The LUH International Office invites applications for the position of a Project Manager (m/f/d) for the EU funded Project “European Universities Linking Society and Technology” (EULiST) (Salary Scale 13 TV-L, 100 %) starting as soon as possible.
The position is initially limited to December 31st 2027.
More information can be found in the attached document.
After the signature from the European Commission and main coordinator Leibniz University Hannover (LUH), other nine partners have signed the Grant Agreement demonstrating the formal approval of the agreement and its annexes. EULiST officially started its activities on 1 November 2023.
EULiST aims to create knowledge and training to address the challenges that humanity is facing such as Climate Change, Digital Transition and Social Inclusion for the achievement of UN Sustainable Development Goals, SDGs.
Within this framework the main coordinator Leibniz University Hannover organized the Kick-of Meeting, in Hannover on 2-3 November where Presidents, Rectors, and other representatives and students from the 10 Universities participated.
During the meeting the next actions of the Alliance for the achievement of its strategic objectives, as defined in the specific Work Packages (WP) and Tasks, were discussed. The need to identify the relative strengths of the partners and the cooperation to enhance their impact in areas such as the Digital Campus for the support of educational and research activities, international mobility and outreach was highlighted.
For the Alliance’s Communication and Dissemination, students’ active engagement and the contribution of stakeholders in the EULiST activities were noted as pivotal parameters for its success.
With its ten alliance members, higher education institutions from all over Europe, EULiST is rooted in a committed, ambitious and innovative dynamic for higher education, research and, more broadly, for society.
EULiST will carry on its activities with its affirmation in heart: Our present, your future!
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Quotes..
“Long-term cooperation with renowned universities across Europe can help us in joint research projects, the most important EU grant schemes (Horizon, ERC…), in education, targeted support of engineering and doctoral students in various options of modern courses, trainings or exchange programs and ultimately in the rankings. By implementing good examples from our partners and modern universities, we can and must progress,” STU vice-rector Maximilián Strémy assessed.
NTUA Rector Andreas Boudouvis stated: “NTUA is a founding member of the European University Alliance EULIST and one of the pioneers of its success towards the recognition as a European University and the approval to be financed with €14,000,000 for 4 years. The success of the European Universities Initiative is a great challenge because it requires the removal of national academic singularities and the overcoming of serious obstacles, such as language, distance and bureaucracy. The cooperation of the Greek Universities that participate in (different) European Universities Alliances will significantly help to deal with commonly identified difficulties but also to highlight the necessity for additional funding of the initiative from national resources”
“The new European university will help LUT to thrive in the future. Close cooperation adds to the appeal of all EULiST universities. It’s easier for ten universities to attract new students and offer interesting career paths than it is for one. “You could think of a joint European university as kind of a sales bargain: when you study at or collaborate with one university, you get ten universities and networks for the price of one,” Jari Hämäläinen compares. “A joint European university makes us A-listers – part of the top ten per cent. It will improve LUT’s visibility, reputation and university ranking positions in the long run.”
EULiST Staff Week was hosted by the Slovak University of Technology in Bratislava from 16 to 20 October 2023. The aim of the meeting with more than fifty representatives of the ten member universities was to to agree on a common basis for the newly adopted alliance within the European University Initiative. EULiST Staff Week was held as a Blended Intensive Program funded by Erasmus+.
The EULiST Staff Week started on Monday afternoon at the rectorate of STU, where the Vice-Rector for Propagation and Foreign Affairs Ľubica Vitková welcomed the participants and introduced the university. EULiST Central coordinator Markus Auditor and local coordinator STU Natália Gurská presented the week´s program with plenary and task group meetings and provided organizational information. In the following discussion, the representatives of the EULiST member universities could get to know each other through motivated exchange and Welcome Dinner.
Tuesday started with a keynote “Outlining a compass for EULiST: The II Forum of European University Alliances in Barcelona“ which was presented by Pablo Tomás Salvadores Alonso and Juan Manuel García Camús from Rey Juan Carlos University. Additionally, Tuesday was dedicated to a “Word Café” work session where all the participants started the discussion on strategic questions regarding KPI management, common working culture and task members’ competencies.
An essential participation at the Staff Week was that of the EULiST Student Board. In several sessions delegates of six member universities had the chance to work on ideas of importance to students. Questions like “what would make EULiST a success in four years” or what marks an European students were discussed. Based upon this a roadmap was developed outlining future events and activities. The findings of were then presented in a plenum on Wednesday. Besides the productive sessions delegates had the chance to interact with personnel from member universities, consequently opening new channels. events to enhance branding, and activities to ensure mobility and safety, and secure flexibility in Education.
“After our first on site meeting in Athens we were able to set the next steps in Bratislava. Answering questions regarding the role of students in EULiST and developing new ideas to transport the ideas of EULiST and being a European Student. Presenting standing orders and a four-year roadmap are results we can be proud of,” evaluated a chair of the Student Board Gregor Fischer from Technical University of Vienna.
The majority of work package sessions with meetings focusing on Tasks implementation took place on Wednesday. The twin need for promotion of the mobility and the support of students and staff was highlighted within the T2.5 Academic Support Centre. T2.1 Digital Campus will need input from WP3 and guide WP3 across to technologies with emphasis on T3.3 AI tools. WP4 highlighted the advancement of the T4.3 Early Career Researchers Centre and the implementation of the T4.1. ERIA strategy to involve the fourth helix through Living Labs. WP5 has set the steps towards the elaboration of the T5.1 Outreach strategy and the T5.5 Communication strategy, as well as the T5.3 strategic priorities beyond Europe.
On Thursday we had the pleasure to welcome guests from ENLIGHT Alliance (Comenius University Bratislava) and talked about: “Ingredients for an effective implementation of our proposal – Learning from another EUI project” with Viktor Svetský, Silvia Hlavinková, and Kateryna Yakovenko.
EULiST Staff Week held its Closing ceremony on Friday noon where the resolutions from week´s working sessions were summarized.
The alliance members were represented by vice-rectors, managers, professors, researchers, administrative staff and students. The Staff Week was directed to establish common frameworks within the alliance and working groups. The content focused on a common and mutual understanding of the objectives and working relationships within the partner universities. This was linked to a common understanding of roles, responsibilities and governance structure. By the end of the week, alliance representatives had pinpointed tangible goals and a plan to achieve the milestones and deliverables that are set for the first year of the EULiST project phase.
On 15 September, the Brno University of Technology (BUT) hosted a meeting of the partners of the European University Alliance EULiST. Rector of the BUT Ladislav Janíček welcomed the chairman of the board of the alliance and also the president of Leibniz Universität Hannover (LUH) Volker Epping and his coordinating team. The eve of the meeting was also enriched by the visit of the incoming Rector of the Technical University of Vienna, Jens Schneider. The meeting was a follow-up to the previous meeting of rectors and representatives of the two universities in Hannover in May 2023. The agenda included joint and bilateral discussions on cooperation opportunities in the fields of education, research or sustainable technologies. The guests from LUH also learned about the functioning of the CEITEC BUT university institute and toured the CEITEC Nano clean room laboratories.
The EULiST Alliance, which brings together 10 European universities with 200,000 students, recently succeeded in a call by the European Commission to become a European University. This result, which the President Epping mentioned at the beginning of the meeting, is proof of the joint strength of 10 universities: “We have achieved great success and received financial support that will allow us to strengthen our cooperation, for example in the development of innovative learning opportunities. It confirmed the importance of moving forward together, pursuing our vision and also asking ourselves where we want to be as partners in ten years’ time.”
Volker Epping pointed out some of the other opportunities for alliance cooperation. One is the removal of barriers and the creation of motivational conditions for student mobility within partner universities. The vision is one university campus made up of all members of the alliance for all its students. Science and research also offer a number of opportunities. Closer cooperation in this area can, among other things, contribute to readiness for EU project calls.
During his presentation, Epping also raised some unfavorable phenomena such as the decline in interest in technical education: ‘LUH has 28,000 students, but the number of people interested in mechanical or civil engineering is declining, while interest in computer science is growing. However, our society needs engineers. So we need to go into the schools and also motivate the parents of children, where it all starts.”
BUT has had a similar experience with a decline in interest in technical education. Rector Ladislav Janíček believes that cooperation within the alliance can be beneficial in this respect as well: ‘We are systematically addressing this issue at the BUT and we are well aware that this is a Europe-wide problem that affects Europe’s competitiveness and increases its dependence. Sharing international models and experiences with our partner technical universities, and therefore also with our partners in the EULiST alliance, is one of the ways that can help to change the situation.”
After the bilateral meetings of faculty partners from, for example, civil or electrical engineering disciplines and a visit to the CEITEC BUT laboratories, a final evaluation meeting was held. Rector of BUT Ladislav Janíček emphasized that besides common goals, cooperation in EULiST should also be about mutual support in achieving own goals at home universities.
Opportunities for this could include mutual coordination of selected practices, sharing and transfer of good practices and formulation of conceptual principles and approaches to address certain common themes, on which the individual partner universities can rely: “We have common themes such as promoting interest in technical fields, the development of sustainable technologies or even university management, and it is always inspiring to see how our partners are tackling similar topics. However, it is also important to take advantage of opportunities for bilateral cooperation and it is logical that the geographical and cultural proximity of some partners reflecting regional development opportunities will play a role in the cooperation,” said Janíček.
The Rector of the BUT also reminded that the next General Assembly of the EULiST Alliance will be held in May 2024 in Brno under the auspices of the BUT.
Leibniz Universität Hannover was founded in 1831 and has grown from a purely technical university to a university that also offers courses in the humanities and economics. Since 2006 it has been named after the famous German philosopher and mathematician G. W. Leibniz. LUH offers studies at 12 faculties with 28,000 students. In addition to the EULiST alliance, it is part of the CESAER or TU9 alliances. LUH’s research focuses on optical technology, biomedical or product engineering, among others. Currently, 18 ERC projects are underway at LUH.
More info and photos here
The Spanish Presidency of the Council has taken up the cause and promoted the celebration of the II Forum of European University Alliances on September 14 and 15 in Barcelona. The goal is to open up a space for dialogue and exchange of ideas around the most important issues currently affecting European alliances. This event was attended on behalf of EULiST by María Luisa Humanes and Pablo Salvadores (from URJC), Christina von Haaren (from LUH), and Markus Auditor (EULiST central coordinator).
The primary objective of this forum appears to be creating a platform for dialogue and the sharing of ideas on crucial issues impacting European alliances in the field of higher education. This event likely brings together representatives from various European universities, policymakers, researchers, and other stakeholders to address topics such as academic collaboration, mobility programs, research initiatives, and educational innovation. The discussions may also touch on broader themes related to the European Union’s educational and research agendas, promoting internationalization, and addressing challenges in higher education. By organizing this forum, the Spanish Presidency of the Council is contributing to the ongoing efforts to strengthen European cooperation in higher education and research, ultimately aiming to enhance the quality and competitiveness of European universities on the global stage.
Further information, agenda and concept notes from the different pannels can be found in the following link: Program II Forum European Universities Alliances.
Moreover, this event has been widely publicised. In the magazine Canal Europa it has been highlighted that in this Forum it has been communicated that the European Union is moving forward in a joint university degree for students of European universities. This was announced by the European Commission’s Vice-President for the promotion of the European way of life, Margaritis Schinas, during a meeting with the press as part of the with the press in the framework of the of the 2nd European University Alliances Forum. of European Universities. The press release can be found in the following link European Alliances 18-09-2023
(via https://eulist.urjc.es/eulist-in-the-ii-forum-of-european-university-alliances/)
The research themes are:
• Metal recovery by 3D-printed porous structures and their use as catalysts
• Open science community technologies for environmental measuring
• Collaborative working capital management in low carbon products and technologies
• Study of defects in lithium and sodium-ion batteries
• Uncertainty quantification and parameter identification in electric motors
• Systemic design and innovation in waste management
• Urban socio-digital innovations for better air quality
• Novel industrial processes for bioeconomy
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The call for applications opens on 1 August 2023 and closes on 30 September 2023, at midnight, Finnish local time (UTC +3 h).
See the SEED webpage for additional detailed information on the SEED programme: https://www.lut.fi/en/seed
SEED Management Team: LUT.SEED@lut.fi
Here we go: All information about your start of studies at Leibniz University Hannover in one app
Lots of questions pop up when you start university. To ensure a smooth start Leibniz University launched a new app today: Start Smart!
Start Smart provides a quick overview of important topics and helpful contacts for new students starting at Leibniz University. The app is available in German and English.
You can download the App here:
On July 3, 2023, the European Commission granted EULiST the title “European University Alliance” and awarded the Alliance funds in the amount of 14,3 million euros for the next four years to pursue its mission. In its assessment of the proposal, the European Commission recognised EULiST as presenting “a promising approach to benefit other higher education institutions in Europe through its focus on inclusion and excellence, for example through creating a new digital infrastructure, which would facilitate open data sharing”.
For the Alliance, it is a major milestone on its way to achieving its mission of transforming European higher education and strengthening a common European identity. As reflected in its name: European Universities Linking Society and Technology, EULiST seeks to harness the research capacities of its ten member universities to empower responsible change agents to address societal and global challenges, including climate change and social cohesion, by identifying innovative ways of integrating social sciences, humanities and technology.
As Markus Auditor, EULiST’s central coordinator noted, “EULiST is much more than a project, it is a profound transformation of our universities”. To achieve this, EULiST strives to generate a unique and creative EULiST Academic Ecosystem of sustainable development open to the public. Informed and driven by the exchange of ideas between society, science, and technology, this academic ecosystem will support inter- and transdisciplinary learning, research and outreach to enable student and academic staff participation and interaction with society through an EULiST Campus and the EULiST flagships “Digital Knowledge Hub”, EULiST Agora for Education”, Research and Innovation Academy (ERIA)” and “Co-creation cluster”.
EULiST’s ten member universities consist of Leibniz University Hannover (DE), as coordinating university, Lappeenranta-Lahti University of Technology LUT (FI), Jönköping University (SE), Institut Mines-Télécom (IMT) (FR), Brno University of Technology (CZ), Technische Universität Wien (AT), Slovak University of Technology in Bratislava (SK), Rey Juan Carlos University (ES), University L’Aquila (IT), and National Technical University of Athens (GR).
The creation of EULiST is part of a broader European initiative, the European Universities Initiative, formally launchd by the European Commission in 2018 with the goal of initiating and fostering unprecedented levels of systemic, structural and sustainable cooperation between European higher education institutions. Today 50 European University Alliances involving more than 430 higher education institutions are working to advance the mission of the EUI. Within the framework of this initiative, EULiST began to take shape in 2020, establishing itself as a transnational network of higher education institutions in May 2021.
Even prior to its recognition and funding by the EU, the EULiST members demonstrated a steadfast commitment to their cooperation. The commitment to EULiST was reiterated during the most recent annual EULiST General Assembly, hosted by NTUA, from June 25 – 27, 2023, in which sixty-five representatives from all ten universities participated, including the rectors and vice rectors, professors, administrative staff, and students.
Establishing and further developing the EULiST visual and conceptual brand, structuring the approach to collaboration and communication, and deepening the connections between the ten member universities has been a focus of the Alliance’s work for the past couple years. These efforts build on and reflect the great pillars on which EULiST, now an official European University, will continue to grow and thrive.
The annual 2023 EULiST General Assembly was successfully hosted by the National Technical University of Athens between 25th-27th June 2023 in Athens. The committed and enthusiastic cooperation among the EULiST Members was evidenced by the sixty-five representatives from all ten universities who participated in the EULiST General Assembly, including the Rectors and Vice Rectors, Professors, Administrative Staff, and Students.
During the first working day, the General Assembly included meetings of the Coordination Office, the Student Board, the Management Board and the Governing Board. In particular, in the Governing Board participated Prof. Volker Epping (LUH President), Prof. Andreas Boudouvis (NTUA Rector), Prof. Juha-Matti Saksa (LUT Rector), Prof. Agneta Marell (JU President), Frédérique Vincent (IMT Vice-President), Prof. Ladislav Janíček (BUT Rector), Prof. Oliver Moravčík (STU Rector), Prof. Jens Schneider (TUW designated Rector), Prof. Javier Ramos López (URJC Rector), Prof. Maria Benedetta Mattei (UNIVAQ Vice-Rector).
An Open session with the title “EULiST towards linking Society and Technology” was held on Monday June 26th afternoon, also livestreaming, where the EULiST strategy was presented, combined with focus presentations on the sustainable campus and the transfer of innovation in education and research. Τhe key-note speech on the European Universities Initiative was presented by Mr Jacques Comby, advisor at the French Ministry of Higher Education, Research and Innovation. The EULiST Blended Intensive Program “Monitoring clean energy in the EULiST Universities”, organised by NTUA in the framework of the General Assembly in cooperation with six EULiST Universities, was enthusiastically presented by its students.
During the second working day, within the General Assembly, the critical role of students in strengthening the societal engagement across the universities of the Alliance was highlighted. The need for integration of EULiST in the academic activity of each partner University was emphasized. In addition, it was pointed that while EULiST has been designed and organised in a bottom-up approach, the activities planned for the next funded steps, now reflect the overall strategy, and common procedures, platforms and recognition developed among the ten universities.
The General Assembly was held at Zografou Campus, and it included separate hybrid meetings of WPs, a fascinating cultural Sunday walk in the historic center of Athens, two lively social dinners and an engaging visit to selected NTUA laboratories and the central Library.
Attachments
Photos from the Event
The 2023 EUA-CDE Annual Meeting, hosted by the Lappeenranta-Lahti University of Technology LUT, was held from 14 to 16 June. This university is a partner of the URJC in the EULiST University Alliance. The 2023 EUA-CDE Annual Meeting will focus on the different dimensions of communication in doctoral education and developing comprehensive approaches to including communication in doctoral education strategy and practices.
The event has been a success of attendance where very interesting topics have been discussed such as Strategic Communication in Doctoral Education or the new approaches to the modern doctorate, taking into account the “skillfication” of the doctorate, and the bottom-up process leading to the reform of doctoral education in Europe. Through workshops and sessions in various formats, participants have explored the topic of communication as an integral part of the doctoral candidate’s journey. At the same time, they will discuss communication skills as valuable assets for several career paths, inside and outside of academia, as well as how doctoral candidates can better communicate their competencies to the broader public.
You can access the programme and presentations of the 2023 EUA-CDE Annual Meeting through the following link.
On behalf of the URJC, Professor Brezo Díaz-Caneja Martínez (Deputy Director of Internationalisation of the International Doctoral School) and Dr. Juan Manuel García Camús (Local Coordinator of EULiST) attended the event. In addition to the lessons learned and the relationships established with other universities, the representatives of the URJC have held meetings with our Finnish partners of EULiST to strengthen cooperation both in terms of doctoral studies (co-supervision, mobility, etc.), as well as other departments and units. In this regard, the support and involvement of the Vice-Rector for Research and Innovation of the LUT, Professor Jari Hämäläinen, has been remarkable.
