FOUNDATIONS OF FORMING THE EU HIGHER EDUCATION MACROSYSTEM IN THE CONTEXT OF DEEPENING EUROPEAN INTEGRATION
Abstract
The article examines the foundations and features of the formation of the European Union’s higher education (НЕ) macro-system (HEMS). The necessity of consolidating EU countries in the field of education is driven by the transition to an innovative economy and knowledge society, where НЕ plays a key role in developing human capital and fostering innovation. The main goals and priorities of НЕ development established at the EU level are summarized. The strategic frameworks for cooperation among EU member states in the field of education, primarily defined within the European Education Area, are presented. The relevance of applying a macro-systemic approach to ensure the development of НЕ at the EU level is substantiated. The foundations of HEMS formation in the EU are clarified, primarily: internationalization of national НЕ systems, international cooperation in this area, the creation of the European Education Area, and the European НЕ Area. Important mechanisms of this process also include EU programs, notably Erasmus+, quality assessment and assurance systems, qualification frameworks, and university networks and alliances. Emphasis is placed on centrifugal tendencies regarding the unification of educational institutions, universities, and communities, as well as the strengthening of НЕ regionalization within the overall integration process. It is determined that HEMS formation has internal (competition in the regional educational services market) and external (global competition at the level of countries and universities) dimensions, which are important to consider in the context of globalization. The features of combining competition and cooperation in higher education within the EU are defined. The specifics of activating cooperation between universities, as well as the emergence of a multi-level partnership system in НЕ, are clarified. Attention is drawn to the increasing influence of EU policy and activities on the functioning of the regional educational services market and the effectiveness of HEMS. It is substantiated that alongside HEMS formation, a significant polymorphism of НЕ systems in EU countries is observed, driven by the specific model of European integration. The practical manifestations of HEMS functioning are explained, confirming its emergence and impact. HEMS is emphasized as a qualitatively new environment for university educational activities, enhancing the potential of European НЕ and its competitiveness at the global level.
References
Abramowitz K., Fischman W., Gardner H. Higher education in the twenty-first century: What’s the mission? Daedalus. Vol. 153. Іssue 2. 2024. P. 301–315. DOI: https://doi.org/10.1162/daed_a_02082 (дата звернення: 08.04.2026).
Піфко O. Глобальні тренди у вищій освіті: перспективи розвитку та модернізації вітчизняної політики. Правова держава. № 52. 2023. С. 42–47. DOI: https://doi.org/10.18524/2411-2054.2023.52.291721 (дата звернення: 08.04.2026).
Artyukhova N., Vorontsova A., Artyukhov A., Yehorova Y., Vasić S., Rubanov P., Vasylieva T. Analysis of trends in the structure of higher education market of European countries. Knowledge and Performance Management. 2024. Vol. 8, Issue 2. Р. 91–108. DOI: http://dx.doi.org/10.21511/kpm.08(2).2024.08 (дата звернення: 08.04.2026).
Zhavoronok A., Kholiavko N., Popelo O., Dubyna M., Verbivska L., Fedyshyn M. Higher education for sustainable development in the digital era: Mapping the bibliometric analysis. Problems and Perspectives in Management. Vol. 22(4). 2024. P. 202–216. DOI: https://doi.org/10.21511/ppm.22(4).2024.16 (дата звернення: 08.04.2026).
Rokicki T., Perkowska A., Klepacki B., Szczepaniuk H., Szczepaniuk E. K., Bereziński S., Ziółkowska P. The importance of higher education in the EU countries in achieving the objectives of the circular economy in the energy sector. Energies. 2020. Vol.13. Issue 17, 4407. DOI: https://doi.org/10.3390/en13174407 (дата звернення: 09.04.2026).
Kromydas T. Rethinking higher education and its relationship with social inequalities: Past knowledge, present state and future potential. Palgrave Communications. Vol. 3(1). 2017. URL: https://www.nature.com/articles/s41599-017-0001-8. DOI: https://doi.org/10.1057/s41599-017-0001-8 (дата звернення: 09.04.2026).
Moser P., Feiel S. Kircher V. The (R)Evolution of European Education Policy: European Higher Education Alliances. Berg Huettenmaenn Monatsh, Vol.167. 2022. P.457–461. DOI: https://doi.org/10.1007/s00501-022-01276-6 (дата звернення: 09.04.2026).
Garritzmann, J. L. (2023). Politics of higher education funding in (Western) Europe – And beyond. In J. Jungblut, M. Maltais, E. C. Ness, & D. Rexe (Eds.), Comparative higher education politics, Vol. 60. P. 121-155. Springer. DOI: https://doi.org/10.1007/978-3-031-25867-1_6 (дата звернення: 10.04.2026).
Charret, A., Oancea, A. & Chankseliani, M. (2026). European higher education policy as a plastique palimpseste: understanding national visions for the European Universities Initiative. Higher Education. Vol. 91. P. 759–780. DOI: https://doi.org/10.1007/s10734-025-01441-z (дата звернення: 10.04.2026).
Galán-Cubillo E., Serrano-Cobos J., López-Navarrete A. J (2025). Understanding the European Universities Initiative as the new phase of European higher education integration. European Educational Research Journal. SAGE Publications. Vol. 23. Issue 3. DOI: https://doi.org/10.1177/14782103241287579 (дата звернення: 10.04.2026).
Marshall S., Blaj-Ward L., Dreamson N., Nyanjom J., Bertuol M. T. The reshaping of higher education: Technological impacts, pedagogical change, and future projections. Higher Education Research & Development. Vol.43. Issue 3. 2024. Р.521–541. DOI: https://doi.org/10.1080/07294360.2024.2329393 (дата звернення: 10.04.2026).
European Education Area. European Commission. 2026. URL: https://education.ec.europa.eu (дата звернення: 11.04.2026).
Education and training. Eurostat. 2026. URL: https://ec.europa.eu/eurostat/web/education-and-training (дата звернення: 11.04.2026).
European Higher Education Area. European Higher Education Area. 2026. URL: https://ehea.info (дата звернення: 11.04.2026).
National Policies Platform. European Commission. 2026. URL: https://national-policies.eacea.ec.europa.eu (дата звернення: 11.04.2026).
Abramowitz, K., Fischman, W., & Gardner, H. (2024). Higher education in the twenty-first century: What’s the mission? Daedalus, 153(2), рр. 301–315. Аvailable at: https://doi.org/10.1162/daed_a_02082 (accessed April 08, 2026).
Pifko О. О. (2023). Hlobalni trendy u vyshchii osviti: perspektyvy rozvytku ta modernizatsii vitchyznianoi polityky [Global trends in higher education: prospects for the development and modernization of domestic policy]. Pravova derzhava – Rule of law, vol.52, рр. 42–47. Аvailable at: https://doi.org/10.18524/2411-2054.2023.52.291721 (accessed April 08, 2026).
Artyukhova, N., Vorontsova, A., Artyukhov, A., Yehorova, Y., Vasić, S., Rubanov, P., & Vasylieva, T. (2024). Analysis of trends in the structure of higher education market of European countries. Knowledge and Performance Management, vol.8(2), рр. 91–108. Аvailable at: http://dx.doi.org/10.21511/kpm.08(2).2024.08 (accessed April 08, 2026).
Zhavoronok, A., Kholiavko, N., Popelo, O., Dubyna, M., Verbivska, L., & Fedyshyn, M. (2024). Higher education for sustainable development in the digital era: Mapping the bibliometric analysis. Problems and Perspectives in Management, vol.22(4), рр. 202–216. Аvailable at: https://doi.org/10.21511/ppm.22(4).2024.16 (accessed April 08, 2026).
Rokicki, T., Perkowska, A., Klepacki, B., Szczepaniuk, H., Szczepaniuk, E. K., Bereziński, S., & Ziółkowska, P. (2020). The importance of higher education in the EU countries in achieving the objectives of the circular economy in the energy sector. Energies, vol.13(17), 4407. Аvailable at: https://doi.org/10.3390/en13174407 (accessed April 09, 2026).
Kromydas, T. (2017). Rethinking higher education and its relationship with social inequalities: Past knowledge, present state and future potential. Palgrave Communications, vol.3(1). Аvailable at: https://www.nature.com/articles/s41599-017-0001-8 (accessed April 09, 2026).
Moser, P., Feiel, S., & Kircher, V. (2022). The (R)Evolution of European Education Policy: European Higher Education Alliances. Berg Huettenmaenn Monatsh, vol.167, рр. 457–461. Аvailable at: https://doi.org/10.1007/s00501-022-01276-6 (accessed April 09, 2026).
Garritzmann, J. L. (2023). Politics of higher education funding in (Western) Europe – And beyond. In J. Jungblut, M. Maltais, E. C. Ness, & D. Rexe (Eds.), Comparative higher education politics, vol.60, pp. 121–155. Аvailable at: https://doi.org/10.1007/978-3-031-25867-1_6 (accessed April 10, 2026).
Charret, A., Oancea, A. & Chankseliani, M. (2026). European higher education policy as a plastique palimpseste: understanding national visions for the European Universities Initiative. Higher Education, vol.91, рр. 759–780. Аvailable at: https://doi.org/10.1007/s10734-025-01441-z (accessed April 10, 2026).
Galán-Cubillo, E., Serrano-Cobos, J., & López-Navarrete, A. J (2025). Understanding the European Universities Initiative as the new phase of European higher education integration. European Educational Research Journal, vol.23 (3). Аvailable at: https://doi.org/10.1177/14782103241287579 (accessed April 10, 2026).
Marshall, S., Blaj-Ward, L., Dreamson, N., Nyanjom, J., & Bertuol, M. T. (2024). The reshaping of higher education: Technological impacts, pedagogical change, and future projections. Higher Education Research & Development, vol.43(3), рр. 521–541. Аvailable at: https://doi.org/10.1080/07294360.2024.2329393 (accessed April 10, 2026).
European Education Area. European Commission (2026). Available at: https://education.ec.europa.eu (accessed April 11, 2026).
Education and training. Eurostat (2026). Available at: https://ec.europa.eu/eurostat/web/education-and-training (accessed April 11, 2026).
European Higher Education Area. European Higher Education Area (2026). Available at: https://ehea.info (accessed April 11, 2026).
National Policies Platform. European Commission. (2026). Available at: https://national-policies.eacea.ec.europa.eu (accessed April 11, 2026).
Copyright (c) 2026 Дмитро Свинаренко
This work is licensed under a Creative Commons Attribution 4.0 International License.
