Universities in Transition: Danube Rectors Conference in Krems * International university experts exchanged experiences and perspectives

Krems (Austria) 1 October (PROTEXT/ots) - This year, for the first time,Danube University Krems was in charge of staging the annual meeting of theDanube Rectors Conference (DRC) from September 23 to 25, 2007. More than120 participants from 20 countries embraced the lectures and workshops,which featured highly acclaimed experts. The key terms, which were at thecenter of attention in the course of discussions regarding structuralchanges, were diversification, strategic partnerships, and lifelonglearning.

In his opening speech, Georg Winckler, rector of the University of Viennaand president of the European University Association (EUA), pointed out therequirements facing European universities today.

According to Winckler, education with more focus on professions, strategicregional partnerships, and clear profiles are the challenges, if Europeanuniversities wish to remain competitive across international collegiatelines.

University Network of the Danube Region

The Danube Rectors Conference includes 50 universities from 13 central andeastern European nations. Meetings are held on a regular basis in order todevelop projects together and to support research and teaching in theDanube Region. In the future, the DRC projects increasing its communicationto the members of the universities concerning the activities of thisplatform, in order to strengthen and further expand the network.

In the course of the annual conference, the DRC presidency is re-determinedeach year. In 2007/2008, Danube University Krems will chair the DRC, withrector Heinrich Kern acting as president.

The Growth Market in Education

Aside from E-learning, university management, and internationalization, oneof the core issues was continuing education. In the USA, e.g., anapproximate 4.9 percent of the 35 to 39 years old are enrolled in lifelonglearning programs, whereas a mere 1.8 percent of Europeans of the same agegroup participate in programs of continuing education. The DRC hopes toprovide new impulses during the presidency of Danube University Krems.

In this context, the Danube University presented the status quo of programsin continuing education at Austrian Universities, as well as future models.Market orientation and the development of universities from a "one-stopuniversity" to a "lifelong learning partner" were discussed. Furthermore,the DRC passed a resolution, providing for a separate meeting dedicated tothe topic in 2008, and a project platform for continuing education shall becreated. All lecturers concurred in stating that continuing educationrepresents an extensive growth market and that it will become a significantpart of universities’ programs. So far, lifelong learning has not been anissue considered by many universities, Pat Davies of the European Networkof Lifelong Learning (EUCEN) pointed out in Krems.

The Challenge of University Management

Aside from measures regarding the contents, the major reforms conducted ona university level during the past years pose a large challenge to themanagement, especially. The English university expert, John Davies,stressed the necessity of redistributing the parts and tasks of heads ofuniversities, also, questioning the efficiency of certain committees, ifnecessary. The topics of personnel development, result-based salaries, andcoaching on a management level, were discussed during the sessions.

In the area of E-learning, the examples that were presented illustratedthat the universities’ implementation of new media is still moving alongvastly different levels. The participants gained a lot, especially from theexchange of experiences. At the same time, the E-learning experts initiateda common open-source project in Krems, asking all members of the DRC tocontribute to the development of the project.

Supporting International Partnerships

The International Relations Officers of the various DRC universities alsohad the opportunity of exchanging experiences regarding student and teachermobility, as well as in regard to joint programs.

During the twelve months of its presidency and as central Europeancompetence center, the Danube University will host and realize numerousprojects and events on all core issues mentioned.

Find more information on the conference at http://www.donau-uni.ac.at/drc.

Homepage of the Danube Rectors Conference: http://drc.uni-mb.si

(01.10.2007)

Please direct your questions to:

Katharina Prager, Ph.D.

Department for Continuing Education Research and Educational Management

Danube University Krems

Tel.: +43 (0)2732 893-2512

E-mail: katharina.prager@donau-uni.ac.at

Internet: http://www.donau-uni.ac.at

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