Prodi commends universities for teaching management studies

Brussels, 30 April 2002

Commission President Romano Prodi has endorsed the teaching of business subjects in Europe's top universities in a speech at the UK's Oxford University.

Mr Prodi spoke, at the invitation of former Commission President Roy Jenkins, of the need for the UK to enter further into the debate on the future of Europe. He gave the example of the Galileo project as something which will increase the EU's strength. Mr Prodi also emphasised the EU's role in pooling scientific excellence and innovation, and praised Oxford University for introducing management studies to its course list.

'I really admire the school's growing reputation as a centre for management studies in Europe. It draws on Oxford's worldwide standing for solid academic achievements and attracts students from all over the world. And this nicely winds up the controversial debate on the role and dignity of this subject in advanced academic teaching and thinking,' said Mr Prodi.

Speaking of what the EU has done and what it could do better in the future, Mr Prodi spoke of making Europe a centre of intellectual and scientific influence and innovation. 'We could do even more in the field of food safety,' he added.

CORDIS RTD-NEWS/© European Communities, 2001