EU News for Engineers

The EU has, for the first time, launched an initiative to provide funding directly to startups and SMEs, called the Horizon 2020 dedicated SME instrument.

Can the Commission provide information on the initiatives being taken by the EU to encourage the development of a startup culture, particularly among tertiary students?

Answer given by Ms Bieńkowska on behalf of the Commission

Please click here to access the report on Adult Education and Training in Europe.

On February 6, following the 8th round of TTIP negotiations, Ignacio Garcia Bercero, Chief EU Negotiator for the Transatlantic Trade and Investment Partnership and US Trade's Dan Mullaney joined press representatives to give an overview of how talks were progressing. A summary of the conference can be found below:

EUA Council statement on TTIP and TISA

During its Council meeting of 30th January in Brussels, EUA unanimously adopted a statement on the Transatlantic Trade and Investment Partnership (TTIP) and the Trade in Services Agreement (TiSA).

The statement warns that TTIP and TiSA cast into doubt the ability of national and regional authorities to determine the nature of their Higher Education provisions and calls on the EU to make no commitments in the fields of higher and adult education.

Please click here to access the draft report by Krystyna Łybacka on the Follow-up on the implementation of the Bologna Process.

Please see here for the Presentation by LSE Enterprise at the CSD meeting on the SIA in support of negotiations of a comprehensive trade and investment agreement between the EU and Japan, Draft Inception Report.

The challenges of the 21st century require new approaches to learning for work. Vocational education and training (VET) in Europe is evolving, but we need a clearer vision of what modern VET systems should look like. This was the central message of Cedefop Director James Calleja’s presentation to the European Parliament’s Employment and Social Affairs (EMPL) Committee, in Brussels on 29 January.

Question for written answer E-009943/14 to the Commission Therese Comodini Cachia (PPE)

Subject: Scientific research

In the light of the fact that the EU has set up a challenging target for the number of additional researchers required by the EU by 2020, and that the number of students undertaking some form of post-secondary scientific studies is relatively low in some Member States, can the Commission say whether it will launch any further campaign, action or event in 2015 to encourage students to further their scientific studies?

A compilation of evidence on the impact of entrepreneurship education strategies and measures

Entrepreneurship education is given a significant role in supporting the main goals of the Europe 2020 strategy. Therefore, it is important to gather knowledge and evidence from across Europe and elsewhere that shows whether and how impact is achieved. 

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