MDU becomes a European University
Breaking news: MDU is now a European University. After a lengthy application process, we received the notification that we are now part of the European Universities Initiative (EUI). This a programme run by the European Commission aimed at enabling students to study their programmes abroad, thus promoting cooperation and increasing mobility.
By forming alliances across national borders, the EUI aims to improve the quality of European higher education, enable free movement for students, staff, and researchers, and promote joint programmes and projects. The initiative strives to equip students with important skills and address societal challenges with interdisciplinary and international solutions.
"I am really delighted about this," says Martin Hellström, Vice-Chancellor at MDU.
Finding formats for international partnerships is an important issue for him.
"We are facing major challenges that we can only tackle at a global level. Therefore, it is important that we together open up for international meetings between students and teachers. My vision is to inspire students to become global citizens, who together, across borders, can work for a more sustainable future," he says.
A network with common
goals and challenges
MDU applied in early February to become a European University, together with nine European universities and 47 associated partners from academia, public authorities, companies and society. More than 30 people from MDU participated in the application efforts, under the leadership of Damir Isovic, Dean of School (IDT), Radu Dobrin, Head of the Division, and Peter Rohlin, Research Advisor.
The alliance of the nine universities is called SUNRISE (Smaller Universities Network for Regional Innovation and Sustainable Evolution). These universities share common goals and challenges and strive to reinforce their role in regional development and prosperity. By focusing on education, research, innovation, and community service, the network aims to:
- actively shape the EU's transition towards digital, green, and societal solutions
- contribute to solid regional development and growth by educating academics who are equipped to meet societal challenges, both locally and globally
- connect decentralised regions with metropolitan areas and serve as a bridge for industrial and urban transition.
“By joining a European university network, we will significantly enhance our international competitiveness, which is crucial in today's globalised world. Increased mobility and joint development with European partners promote intercultural understanding and skills enhancement for students and staff, leading to higher quality in education and research. Furthermore, the alliance opens up for better access to funding from the EU, which is crucial for the development of our research and collaboration at a global level,” says Damir Isovic, Dean of the School at MDU.
Universities that are part of the network include:
- Mälardalen University (MDU), SE
- Technische Universität Ilmenau (TUIL), DE [Coordinator]
- Free University of Bozen-Bolzano (unibz), IT
- University of Information Technology and Management Rzeszow (UITM), PL
- University of Technology of Compiègne (UTC), FR
- European University Cyprus, Nicosia (EUC), CY
- Università Politecnica delle Marche (UNIVPM), (IT)
- "Džemal Bijedić" University of Mostar (UNMO), BIH
- ·Polytechnic University of Viana do Castelo (PUVC), PT
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