EDUCATION : COMMISSION REPORT WARNS OF HIGHER EDUCATION CUTS.

• Position: Conference notes

Ahead of a major ministerial higher education conference, on 11-12 March, a report prepared by education network Eurydice for the European Commission indicates that the economic crisis is impacting on enrolment rates, staffing and infrastructure as well as the continued development of lifelong learning. The study, presented on 8 March, sees "raw" budgetary numbers possibly impeding efforts to reach EU educational objectives set for 2020.

"If significant funding cuts are continued in some countries, the long-term sustainable development of these higher education systems could come under major stress," reads the study, presented by Androulla Vassiliou, the commissioner for education, culture, multilingualism and youth. As regards those countries reporting a decreased budget, the study noted four countries signalling cuts of less than 5%, while seven countries (Croatia, Macedonia, Iceland, Ireland, Latvia, Moldova and Ukraine) notch up decreases in some cases extending significantly beyond 5%. The report also points out that, in the longer term, "re-adjustment" of public funding priorities may continue.

Ahead of the extraordinary ministerial anniversary' conference, co-hosted by Hungary and Austria, on 11-12 March in Budapest and Vienna, Vassiliou thus called for continued modernisation and...