Subirats presents the priorities of the Spanish presidency in Brussels in the field of higher education

The acting Minister for Universities, Joan Subirats, has appeared in Brussels before the European Parliament's Committee on Culture and Education, together with the Minister for Education and Vocational Training, Pilar Alegría, the Minister for Culture and Sport, Miquel Iceta, and the Minister for Social Rights and 2030 Agenda, Ione Belarra, to present the priorities of each of their departments on the occasion of the Spanish presidency of the Council of the EU, which runs from 1 July to 31 December 2023.

Within the commission, the acting minister presented four main lines of work for the Spanish presidency.

1. The fulfilment of the mandate of the Gothenburg Social Summit in 2017 and the European Council conclusions of 14 December 2017, to strengthen across the EU strategic partnerships between higher education institutions and the promotion of European universities, with a fixed target of 2024, with the aim of contributing to the international competitiveness of European universities.

The creation of these alliances has made it possible to strengthen strategic partnerships between higher education institutions in all member states and to move towards universities that are closer to the challenges of today's society, to the needs of students in a global world, and to European values. The commitment to improving the quality and competitiveness of European universities is clear and involves recognising diversity, university autonomy and the need to try out activities and formulas for cooperation that are not predefined.

Minister Subirats announced the creation of a forum, within the Spanish presidency, "that will help communication, the creation of synergies, sharing and joint reflections on different important aspects to guarantee the future of this successful initiative".

This forum will take place in Barcelona on 14-15 September and will address key issues of the European University Strategy, such as the legal status of these alliances and the joint degree, and how to foster the cooperation of these alliances with higher education institutions in third countries.

2. The promotion of the values on which the European integration project is based.

"Universities must be the beacon of our European way of life, as reflected in the European Commission's higher education initiatives," insisted Minister Subirats.

While of course maintaining university autonomy, the Spanish presidency will encourage member states to facilitate the exchange between these higher education institutions and the labour market in the incorporation of digital competences in the different degrees to respond to the needs of the labour market.

3. Combating gender-based violence in research organisations and universities across the EU, which has a negative impact on individuals, institutions and the quality of research and education.

The Spanish presidency has supported the EU-funded UniSAFE project, which aims to produce a better understanding of gender-based violence in the field and translate it into operational tools and recommendations for higher education, research organisations and policy makers. The closing meeting of the project will take place in Bilbao on 23 and 24 October, which will be an opportunity to learn from the research launched so far, but above all to listen to the recommendations and formulas for prevention.

4. The reinforcement of the first principle of the European Pillar of Social Rights, which emphasises that "everyone has the right to inclusive and quality education, training and lifelong learning".

This Spanish presidency will reinforce some of the aspects raised in the European Strategy for Universities 2022, which includes the need to "promote diversity, inclusion and gender equality". The session of the informal meeting of higher education ministers in Zaragoza on 19 March will be devoted to this issue, reflecting on how EU member states and institutions can contribute not only to improving access to university but also completion of degrees among students from disadvantaged backgrounds.

"Our presidency will be about strengthening relations between our member states and cooperation and, in the area that concerns us today, education, we can assure you that this will be our main objective," stressed Minister Subirats.

Non official translation