The Social Dimension and Responsibility of Universities

Conference on the Social Dimension and Responsability of Universities, Malaga, 24-25 May 2010.

The social dimension and equity in higher education are crucial to legitimize the process towards the European Higher Education Area. There is an urgent need to promote the social dimension in the construction of the European Higher Education Area including widening access to underrepresented groups, providing flexible learning paths in a lifelong learning perspective and granting the return of knowledge to society through enhancing the social responsibility of universities.The European Commission has underlined the need to open up higher education to more people, whatever their background or stage of the life-cycle (‘Delivering on the Modernisation Agenda for Universities’ 2006). The 2009 Bologna Ministerial Communiqué stated that the EHEA “”is an area where…all higher education institutions are responsive to the wider needs of society through the diversity of their missions.”” It also stated that “”The student body within higher education should reflect the diversity of Europe’s populations””.It is important to debate how can universities help to raise awareness and commitment in our society to develop a sustainable socio-economic model for the future. In addition, in order to provide society with graduates with the right skills required for the labour market, universities have to provide an ethical knowledge base, responsive to the social needs.
Universities’ commitment towards the community needs to be fostered, going beyond their contribution to innovation. Knowledge-sharing with society through interaction and permanent dialogue with civil society organisations, such as schools, museums, charity foundations, etc. has to be enhanced to address societal needs.