In the framework of the common challenges faced by the EU member states in the field of higher education, and in strict compliance with the subsidiarity principle, joint work has been developed that has greatly benefited from the cooperation between European countries. In 2011, the European Commission launched the communication “An agenda for the modernisation of Europe's higher education systems”, intended to support growth and jobs, identifying five key policy issues for higher education in the EU:
- Increasing the number of graduates;
- Improving the quality and relevance of higher education;
- Promoting student and academic staff mobility and cross-border cooperation;
- Reinforcing the «knowledge triangle», by establishing a connection between education, research and innovation;
- Creating effective governance and funding mechanisms for higher education.
Presently, and after a debate and wide public consultation at various levels of the EU, this agenda is being revised, in order to update its goals according to the needs of the European higher education systems in line with the New Skills Agenda for Europe.
