EUPRIO Annual Conference 2004EUPRIO Annual Conference 2004”COMMUNICATING ACROSS ”COMMUNICATING ACROSS

CULTURES”CULTURES”

””THE SEARCH FOR A COMMON THE SEARCH FOR A COMMON GROUND IN EUROPEAN HIGHER GROUND IN EUROPEAN HIGHER

EDUCATION”EDUCATION”

Malta, September 4th, 2004

César Álvarez Alonso

- Executive Secretary -

The Santander GroupThe Santander Group

The SG is an European Universities' The SG is an European Universities' Network. Currently, it is composed of 40 Network. Currently, it is composed of 40 Universities of the European Union, Universities of the European Union, Norway and Switzerland.Norway and Switzerland.

It aims at establishing special academic, It aims at establishing special academic, cultural and socio-economic ties and at cultural and socio-economic ties and at setting up specific and advanced facilities setting up specific and advanced facilities as well as as well as privileged channels of privileged channels of information and exchange.information and exchange.

Universities in EuropeUniversities in Europe

Universities play a major role in our society.Universities play a major role in our society. They need to be viewed as ”institutions”.They need to be viewed as ”institutions”. Strengthening the research function of the Strengthening the research function of the

universities and consolidating the European universities and consolidating the European dimension of their work are of particular dimension of their work are of particular importance in ensuring they can play their importance in ensuring they can play their full role in the ”Europe of knowledge”.full role in the ”Europe of knowledge”.

It is essential to assure they further develop It is essential to assure they further develop as strong institutions if they are to be able as strong institutions if they are to be able

to achieve their full potential.to achieve their full potential.

Pluralism in Higher Pluralism in Higher Education InstitutionsEducation Institutions

Socially diverse.Socially diverse. Politically diverse.Politically diverse. Multilingual.Multilingual. Multigenerational.Multigenerational. InternationalInternational Providing safe space for debate.Providing safe space for debate. Open to different intellectual Open to different intellectual

approaches and perspectives.approaches and perspectives.

Bologna Action LinesBologna Action Lines

Bologna DeclarationBologna Declaration Lisbon AgendaLisbon Agenda Barcelona European CouncilBarcelona European Council Prague CommuniquéPrague Communiqué Berlin CommuniquéBerlin Communiqué

Prague CommuniquéPrague Communiqué

Lifelong learning.Lifelong learning.

Higher Education Institutions and students.Higher Education Institutions and students.

Promoting the attractiveness of the Promoting the attractiveness of the European Higher Education Area.European Higher Education Area.

The Alßan programme

The European The European Commission Commission contribution to contribution to AlAlßan amounts ßan amounts to € 75 Millionto € 75 Million

SANTANDER GROUPSANTANDER GROUPSECRETARIATSECRETARIAT

(Brussels)(Brussels)

Alßan OfficeAlßan OfficeCommunication &Communication &

DisseminationDisseminationValladolid (Spain)Valladolid (Spain)

Focal Points.Focal Points.Latin AmericaLatin America

AlAlßan Office.ßan Office.Porto (Portugal)Porto (Portugal)

EU to defeat the EU to defeat the Tower of BabelTower of Babel

An area An area with a with a populatiopopulation over n over 500 500 Million Million inhabitantinhabitantss

www.sgroup.bewww.sgroup.be

Santander GroupSantander Group

Avenue Palmerston, 26Avenue Palmerston, 26

B-1000 Brussels (Belgium)B-1000 Brussels (Belgium)