by Vanessa Debiais-Sainton from the European Commission, Head of Unit for Higher Education

1. COVID-19 impact on
Higher Education
Commission support
Vanessa Debiais-Sainton
Head of Unit for Higher Education
European Commission

2. Coordination at EU level
• Informal videoconference of ministers of education, 14 April
• Directors General Meeting, 24 March
• EU MS answers to the COVID19 challenges in education
• Establishment of an online collaboration space with MS to share good
practices
• Regular webinars with Erasmus+ National Agencies and Programme
Committee
• Webinars with:
student organisations (European Student Union and ESN)
universities networks

3. State of Play
• Switch to online education on a massive scale
• Digital repositories are being developed and shared among teachers
• Targeted teacher training on e-learning methodologies and techniques
• Enhanced cooperation between teachers and increased peer support
• Support to students
• Additional funding to institutions and to individual students

4. Key challenges
1. How to safeguard equity?
• Additional support needed for disadvantaged students
• Mental health support to all
2. How to organise the ending of the academic year?
• Assessment in online settings
• Postponement or (partial) cancellation of the final national exams
• Extended deadlines for enrolment to higher education
• Expectations towards the universities for flexibility
3. How to organise the next academic year?

5. Key actions taken by the Commission
• Launch of the ‘coronavirus: online learning resources’ website
• Q&As for Erasmus+ participants
• Extended deadlines for Erasmus+ and EU Solidarity calls
• Investment
• Erasmus COVID-19 recovery
• Digital Education Action Plan
• European Education Area Communication
• Micro-credentials expert group setting

6. Thank you