RST Minister Wauquiez +Strasbourg University Head Beretz to ERFRA: EU Science+Education Innovations

* Strasbourg/Angelo Marcopolo/- European Universities' strategy focusing on "Excellence" and "Innovation" must exist not only in Scientific and Technological Research, but also on Educational Innovations, able to guarantee that No Students are left behind in a kind of intellectual Divide, but, on the contrary, finding ways to succeed a general Development of all People involved. In this sense too, Strasbourg's University, given its Geographic location at EU's Heart, its Cultural Tradition and History, (as Symbol of Franco-German Reconciliation and Easr-West ReUnification initially inside CoE), as well as the recent "Excellence" projects chosen in order to be funded by "Investments for the Future", should become "the 1st European University" throughout all EU, replied French Minister of Scientific Research and University Education, experienced former EU affairs Minister, Laurent Wauquiez, to "EuroFora"s questions during his visit to Strasbourg University's Campus to meet both Top Scientific Researchers and its President Alain Beretz, as well as several other Professors and many Students, including, through the "Erasmus' program, from many other EU Countries.

    - F.ex., "Tri-National Cursus", in an emerging "proximity EU University", might, however, be an even Better concrete Option here, as Beretz suggested, (See infra).

     - "This week, during EU Parliament's (Plenary) Session, Top MEPs pointed at the fact that the specific character of EU's Strategy out of the Global Crises, compared to USA's Strategy, is that EU Countries currently focus into Investing in Innovation, including Education, while the USA spend also partly to stimulate Consumption. (See yesterday's "EuroFora" NewsReport on EPP President Joseph Daul's statements). Do you think that Strasbourg's University, that you have chosen to visit 1st, as you said, because it's at the Forefront of New Reforms, and considering also its paricular location, (in EU's Heart, at the Borders of Germany and Switzerland), could and should become Exemplary in this direction ?", "EuroFora" had asked Wauquiez.

     - "My Dream, for Strasbourg's University, is to make it "THE European University !" (i.e. for all the EU), ambitiously started to reply the French Minister of Education/Research, and former EU affairs Minister, to "EuroFora"s question. - "And if it was earmarked among the "Excellence" and "Investments for the Future" Research projects (funded by the State), it's also because the plans presented by its President (professor Alain Beretz) and his Team are also inspired by this Idea, and I find that Strong enough for France", Wauquiez observed. "Moreover, there is all this Tradition of Rhenan Humanism, Strasbourg's History (including as Symbol of the Franco-German Reconciliation, as well as for the ReUnification of Eastern and Western Europe, initially inside CoE, etc). "So, what I wish is that Strasbourg's University succeeds to impose itself inside the European landscape as becoming the 1st really big "European" University", the experienced former EU affairs Minister concluded.

    - "I can't but follow you", confirmed, smiling, on this point also the President of Strasbourg's University, professor Alain Beretz, in reply to "EuroFora"s question. "But this great goal, in practice, is often hampered by vaious practical, administrative issues."F.ex. from both sides, (of the Rhine river), we have a Tri-National (Franco - German + Swiss) Bio-Technology Diploma. But  it is harmed by Administrative Differencies among various Systems, because, f.ex., in France s needed a Back + 2 in order to become Engineer, etc", he critically  observed. "But, also, even more ordinary things, such as, f.ex. the Universities' Agenda, etc : Things as Simple as that.. So that, today, we need, perhaps, to go towards some "Exceptions", Beretz suggested.

    + "But, what we are trying to do together with our German Neighbours is to create a kind of "European University of Proximity" : We have the Germans in Freibourg and Karlsruhe, the Swiss in Bale, etc", Strasbourg University's President noted. "Always with specificities. The secret is to respect the Specific aspects of each one, and, at the same time, to be able to advance towards each other", he found. "Sometimes there are also Transports, perhaps we should develop Tele-training", etc. However, the Languages are a "Bonus" in this area. We also have a Tri-National (Franco-Germano-Swiss) Cursus in Chemistry, which is very Good : that's something that we could discuss with you, if you wish", (as Beretz suggested in direction of Minister Wauquiez). "We saw together Erasmus' (EU) programs, but the Tri-National Cursus are, probably, something of Higher Quality'", Beretz appreciated. "It consists into Bringing Together, inside One and same Promotion, Students of Differend Origins", he explained. - "We already have some Experimental sites" of this kind, "which should probably be Developed further", he suggested, "but it requires hard work".
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    Wauquiez explained earlier that he had Chosen to Start visiting Universities all over France from Strasbourg, because "this year's (2011) University Classes' entry was put under the moto : "Implement the (Policy) Changes in concrete terms", in everyday life, and "Strasbourg (University) is the perfect Symbol of what has already started to Move most of all", according to recent policy shifts :

    - "F.ex. it recently (2009) concentrated all its activities in one University (instead of 3 before), and, thus, it can develop now various PluriDisciplinary approaches easier ; It has got a brillant palmares with many Research and other projects labelled (and supported by the State as) "Excellent"  (f.ex. "LabExc", etc); it has just launched its New Campus plan, where we are trying to accelerate things and solve any eventually remaining practical difficulty, f.ex. in completing Publc-private partnerships, etc", the Minister observed.  
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    + "But, an important Message, is that "Excellence" is not build by abandoning other Students on the road, "Excellence doesn't mean Segregation" (social Divide)", Wauquiez went on to add resolutely.

    => Therefore, together with the Excellence in Research, "we need also a Pedagogocal Excellence", in Universities (like that of Strasbourg) which Educates in an Innovaive way", the French Minister stressed.

    - "Excelence isn't an Elitist frenzy which lets Students down ! We are not yet satisfied with overall results" on this point, "and that's why we must Change things", he concluded with  Voluntarism.

    + Indeed, as the 1st Vice-President of Strasbourg's University, M. Deneken, told "EuroFora", "we must solve a Problem concerning mainly Students until the Bachelor Degree", i.e. during the First 3 Years.

    ++ The competent Strasbourg University's Vice-President for Education, Mrs Frederique Granet, speaking  earlier to "EuroFora" stressed the point that the Solution should be found mainly by creating adequate "Educative Innovations".

    3  different New Projects illustrated in concrete terms this approach :

- The 1st searched  to fight against the large Number of  immature Students droping out of the system, particularly when they are just starting  to enter in a university : Affecting from 38% of Students in Law/Economy, up to 61% in Human/Social Sciences, during the first three Years , who "disappear" without notice ,sometimes it may happen even for Good Students at HighSchool and College, who go unprepared and unmotivated to a University where they face Massification in huge Amphitheaters, without Personal, direct Contacts with Professors acting only ex cathedra...

Experience proved, nevertheless, that, by finding the Right Orientation able to motivate each person, ensuring that he/she's equiped with elementary Tools for Information research and adequate Basic Knowledge, as well as adding Direct, Personal and useful Contacts with Trainers/Professors or other Educatational staff (a key factor, as many noted), Young Students can find anew their way back to normal Universiy cursum success, (as 2 Young persons illustrated in concrete examples, describing their personal experiences of a Special Program set up by Strasbourg's University for the 1st time).


-  The 2nd recognized and developed further the value of Benevolent work offered to the Community by Students who, on the contrary, find enough Time to invest in Social or Communal activities for the benefit of all, (f.ex. welcoming New Students, running various Associations, creating Collective Socio-Cultural Events, animate the Campus, etc), in parallel and in addition to their main University Studies.

 - Last but not least, special Education tools were also prepared for a growing number of "Erasmus" Students from various other EU Countries (f.ex. Germany, Italy, Poland, Sweden, etc) attracted by Strasbourg's University, for which its President, Professor Alain Beretz, has recently anounced also a project to build a huge "European/International" University Residence for Foreign Srudents, where will be also concentrated all kinds of  Services they need in everyday life, starting by rehabilitating a superb Skyscraper Tower located at the former Docks area, currently changed (as in happened also for London's famous former Docks' area) into a Modern Residential quarter, with Public Libraries, Musical centers, beautiful Riverside parcs, etc.

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    + Meanwhile, Scientific and Technologic Research was highlighted in Minister Wauquiez visit in Strasbourg's University by the famous example of the Strategic junction between Physics and Medicine offered by a series of innovative, High-Tech projects related to Non- or Mini-Evasive Surgery guided by Optical Images : F.ex. Optical devices, Medical Robotics, Computerisation, Tele-Medicine, etc, which are mainly illustrated in the concrete field f.ex. of the Fight against Cancers of the Digestive system, at IRCAD, headed by the well-known Professor Maresceau, (who has also presented an overall Report with proposed Reforms in the sector of Hospitals and Education/Research in Medicine in general, at the demand of French President Sarkozy, published shortly before his January 2009 visit to inaugurate Strasbourg's landmark, High-Tech New Civl Hospital : Comp. also earlier "EuroFora"s NewsReports).

    Already, 67,3 Millions € were awarded to such projects when they were officially recognized, earlier this year, as one among the 6 "Investments for the Future", funded by the "Great Loan" of 35 Billions €  for all sectors of Economy, anounced by the French President Sarkozy on December 2009 in Strasbourg, (See "EuroFora"s NewsReport from the event).

    - As Professor Maresceau has recently said himself to "EuroFora", the Training of Doctors and Engineers in order to become able to use such Innovative Tools is currently spreading various forms of cooperation wih several Countries througout the World, including, f.ex., Taiwan, Brazil, etc., Moreover, until now, there is not any other Labo in Europe having so Big, numerous and Efficient, innovative Machines as those which were set up and concentrated  in Strasbourg's Hospitalo-Unversitarian Centers (CHU).

    Among Non- or Mini-Evasive Medicine, bringing together Innovations in Physics, Chemistry, Biology and Medicine at Pluri-Disciplinary, collective Research Projects in Strasbourg, are also those who are recently developed by the Charles Sadron Institute on Polymers f.ex.on Bio-Technologies such as, f.ex. those who could provide the Human Organism with the necessary Medical Drugs at targetted organs even without being obliged to pas through the Digestive functions, but using, f.ex. Molecular Vectors, as "EuroFora" discussed wih President Beretz, who agreed on the relevant importance of such Pioneer research too, on which a New Doctoral Thesis is due to be presented later this Month.

(NDLR : "DraftNews", as already sent earlier to "EuroFora"s Subscribers/Donors. Watch out for a complete, more accurate, Final version asap)

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