Space education in Europe: status and prospects

Abstract

The space education landscape in Europe continues to evolve as the demand for a skilled workforce with interdisciplinary and multidisciplinary backgrounds, grows. This study aims to map the higher education landscape in Europe and understand trends and patterns among the higher education programmes within the European space sector. Indeed, the space sector is changing constantly as new technologies, challenges, and actors emerge, and the educational background must meet this demand for highly specialised and competent professionals. This analysis stems from the consolidation of a database of all higher educational space study programmes across all ESA and EU Member States within Europe, as well as a comprehensive view from students and young professionals entering the space sector. Further analysis groups the study programmes across Europe into so-called “macro-areas”, which support an in-depth analysis of the fields of study available for students in Europe, as well as their distribution across the continent. Overall, the study demonstrates key trends at the national level, both in terms of study programmes available and government strategies and initiatives influencing the space education landscape per country. European-wide trends are also identified. The study contributes to a better understanding of the space sector overall and allows for the identification of key trends among European higher education in space-related study fields. Additional key messages can be gleaned from an increased understanding of how the space sector is perceived by students and young professionals, complementing the analysis conducted of the space education landscape at the university level