Borders Blur through Cross-Border Cooperation

TU Chemnitz, and seven other European partner universities, will be funded as "UNIVERS - European Cross-Border University" by the German Academic Exchange Service with 450,000 euro for three years

Chemnitz University of Technology is part of a consortia of eight European universities that form the European higher education alliance UNIVERS. Funded by the German Academic Exchange Service (DAAD) and the Federal Ministry of Education and Research (BMBF) in the program “European University Networks (EUN) – national initiative” UNIVERS strives to establish “UNIVERS - Cross-Border University”. The project is equipped with a total budget of 450.000 € and aims to become a reference in knowledge transfer and innovative development of cross-border territories and to train proactive professionals who can act and influence social, economic and scientific development of cross- border areas by addressing their fundamental challenges.

Hosted at the Chemnitz University of Technologies UNIVERS includes partners from Bialystok University of Technology (Poland), University of Craiova (Romania), University of Girona (Spain), University of Lleida (Spain), University of Perpignan (France), Rēzekne Academy of Technology (Latvia) and University of Ruse (Bulgaria). With its "European Universities" initiative, the European Union is making it clear where it sees the future of the European education area: in transnational alliances of European universities that enable a new generation of students to obtain a degree after study phases in several EU countries through joint structures and study programs.

On the Way towards a European University

The transnational project represents a first step on the joint path of the participating universities towards a European University and is to be flanked by further joint projects in the future. "The network "UNIVERS - European Cross-Border University" has developed excellently within a very short time and contributes significantly to the implementation of our internationalization strategy. I am very pleased about the DAAD funding and see enormous potential for the further development of the network," so the Rector of TU Chemnitz, Prof. Dr. Gerd Strohmeier.

In the beginning, the focus will be on the introduction of suitable cooperation structures and a common digital working basis. In addition to the cooperation taking place predominantly in the digital space, one of the regular strategy conferences will be held annually on site in Chemnitz after the pandemic situation has improved. Concepts such as a joint digitization strategy or preparations for joint study programs are to be developed there. The exchange of students and teachers between the universities is also to be promoted more strongly. To this end, a digital "Mobility Guide" will be created for UNIVERS, which will serve as an inspiration and reference for students and teachers when planning their mobility. In addition, the “UNIVERS Summer and Winter School Fund” is available. Through this support, professors as well as researchers of UNIVERS members can apply for funds for joint summer and winter schools in Chemnitz. Prof. Dr. Maximilian Eibl, who as Prorector for Teaching and International Affairs at Chemnitz University of Technology has been intensively involved in the vision of UNIVERS since the beginning, looks to the future with expectation: "We have set ourselves ambitious goals - now we can finally get started and flesh out our vision of a European university in the coming years."

Background: „UNIVERS – European Cross-Border University“

All universities participating in UNIVERS have in common their location in border regions. They are already familiar with the resulting requirements and challenges for higher education. In regions close to the border, there is a significantly increased need for mobility for the common education area and labor market, which, however, is confronted with inequalities in the legal, social and educational systems as well as cultural and language barriers.  At the same time, according to a 2016 study by the European Research Network for Spatial Development and Territorial Cohesion, these so-called cross-border regions of the European Union comprise nearly 40 percent of the EU's land area, population and gross domestic product. The regional areas of tension are thus becoming key challenges for the European Union. Under the motto "building collaborative leadership for cross-border territories", the goal of UNIVERS is to overcome these borders and form a common European educational space with nearly 85,000 students and 6,700 employees. In doing so, UNIVERS will serve as a model for other cross-border regions in Europe and beyond, which can benefit from the solution strategies developed.

Questions and suggestions on UNIVERS are gladly accepted by Ariane Korn, Project Coordinator UNIVERS. Contact: Phone +49 371 531-36465, Email Ariane.Korn@iuz.tu-chemnitz.de

Mario Steinebach
25.03.2021

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