Principal Recommendations: Humanities as Academic Disciplines and the European Union by G. Reydams-Schils

Given the problematic situation of the humanities departments at European universities (especially in comparison with the US), their value as scientific disciplines and their importance for the 'common cultural heritage' aspect of a European identity, the limited resources available and the current lack of interest from the European Union, the main issue is to find a slot within European Union policies for the humanities specifically.

Regarding the Educational Programme Socrates

1) emphasis on cultural aims, with an explicit mentioning of the importance of the humanities in the action concerning higher education,

2) creation of opportunities for short-term research exchanges (as opposed to 'full-time study') on the doctoral and post-doctoral level; (especially for disciplines which do not have access to alternative sources of funding for this kind of projects). (The distinction between education, research and culture does not really make sense for the humanities).

Regarding Long-Term Policy

1) research 'framework' or programmes for the humanities (even if limited budgets, and focus on co-ordination),

2) publication of a study by the Commission, which maps the existing resources, and puts forward analyses, suggestions and options to be explored by member-states or to be implemented on the EU level, where appropriate; three possible lines of action:

- new sources of funding,

- new educational models, of the short, international 'post-graduate' type, which can co-exist with the higher education models already in place with the member-states,

- better integration in academic international networks,

(including, for instance, the educational consortia which the Commission negotiates with the US).

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Principal Recommendations: Humanities as Academic Disciplines and the European Union by G. Reydams-Schils