New Horizons for Innovation in European Higher Education Institutions

• Author: Gabriela Marchis
• Pages: 405-411

Educating Integral Innovators in a European Academic Network

405

Educating Integral Innovators in a European Academic

Network

New Horizons for Innovation in

European Higher Education Institutions

Gabriela Marchis1

Abstract: In today's European society, the first signs of economic recovery is facing difficulties in recruiting

qualified staff with a high level of skills that can adapt quickly to changes that appear, in order to meet our

European ambitions: to create a Union of Innovation. The transition to a green, smart and innovative

economy, in line with the objectives of “Europe 2020” strategy can only be achieved by decisive actions

oriented to labor factor development. Thus, one of the vectors of labor reconstruction starts from the principle

of “lifelong learning” and envisages the validation of non-formal and informal education, the orientation

towards learning outcomes and last but not the least, it aims to integrate learning and career guidance

systems. This paper intends to guide and inspire those people that have the responsibility for management and

coordination o f HEIs, as well as those engaged in academic activities like pro fessors, stud ents, alumni or

other stakeholders, by searching the answers to a simple q uestion: What global society needs and/or desire

from HEIs?

Keywords: quality assurance; life-long learning; education; ITC; competences

1. Introduction

Education, this “universal art to teach everyone everything” (Comenius, 1970) is not a very easy task

in this dynamic millennium, characterized by globalization, innovation and transfer of technology.

Within the European Union, the balance between socio-economic cohesion and global competitiveness

can only be achieved by shifting European societies towards development based on knowledge,

research and innovation, which requires that higher education institutions (HEIs), through their

educational offer, be ready to respond to the society’s needs.

In this context, it is increasingly clear that HEIs must diversify their manner of providing education,

focus on digital learning and stimulate student participation in projects of international cooperation.

Through this approach, students, along with qualifications, will acquire, in the academic environment,

the experience to activate and face the competition on the global market. This dynamic of academia

includes, naturally, in a globalized world, new directions concerning the development of cross-border

and transnational higher education.

1Associate P rofessor, PhD, Department of Economics, Danubius University of Galati, Romania, Address: 3 Galati Blvd.,

Galati 800654, Romania, Tel.: +40372361102, Corresponding author: gabrielamarchis@univ-danubius.ro.