Coordinator: Ricardo Martí Fluxá
The following subjects were debated:
- Ten years ago in Lisbon, it was decided that the European Economy should become the most competitive in the world by harnessing knowledge society. Little progress has been made and competitiveness has barely improved since then.
- Meanwhile, other economies have grown in spectacular fashion (India, among others).
- When economists analyse the causes, a residual factor (apart from raw material, capital, etc.) appears which may go some way to explaining this: Human capital (training) Institutions.
- Europe has the most advanced social welfare system in the world. The Europeans hope to maintain it. How are we going to pay for it? How can we maintain or increase social benefits/services if we cannot increase competitiveness?
- • We need to educate in order to create an open, competitive, global society.
- Active education: We need to educate in attitudes. Especially the idea of initiative, entrepreneurial capacity, encouraging the spirit of being one's own boss as opposed to functionary education. Education associated with the English-speaking world as opposed to European education?
- Language training: (natural and formal)
- Schools and education system (incidence of the institutional element) Management and quality of the teaching system. Good and bad students.
- Education for universalism and not particularism.
- The creation of excellence, encouraged by institutions. The creation of centres which seek rigour.
- The risks of Bologna. Competition from Universities in emerging countries.
- The transfer of knowledge R&D&innovation. Research aimed at innovation.
- Science socially undervalued.
- o What countries have done well in this area? What examples can we follow? Sweden? Norway?