17. Calls on the Commission to investigate how the teaching of sciences in the EU can be improved at all levels; deplores the lack of human resources in RD in many Member States, which may be attributed to a declining interest among the younger generation in following scientific curricula and engaging in scientific careers; proposes, therefore, the launching of initiatives which familiarise schoolchildren with laboratory and field research; proposes, in addition, the promotion of active and investigatory methods of teaching, using observation and experimentation, the creation of professor-researcher exchange programmes and the support ...[+++] of innovative training methods by local and regional authorities; considers that rapid developments in science risk creating a gulf between ordinary citizens and scientific and technological research; considers that there is a need to promote and support dialogue between scientists and society at large and that, accordingly, scientists should make the results of their research comprehensible to all and available to all;

18. Calls on the Commission to investigate how the teaching of sciences in the EU can be improved at all levels; deplores the lack of human resources in RD in many Member States, which may be attributed to a declining interest among the younger generation in following scientific curricula and engaging in scientific careers; proposes, therefore, the launching of initiatives which familiarise schoolchildren with laboratory and field research; proposes, in addition, the promotion of active and investigatory methods of teaching, using observation and experimentation, the creation of professor-researcher exchange programmes and the support ...[+++] of innovative training methods by local and regional authorities; considers that rapid developments in science risk creating a gulf between ordinary citizens and scientific and technological research; considers that there is a need to promote and support dialogue between scientists and society at large and that, accordingly, scientists should make the results of their research comprehensible to all and available to all;

For 2002-2006 the EU has available a budget of approximately € 20 billion allocated notably to seven thematic priorities: life sciences, genomics and biotechnology for health; information society technologies; nanosciences and nanotechnologies, intelligent materials and new production processes; aeronautics and space; food quality and safety; sustainable development, global change and ecosystems; and social sciences and humanities.

2. The cooperative relationship will involve among others matters related to science and technology for poverty alleviation programmes; science and technology policy exchanges; research and innovation partnerships to support economic cooperation and employment creation; cooperation in global frontier research programmes and global research infrastructures; support for African continental and regional science and technology programmes; strengthening the multilateral science and technology dialogue and partnerships; exploiting synergy between multilateral and bilateral science and technology cooperation; human capital development an ...[+++]d global mobility of researchers; and concerted and targeted cooperation in specific science and technology thematic areas as jointly identified by the Parties".

The universities also have a major role to play in initiatives under the "Science and Society" action plan [22], designed to foster the development and improve the coordination of national activities and policies in areas such as scientific opinion and dialogue with the people, ethics, science education, and "women and science".

- a diploma attesting to a level of education that meets certain content-related criteria without the content in question constituting vocational training within the meaning of Directives 89/48/EEC and 92/51/EEC (e.g. a requirement to have a diploma in either economics, political science, science or social sciences, etc.).