Europe's top 20 research-intensive universities feel that governments and the European Commission do not understand their strengths and their potential to contribute to the European Union's competitiveness on the world stage. They have drawn up an outline manifesto on the meaning, values and needs of higher education across the EU.
Referring to last week's European Commission blueprint for the university sector, Kari Raivio, chancellor of the University of Helsinki and president of the League of European Research Universities (Leru), said: "We welcome the recent EU acknowledgement that universities play a key role in society, but there must be much more emphasis on the diversity of universities, and funding must be based on the excellence of their particular outputs."
Speaking after Leru rectors met in Munich at the weekend, he added: "Too often governments talk about and indeed fund universities as if they are all the same, whereas we know that universities have different roles and functions to play in society. To achieve their full potential, universities must focus on what they do best and be rewarded for their excellence by a competitive and selective funding regime."
A robust and transparent funding methodology was needed that concentrated resources and granted real autonomy over their deployment on the basis of accountable, independent governance in universities, he said.
David Livesey, secretary general of Leru, added: "They (the rectors) also see the need to deepen the understanding of how research universities work as a necessary part of achieving a concentration of research resources invested in our best institutions."
The manifesto calls on the Commission to ensure that member states act together rather than in isolation; advocate an independent accountable, competitively funded and diverse university system; and ensure that the benefits of European-level intervention are obvious.
The rectors argue that the proposed European Institute of Technology should complement the European Research Council and enhance rather than threaten existing excellence. They suggest that the Commission explore the link between internationally excellent research in universities and innovation in industry.
Rectors agree that international excellence in research requires far more funding and recommend that the ERC's annual budget be raised to at least €5 billion (£3.5 billion) by 2015. They stress the need for universities to demonstrate clear accountability, and to play to existing or potential strengths rather than adopt every role in mass higher education.