University of Maribor Hosting Danube Rectors' Conference
Maribor, 21 September
A three-day conference of university rectors from the Central European region got underway on Thursday at the University of Maribor, focusing on the role of universities in promoting economic competitiveness.
In his address at the outset of the Danube Rectors' Conference, Minister of Higher Education, Science and Technology Jure Zupan stressed that the Lisbon strategy acknowledges the important role of European universities in forming a knowledge-based society. The fundamental change that should be made in education is closer cooperation between the research, academic and business spheres, said Zupan at the event that is taking place under the heading "The Lisbon Strategy - the Role of Universities and the Competitiveness of the Danube region". Zupan also pointed to the significance of building closer ties between universities in the region, saying that this is an important factor in forming a common European higher education and research area. More than one hundred chancellors and vice-chancellors are participating in the conference. The participants were discussing the role of universities in the Danube region in European research and higher education, their role in European employment politics and the role of students in implementing the Bologna reforms.