HERSC meeting 20-21st of October

HERSC – the ETUCE statutory body representing trade unions from the higher education and research sector across Europe, meet twice a year to discuss joint challenges and strategies and to advice ETUCE on policy issues, actions and initiatives related to Higher Education and Research.  

Key topics at the meeting included: 

• ETUCE´s campaign ahead of the 2027 Bologna Process Ministerial Conference
• ETUCE´s position paper on Erasmus+ (2028-34) and Horizon Europe (2028–34)
• Revision of the 1997 UNESCO Recommendation on Higher Education Teaching Personnel
• EU Policy updates – discussion with the European Commission on higher education and research in the Union of Skills. 

Chief Advisor Jorunn Dahl Norgård, Head of International Affairs in Forskerforbundet / NAR, was elected Chair of HERSC in March 2025 and will hold this position until the end of 2028. On the different topics discussed, she highlights the dialogue with the European Commission and says: 

– Once again, we underlined to the Commission that unions are not just any stakeholder, but a key stakeholder. We are the collective voice of academics and researchers and our perspectives are crucial to improve both the quality and implementation of EU initiatives. That´s why we stress the importance of social dialogue and governance structures that include trade union representation. 

At the meeting, professor Howard Stevenson presented key findings of the report In the eye of the storm. Higher education in an age of crises. This report examines recent trends in the higher education sector and identifies a 'Triple A' crisis which includes austerity, authoritarianism and automation. 

Stevenson described how these trends are fast deteriorating and urged unions to join forces to protect public higher education and core values for the benefit of society.