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Young graduates to benefit from increased dialogue between universities and businesses.

Young graduates to benefit from increased dialogue between universities and businesses.

2010. 03. 23.

“Today all countries are searching for new ways to create jobs and stimulate their economic growth. Establishing a new partnership between business and higher education intuitions is mutually advantageous, because educational institutions will get direct feedback from the working world, while companies will become more competitive after having participated directly in research and training,” emphasised the EPP Group MEP.

The report focuses on three main areas: lifelong learning, mobility and partnership, and good practice. Explaining the importance of lifelong learning, the report emphasises that a strong learning culture must be established and reinforced, and that continuing training at all stages of life is critical to Europe’s businesses and its citizens. On mobility, the Rapporteur asks the Commission to propose a legal framework designed to support and facilitate mobility between universities and business, and to emphasise the need to recognise and certify this form of learning.

“The rate of unemployment is especially high among young graduates. I believe it is important to examine if the core of the problem lies in the quality of the degrees and certificates or if the companies have excessive expectations from young graduates,” said Schmitt.

The Rapporteur also highlighted the examples of good practice found within and outside the EU that demonstrate the value of this kind of cooperation for all involved. He therefore called for the creation of a website that would list and summarise already proven good practice.