Pre-university education in Europe is facing serious challenges, particularly, though not exclusively, in terms of the recruitment of teachers for STEM subjects and languages. This paper seeks to identify the ways in which universities can address these challenges. Our focus will be on initiatives that universities can take of their own accord to make Initial Teacher Education and Continuing Professional Development for teachers more attractive, and that can help to improve the prestige of a career in pre-university teaching. This will, in turn, help provide the teachers that Europe needs to remain competitive in an increasingly globalised world, and provide the inspirational figures that will help Europe's young citizens flourish.

Read also the interview with lead author Prof. Ortwin de Graef.