“During the first three months of our Presidency, we have taken large strides towards a common European Education and Research Area”, Federal Minister for Education Elisabeth Gehrer declared today, Thursday. Via the European Qualification Framework (EQF) it will be easier to compare training and skills acquired in different countries. At the ministerial conference in Vienna, an ‘Education pact with the Balkans’ was adopted. The European Institute of Technology (EIT) will make sure of high-tech research in Europe. “With the Institute of Science and Technology – Austria we shall strengthen Austria as a location for science and want to play in the top European research league”, stressed Gehrer.
The EQF will make all European education systems comparable. The eight education categories will range from simple worker to university professor. For quicker implementation, the appointment of a European expert committee was decided at the ministerial conference. “This will enable us to push forward with the EQF at a much quicker pace and avoid unnecessary bureaucracy”, explained Gehrer.
With regard to the new European Institute of Technology (EIT), the Science Minister secured an agreement based on broad consensus in March. “The EIT will create a Europe-wide network of the best research institutions and attract the most gifted researchers to Europe. With the Institute of Science and Technology - Austria we have created the framework conditions for high-tech research in Austria and want to become a part of this network in the future”, Gehrer explained.
“The ‘Education pact with the Balkans’ is another major success of the Austrian Presidency”, said the Minister. Many of the current European cooperation projects with Western Balkan countries originated from Austrian initiatives, Austria was able to build on its pioneering role. “In Vienna, we made it possible for Western Balkan countries to participate in EU mobility programmes such as ERASMUS from 2007 - even though they are not yetmembers of the European Union”, the Council President was pleased to report. “Austrian students will also become more mobile. From the academic year 2006/07 onwards, students will receive an increase in national support of 10-17 per cent for study- visits abroad, and the new EU budget will bolster ERASMUS grants”, explained Gehrer.
“We want to continue this extremely positive interim balance at the Minsterial Conference on Competitiveness in Graz on 21 April, and help actively shape Europe further”, concluded Gehrer.
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