Side Event #5 SET-Plan Conference 2014

Rome, Italy11 December 2014, 13.00-14.30

THE STRATEGIC ROLE OF UNIVERSITIES IN THE SET-PLAN

Prof. Torbjørn Digernes, NTNUDr. Lidia Borrell-Damian, Director for Research and

Innovation, EUAProf. Johan Driesen, KU Leuven

THE STRATEGIC ROLE OF UNIVERSITIES IN THE SET-PLAN

Introduction

Prof. Torbjørn Digernes, NTNU

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Agenda

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• 20-20-20 Goals: Greenhouse gas (GHG) emission down 20%, 20% renewable energy, 20% reduction of energy use

• Energy Roadmap 2050: Reduction of GHG emissions by 80-95%

SET-Plan as the technology research and development pillar

There is a massive need for new talent, and upgrade of the existing competencies in society for this development

Candidates from the knowledge triangle -education/research/innovation can be the change agents that society needs

A sharp rise in R&D is needed to realise the SET-Plan objectives

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• Recruiting the best young talent for careers in the energy sector – a global market and global competition

• Responding to labour markets evolution – continuing education of the existing work force

• Making state-of-the-art education programmes with the latest knowledge available widely in Europe

• Integrating education, cutting edge research, and a rich innovation environment at sufficiently many locations

The Challenge and Need for theCoordination of Research, Education

and Training Systems

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• Providing forecasts of workforce requirements over the next 20 years needs new methodological approaches

• Relative competiveness of technologies and of the world regions’ manufacturing sectors, as well as politically based incentives, are difficult to predict

• In the first years, it will be the ability to recruit that will be the limiting factor, not the capacity to educate

Human resources as the limiting factor

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• Successful recruiting is about showing that there is a demand for these competencies

• Industry and the public sector must communicate that the sector offers attractive career opportunities

• Governments must strive for good quality education and support it by providing necessary funding

Work force capacity needed

THE STRATEGIC ROLE OF UNIVERSITIES IN THE SET-PLAN

Introduction to UNI-SET

Dr. Lidia Borrell-Damian, Director for Research and Innovation, EUA

Prof. Johan Driesen, KU Leuven

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• EUA acts as an independent stakeholder for Europe’s Universities.

• Based in Brussels as a non-governmental membership organisation.

• EUA membership represents 34 European Rectors’ Conferences and over 850 individual research based higher education institutions across 46 countries.

• Dual-fold role:I. providing a forum for debate and mutual-learning though conferences and

workshops, projects and specific services for the membership, and

II. bringing empirical evidence from universities’ experiences and activities across their missions to inform the policy-making process in developing new instruments that help their strategic development and enhance their performance in addressing social, economic and civil society needs and goals.

The European University Association (EUA)

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• European Commission Strategic Energy and Technology Plan Communication (SET Plan, 2007) announcing the creation of the European Energy Research Alliance (EERA) and the European Industrial Initiatives (EIIs).

• EUA signatory of the European Energy Research Alliance (EERA) as an observer – October 2008 – following a decision of the EUA Council.

• EUA convened a first meeting with representatives designated by the EUA National Rectors Conferences – March 2009: The European Platform of Universities Engaged in Energy (EPUE) was created.

• 2010: Inviting universities to enrol through a survey – 170 responded

• 2012: EPUE Inaugural Meeting in Delft, the Netherlands.

EUA’s Involvement in the SET-Plan Process

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• EPUE is an open platform for all members of EUA

• It entails a large group – so far 170 have announced interest in the EPUE

• Reaches out into all corners of the EU28 member states

• The survey of the enrolment process has identified over 1400 groups constituting more than 20 000 persons

• Within each of the SET Plan thematic areas, there are 20 to 100 active universities

• There is a multitude of educational programs, at all three cycles of university education (900 Master Programmes identified)

Characteristics of the EUA-EPUE today

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• SET Plan Energy Education and Training Initiative (13 Working Groups set by the European Commission)

• EUA-EPUE proposed the Commission to create the horizontal group on “Coordination of Education and Training Systems” (WG 13)

• Coordinated the creation of university Mirror Groups in all Working Groups within EUA.

• SET-Plan Integrated Roadmap

EUA-EPUE Input to EC Energy-Related Policy Consultation Processes

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• Human resource needs in numbers Low carbon field employs approximately 9 mio people today By 2020: an additional 5 mio researchers, engineers, technicians will be needed By 2030: an additional 6.3 mio people Annually approx. 1.1 mio graduates in STEM fields Beyond STEM: legal and regulatory experts, project managers, policy-makers etc.

with in-depth, energy-related knowledge are essential for a successful transformation of the energy system

• Universities offer Master programmes, Doctorates, and conduct energy-related research

• Untapped potential: Universities in Europe can mobilise their research and educational capacities

How universities can further contribute to the energy transition

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• Strengthen strategic basic research in Europe’s universities – “use-inspired” basic research in energy

• Build bridges between basic research and innovation

• Integrate education, research and innovation activities

• Develop cross-national education and training programme

• Develop continuing education and training for the existing workforce

• Foster multidisciplinary research in areas such as system integration and socio-economic aspects.

• Enhance the contribution of universities in the SET-Plan at EU policy level

Objectives of UNI-SET

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• European University Association, main beneficiary/coordinator

• KU Leuven (project partner) representing the universities in KIC InnoEnergy

• Funded as an FP7 Coordination and Support Action

Project consortium

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UNI-SET: Work packages1st

pha

se

2014

2015

2016

2nd p

hase

Total of 36 months 09/2014 – 08/2017

2017

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• Gather data on Master, Doctoral and research programmes (number of programmes, students, disciplines, SET-Plan areas, etc.)

• Develop web-based maps of university research and education in the energy field.

• Identify professional profiles

• Organise at least five clustering events to provide a basis for discussing further

development of energy-related curricula and study programmes on the Master and Doctorate level.

Convene a critical mass of research capacities for new collaborative and multidisciplinary research activities across Europe.

UNI-SET Activities

(Example)

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?

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?

?

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KIC InnoEnergy in UNI-SET

Smart Citie

s Smart Grids

Clean Coal

Chemical Fuels

Renewables

Convergence

Nuclear - R

enew

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• Strong in university-business links and collaboration

• Contribution: identify professional profiles in the energy field in six different thematic fields

• Taken together with the university mapping, UNI-SET will provide unique insights into current labour market requirements and education offered at universities

KIC InnoEnergy in UNI-SET

New insights into energy labour

market Potential

strategies to close the ‘skills gap’

Master program

mes

Profile identificat

ion

Doctoral program

mes

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• More universities to educate candidates for the industry and the public sector programmes with curricula informed with recent research-based knowledge engaging with industry and research institutes

• Education programs for new multidisciplinary competence profiles prepared to address energy system integration societal aspects related to the energy system transition

• University networks engaging in cooperation in long term ‘use-inspired’ basic research for energy

Expected impact of UNI-SET (I)

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• Coordination of input for policy development and external dialogues

• Advocacy and dialogue with the European Commission and other European policy stakeholders

• Cooperation with the European Energy Research Alliance (EERA)

• Strengthen cooperation with industrial partners

• Assisting development of international (outside-EU) cooperation

Expected impact of UNI-SET (II)

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Discussion