The aim of this in-depth analysis – Higher education in the EU – Approaches, issues and trends– is to describe the main policy approaches and discuss key issues and recent trends in higher education across the European Union (EU). Through targeted comparisons of the main elements of the policy in the EU and the United States, the paper also focuses on achievements and challenges within this domain, against the background of the current economic and financial crisis.

Keywords: Higher education in the EU, higher education, financing, education grant, student mobility, distance learning, education statistics, educational system, recognition of studies, intergovernmental cooperation (EU), recognition of diplomas, Massive Open Online Courses, MOOCs, university research , teaching quality, school fees, EU programme, education costs