News

European ties vital as UK exits EU

The Principal has underlined the University’s commitment to retaining a strong international outlook after Brexit.

Professor Peter Mathieson gave the assurance at the official launch, in Brussels, of an alliance of eight leading European research universities.

UNA Europa, of which Edinburgh is a founding member, brings together more than 400,000 students, with the aim of creating new learning and research opportunities.

The alliance’s first project, ‘1Europe’, is a three-year initiative that aims to establish joint programmes across national borders. It will create innovative exchange opportunities for staff and students to spend time at other UNA Europa member universities.

It is now more important than ever that the University shows its continued commitment to Europe. Being part of UNA Europa is one way to do this, as it creates exciting opportunities to revolutionise the way we work with our European partners. Offering a degree course that transcends national boundaries is particularly symbolic and is exactly the kind of initiative that will ensure Edinburgh continues to thrive

Professor Peter MathiesonPrincipal, the University of Edinburgh

Seed funding

UNA Europa has also announced seed funding to support collaboration. Grants of between €9,000 and €19,000 will be available to groups of researchers from three or more UNA Europa partner universities.

UNA Europa will focus initially on European Studies, Sustainability, Cultural Heritage, and Data Science & Artificial Intelligence.

Edinburgh’s seven UNA Europa partners are Freie Universität Berlin, Universitá di Bologna, Helsingin Yliopisto, Uniwersytet Jagielloński w Krakowie, KU Leuven, Universidad Complutense de Madrid, and Université Paris 1 Panthéon-Sorbonne.

New courses

A key ambition of UNA Europa is to create new degrees that combine a diverse array of subjects. These will be studied at more than one partner institution.

Massive Open Online Courses (MOOCs) will also provide free courses to learners.

Students involved

At UNA Europa’s 1Europe meeting in Leuven, Andrew Wilson, President of the Edinburgh University Students’ Association, was elected as President of UNA Europa’s Student board.

He has been involved in discussions with students from partner institutions, to ensure that the board is meeting student needs.

The UNA Europa alliance provides an exciting opportunity for students and comes at an important time, when students and young people are looking across the globe for collaboration. An innovative project like this can only benefit students and staff at Edinburgh, and I hope they will embrace it

Andrew WilsonPresident, Edinburgh University Students’ Association

Related links

Edinburgh and Europe

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Apply for UNA Europa seed funding here

For more information email una.europa@ed.ac.uk