EULiST |

Leibniz Universität Hannover visited BUT: EULiST offers many opportunities

22/09/2023

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

EULiST in the II Forum of European University Alliances

21/09/2023

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/)

All information about your start of studies at Leibniz University Hannover in one app

06/09/2023

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:

Studienstart LUH on the App Store (apple.com)

Studienstart LUH – Apps on Google Play

EULiST recognised by the EU Commission as a “European University Alliance”

12/07/2023

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.

URJC attending the 2023 EUA-CDE Annual Meeting, hosted by the Lappeenranta-Lahti University of Technology (LUT)

19/06/2023

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.

Brno University of Technology Visits Leibniz University Hannover: The Future of Technical Education

05/06/2023

A delegation from Brno University of Technology, consisting of Rector Ladislav Janíček, Vice-Rector for International Affairs Iveta Šimberová, and BUT Local EULiST Coordinator Mariana Tesařová, visited Leibniz University Hannover on May 4, in order to discuss further collaboration in the EULiST Alliance.

The delegation of the technical university first visited the Einstein Elevator at the Hannover Institute of Technology (HITec). The Head of the Work Group, Dr.-Ing. Christoph Lotz (Institute for Transport and Automatisation Technology, LUH), demonstrated the functions of the active drop tower that allows research under weightlessness and partial gravity conditions. His presentation on Quantum Physics and Additive Manufacturing under Space Conditions using the Einstein-Elevator gave the delegation insight into one of Leibniz University’s excellent research facilities.

Following, Leibniz University Hannover President Prof. Dr. Volker Epping welcomed the delegation at his office. BUT Rector Janíček expressed his gratitude to President Epping for leading the consortium. He stressed that the main goal of visiting other EULiST Member institutions is to learn about each institution’s functioning and to discuss joint projects to become a true European University.

The two leaders quickly recognized their two universities’ common challenges, which include the need to revolutionize technical education at universities in order to face the practical technological, but also societal and environmental challenges of tomorrow.

Next to highlighting the benefits of a more generalized, rather than too specialized, approach to Master programmes in STEM subjects in order to meet the needs of the market, both university leaders emphasized the need for close cooperation with industry: While BUT is currently preparing a model contract for companies, LUH cooperates with local Chambers of Crafts. In a similar line, the study projects already underway at EULiST universities offer students a hands-on, challenge-based approach.

The Rector and the President further discussed plans for sharing and jointly developing life-long learning courses within the EULiST alliance: To meet the growing demand for skilled workers and the continuing education of practitioners and professionals and to thus ‘train-the-trainers,’ Prof. Dr. Elke Katharina Wittich (LUH) developed micro-credential courses that she presented to the delegation. These courses are transferable and can be extended with online materials from other EULiST Members.

To conclude the successful exchange of ideas and potential areas of cooperation, Volker Epping and Ladislav Janíček agreed to hold another bilateral meeting in Brno in autumn.

EULiST organises the first Blended Intensive Program “Monitoring clean energy in the EULiST campuses”

02/05/2023

UPDATE: application deadline extension until Thursday May 18^th

EULiST organises the first Blended Intensive Program “Monitoring clean energy in the EULiST campuses”

31 May – 13 October 2023 – online and on-site in NTUA, Athens

Within the Alliance EULiST “European Universities Linking Society and Technology”, the National Technical University of Athens (NTUA), organizes in cooperation with Lappeenranta-Lahti University of Technology (LUT), Jönköping University (JU), Leibniz University Hannover (LUH), Institut Mines-Télécom (IMT), Slovak University of Technology in Bratislava (STU), University L’Aquila (UnivAQ), an Erasmus+ Blended Intensive Program (BIP) with the title “Monitoring clean energy in the EULiST campuses”. The BIP program is organised in the framework of EULiST WP 2 “Campus”, and in particular Task 2.1 “Digital Campus infrastructure” and Task 2.4. “Sustainable Campus Initiative”, in collaboration with WP4 “Research and Innovation”.

The call for applications is addressed to undergraduate, postgraduate and PhD students, coming from the coorganizing EULiST Universities, that are interested in the topics addressed and enrolled in the following fields of study: STEM, Environmental Sciences, Business and Management, Social Sciences. Students from all EULiST universities are welcome to participate as zero-grant participants. Upon successful graduation, students will receive 3 ECTS credit points from the National Technical University of Athens.

The content of the BIP program is described in the call for applications attached, now launched.

Online application form is here.

Deadline for students’ applications: Monday May 15^th, 2023.

EUI Call 2023 proposal submission

31/01/2023

In the framework of the joint action plan, a proposal for the funding of EULiST Alliance has been prepared and submitted under the Erasmus+ EUI Call 2023 for topic 2 “Development of new deep institutional transnational cooperation”.

The preparation of the joint proposal of ten Universities submitted on 31 January 2023, was a complex, demanding, yet very creative process.

In order to anchor EULiST more strongly regionally, but also to create a network among the EULiST regions themselves, the alliance has been able to win the cities and municipalities of its Member universities as Associated Partners.

New central coordinator for EULiST

20/01/2023

At the beginning of the year, Dr. Markus Auditor commenced his new role as central coordinator of the university network EULiST (European Universities Linking Society and Technology) at the International Office of Leibniz University Hannover (LUH). As head of the EULiST Coordination Office, Markus Auditor will work together with the local EULiST Coordinators at all ten EULiST universities to manage central project administration and internal communication, as well as cooperation with other European University Alliances and organisations. In addition, he will provide support with the development and implementation of strategies and concepts to sustainably transform EULiST into a European university.

The EULiST network unites more than 200,000 students at ten European universities. Its central purpose is to develop new sustainable solutions for the major social challenges of today and tomorrow. EULiST will thus design and implement joint interdisciplinary and transdisciplinary teaching and learning formats and research strategies in order to ultimately create an interuniversity campus.

Auditor graduated in educational studies, sociology and cultural studies, as well as completing a PhD in international educational cooperation for sustainable development at the former University of Hannover. In recent years, he was coordinator of a work package for the European University Alliance ENLIGHT and its acting Local Coordinator at the University of Göttingen.

EULiST welcomes IMT

26/08/2022

EULiST Alliance has been extended to 10 university members with the addition of IMT Institut Mines-Télécom. IMT has several existing ties to EULiST members, including NTUA, and holds the same vision to create one joint European University.

Institut Mines-Télécom is a public institution dedicated to higher education, research and innovation in engineering and digital technology. Always attentive to the economic world, IMT combines academic legitimacy with strong corporate relationships. Focusing on key transformations in digital technology, industry, energy and education, IMT trains the engineers, managers and PhDs who will play an active role in the major changes of the 21st century. Its activities are conducted in ten Mines and Télécom graduate schools under the authority of the Ministry of the Economy and Industry, in addition to one subsidiary school and three partner institutions, which are either associates or under contractual agreements. IMT schools are among the most prestigious graduate schools in France.