EUA’s monitoring of the impact of the economic crisis on public funding for universities in Europe
EUA has been monitoring the evolution of the economic crisis and its effects on higher education systems in Europe since its onset in 2008 and has published several reports (see below).
The monitoring is conducted in close cooperation with EUA collective members, the National Rectors’ Conferences, who report on developments within their national higher education systems on a regular basis. The continuous feedback from various sources provides up-to-date reports of the situation and highlights the evolving nature of the effects the crisis has had on university funding across Europe.
The main objective of the monitoring is to look at the impact of the crisis on universities’ public funding and to identify in particular the trends in public funding across Europe. It also explores how the crisis has affected the nature of public funding and how such shifts are influencing universities at institutional level.
Monitoring map
TRENDS IN PUBLIC FUNDING TO HIGHER EDUCATION IN EUROPE OVER THE PERIOD 2008-2012*
* Data collected May-June 2012. Please refer to the latest report for further information.
The above map compiles information on most European countries for which EUA has collected data. Figures are sometimes difficult to compare given the different methodologies used to calculate cuts in public funding and the different times when these took place; however, the comparison should give a sense of the trends in public funding and the latest developments across Europe. The map necessarily simplifies often complex situations. To allow for a comparison at European level the map shows five main categories:
1. Overall increase of public funding: minimum increase of +1% (green)
2. Overall stable situation: variations from -1% to +1% (blue)
3. Overall decrease of public funding: from -1% to -10% (orange)
4. Overall decrease of public funding: from -10% (red)
5. Specific cases for which more information is provided in the report (grey)
Reports
EUA has published several analysis reports on the impact of the economic crisis on universities in Europe, which further detail the situation in different higher education systems.
The June 2012 update includes for the first time a full overview of developments over the period 2008-2012.
Other resources
EUA Report “Financially sustainable universities II: European universities diversifying income streams”
EUA’s work on financial sustainability
EUDIS project on income diversification
2012 Funding Forum presentations