No Future for the Social Dimension?

Abstract

The social dimension is the neglected child of the European Higher Education Area, and faces an uncertain future. It lacks a concrete definition and activities relating to it often do not have measurable outcomes. However, the immediate future could see a turning point. This paper addresses several issues: the need for a social dimension, the history of the social dimension, the successes and failures of its implementation and potential ways to develop it in the future. In order for the European Higher Education Area to successfully develop and re-define the social dimension within higher education either proactive measures should be taken. While the social dimension is politically managed at the European level, among the measures we propose in this study is to extend its governance to practitioners and institutions at the regional/national governments’ level.