University network strengthened on Europe Day
An alliance of leading research universities has been strengthened by the addition of two new partners on Europe Day.
University College Dublin and Universität Zürich are the latest members of Una Europa, a network of 11 institutions – including the University of Edinburgh – that seeks to increase collaboration and cooperation between universities from across the EU and beyond.
It comes as the University today marks Europe Day, an annual celebration of peace and unity across the continent.
Close collaboration
Una Europa hopes to offer opportunities for facilitated teaching, learning and research across borders by working together to create a virtual ‘multi campus’ European University of the Future.
Following the launch of the European Commission’s new flagship programme ‘European University Initiative’ the University joined the Alliance in 2019 to build links and investigate new transnational opportunities for collaboration with Una Europa member universities across a network of European cities.
Whilst association to Horizon Europe remains uncertain and now that the UK is no longer a member of the Erasmus+ Programme, the Una Europa Alliance offers alternative ways for the University of Edinburgh to collaborate with European partners on research, teaching and exchange.
Life-changing opportunities
Strengthening academic performance and increasing European cooperation is the main aim of Una Europa. The University’s ongoing membership reinforces the importance of UK and European collaborations and makes real our ambition to remain one of the leading world universities with international cooperation at the heart of everything we do.
Membership of the University has helped us increase future research and life-changing educational exchange opportunities for its staff and students.
Europe Day
Europe Day marks the anniversary of the Schuman Declaration in 1950 that paved the way for political cooperation in Europe, aiming to prevent future wars between nations.
This is the first Europe day since the invasion of Ukraine by Russia in February.
The University is working closely with students to minimise the impact of any disruption to their studies and to support their wellbeing.
Ukrainian and Russian students who have been impacted financially can apply for hardship funding and their applications will be prioritised for assessment and payment.
Ukraine partnership
In April, the University announced a new partnership with Taras Shevchenko National University of Kyiv.
Recognising their complementary strengths and shared values, the two universities have signalled their intention to work more closely together on opportunities ranging across teaching, learning and research.
Summer School
In recognition of the new partnership, a number of funded opportunities have been created for Ukrainian students from Taras Shevchenko National University of Kyiv to participate in the Una Europa One Health Summer School.
This year’s One Health Summer School will take place at the University of Edinburgh from 25 July to 5 August.
One Health offers students from across the 11 partner universities a funded opportunity to come together and tackle a challenge related to sustainable development goals.
The more I have been involved in Una Europa, the more I have been convinced about how important an initiative it is, especially meeting different staff from across the partner universities who are interested, generous with their time and motivated and who share a common idea of what it means to be an academic in a collaborative enterprise.
Links
Una Europa in action - Edinburgh Global
Statement on Ukraine I Edinburgh University
University partners with Taras Shevchenko National University of Kyiv