INTEGRATION OF INNOVATION, RESEARCH AND TECHNOLOGY IN HIGHER ENGINEERING EDUCATION

The European Union (EU) is lagging behind the USA in all dimensions of competitiveness, research and technological development (RTD) and education expenditures as well. The gap is still significant, with the EU standing at about 70% of the performance of the USA. The quantitative target for 2020 is that Europe should achieve a total spends of 5% of Gross Domestic Product (GDP) on combined investments in RTD and higher education. This roadmap addresses three levels of reforms relating to higher education, RTD and innovation. The link between Universities teaching engineering and the communities must be vivid and efficient. Capability of students for success in innovation and RTD several actions are envisaged. Many employers look for a range of skills in new graduates. The University of Miskolc provides the technical and intellectual environment with the initiation and erection of close links with over 300 industry/business partners, 87 EU, non EU and overseas universities, hosting international scientific conferences. PhD students conference biannually, participation of academic staff in various international scientific technology and engineering education conferences develop the graduates output. Research Laboratories/Institutes in various engineering fields attached to the University are to improve the student's capability in innovation and RTD as well. Higher engineering education can be viewed as a closed loop system where the input, the conversion block as knowledge and technology transfer and the output symbolising the qualified graduate. The new teaching methods and teaching materials based on interactivity will speed up the endeavours. The European dimension is strengthened and enlarged by various means.