneurship’ should also find its way onto curricula at all levels of education, even in primary schools. Schmitt’s resolution even encourages business to participate in designing educational material for this purpose. Despite this pro-business language, MEPs add that universities should always maintain autonomy over curricula and governance, with no financial or intellectual dependence on business.

Another desirable for MEPs is increased mobility between countries as well as between universities and business. Here, MEPs want the Commission to propose a legal framework. Lifelong and experimental learning should also be given a boost. There should also be more work on the social inclusion of various sectors of the population into learning programmes. Additionally, experimental, distance, electronic and ‘blended’ forms of learning needs to be expanded.