http://www.eurochambres.

eu

UNICA Rectors Seminar University-business collaboration

Our Network

45 National Chamber Organisations, and 1 Transnational Chamber Organisation

THE NETWORK

Chambers of Commerce

+1,706

+19,860,565
Enterprises

120,000,000
Employees
ASSOCIATION OF EUROPEAN CHAMBERS OF COMMERCE AND INDUSTRY

Our members

45 National Chamber Organisations and One Transnational Association

ASSOCIATION OF EUROPEAN CHAMBERS OF COMMERCE AND INDUSTRY

EU 27: 994 Chambers of Commerce

Malta Luxembourg Latvia Estonia Portugal Denmark Lithuania Cyprus Sw eden Austria Slovenia Finland Belgium Netherlands Hungary Bulgaria Romania Poland Greece Ireland UK Czech Republic Germany Spain Italy France 0 50 100 150 1 1 1 1 1 1 5 5 8 9 13 19 16 21 23 28 49 54 59 60 69 76 81 95 122 175 200

Mandatory Affiliation Voluntary Affiliation

Number of Chambers

NON EU: 712 Chambers of Commerce

Iceland Moldov a Azerbaijan Montenegro Israel Georgia Armenia Norway FYR of Macedonia Bosnia-Herzegov ina Switzerland Serbia Croatia Ukraine Albania Belarus Russian f ederation Turkey
1 173 366 12 1 1 1 1 6 6 11 15 15 18 19 19 20 27

Mandatory Affiliation
Voluntary Affiliation

50

100

150

200

250

300

350

400

Number of Chambers

Our Business Community

19.9 mln member companies of which 99% are SMEs 97% < 50 employees

ASSOCIATION OF EUROPEAN CHAMBERS OF COMMERCE AND INDUSTRY

Some figures/ Education & training

2.7 million people trained per year, including 1.9 million young and 800 000 adults in life long learning courses More than 1,000 training centres managed by European Chambers. 17,000 teachers, professors, and trainers.

ASSOCIATION OF EUROPEAN CHAMBERS OF COMMERCE AND INDUSTRY

Some Figures/ Education & training

In nearly 95% of European Chambers, businesses are involved in determining the educational content provided. In some countries, Chambers of commerce and Industry are the second most important provider of training after the public sector.

ASSOCIATION OF EUROPEAN CHAMBERS OF COMMERCE AND INDUSTRY

Chambers involvement in academia-business cooperation

2 best practice examples... Austrian Fachhochschulen ( WIFIWK)
demand and acceptance analyses are a prerequisite for accreditation of the programmes

ASSOCIATION OF EUROPEAN CHAMBERS OF COMMERCE AND INDUSTRY

Austrian Fachhochschulen( WIFI-WK)

business representatives as consultants

on content and pedagogical orientation of the programmes business representatives in the board and councils of the Fachhochschule Students write their final thesis often with the company, mandatory placements
ASSOCIATION OF EUROPEAN CHAMBERS OF COMMERCE AND INDUSTRY

Grandes Ecoles ( Paris chamber of Commerce)

CEOs contribute to the design and to the follow-up of the strategy of the 12 educational institutions

Each one of them is chaired by a CEO and managed by a board composed of CEOs. Advice on content and pedagogical orientation of the programmes 89% of students are hired within 6 months after graduation.
ASSOCIATION OF EUROPEAN CHAMBERS OF COMMERCE AND INDUSTRY

What do companies expect from a collaboration with Universities?

Keep up with research developments Access to special knowledge Building networks Meet potential future employees Reputation for company to cooperate with University (HE- institution) Possibility to advice on curricula better qualified personnel

ASSOCIATION OF EUROPEAN CHAMBERS OF COMMERCE AND INDUSTRY

Challenges
Companies think in competences, Universities in qualifications or diplomas Different planning horizons ( short term versus long term, universities not always able to respond) Different expectations, lack of trust

ASSOCIATION OF EUROPEAN CHAMBERS OF COMMERCE AND INDUSTRY

Challenges
Universities too much focused on knowledge and not on skills ( consequence: industry develops own supply of training as response to lacking skills) Legal status of universities/ ( Autonomy in Administration/ Finances)

ASSOCIATION OF EUROPEAN CHAMBERS OF COMMERCE AND INDUSTRY

Recommendations
Accurate dialogue between universities and business guarantees employability of graduates. Opening governance structure of universities to the world of business ( its about synergies not about managing universities like enterprises)

Set up platforms/ networks with SMEs

Encourage initiatives for start-up business
ASSOCIATION OF EUROPEAN CHAMBERS OF COMMERCE AND INDUSTRY

Recommendations
Joint exploration of curriculum requirement Guidance and counselling together with companies

Guest lecturing from business side

Keep in touch with alumnis for identifying skills needs Human resource policy is key- its all about people
ASSOCIATION OF EUROPEAN CHAMBERS OF COMMERCE AND INDUSTRY

Conclusions

Strategic alliance between universities and business should be in the interest of...students!

Human Resource management is key: appointed persons at university level who are in charge of university-business cooperation

ASSOCIATION OF EUROPEAN CHAMBERS OF COMMERCE AND INDUSTRY

Thank you for your attention!

Contact us: EUROCHAMBRES Association of European Chambers of Commerce and Industry

Avenue des Arts 19 A/D

1000 Brussels-Belgium http://www.eurochambres.eu Mail: Margarete Rudzki rudzki@eurochambres.eu
ASSOCIATION OF EUROPEAN CHAMBERS OF COMMERCE AND INDUSTRY