Academic Centre
The University of Latvia (UL) participates in one of the 17 European University Alliances to be funded by the European Commission (EC) within the framework of the Erasmus + programme “Cooperation for Innovation and Exchange of Experience”. The programme is designed to improve the quality and attractiveness of higher education in the European Union (EU) countries to promote cooperation between universities, their students and employees.
Out of a total of 54 proposals received, 17 were selected, representing 114 universities from 24 Member States. This selection was based on an evaluation by 26 independent experts, EC-designated rectors, professors and scientists.
UL Rector Professor Indriķis Muižnieks tells about the UL intentions in this initiative: “We are pleased that the ideas presented in our application regarding the future of higher education in Europe have been assessed as sufficiently ambitious and at the same time implementable, as they incorporate the real-life experience of networking universities, including the University of Latvia.”
This achievement means that the UL participates in one of the 17 European university associations that will develop an innovative model for future cooperation that will be usable by other European universities.
“We are honoured to take on this challenge. Our plan with the universities from Germany, Finland, Italy, Spain, France and Poland over the next three years is to minimize the barriers to student mobility, while increasing the added value of each particular mobility, for example, by involving students in joint research projects to strengthen their research experience alongside international exchange. Students will also have an easier access to courses at other universities, available online,” emphasizes Rector I. Muižnieks.
The University of Latvia, together with the Jyväskylä University, the University of Palermo, the University of Valencia, the University of Burgundy in Dijon and the University of Opole, is taking part in the "FORTHEM" (Fostering Outreach within European Regions, Transnational Higher Education and Mobility) alliance led by Johannes Gutenberg University in Mainz.
European University Alliance programme “Cooperation for Innovation and Exchange of Experience” unites EU universities that share a long-term strategy in promoting European values and identity. This programme is designed to foster the mobility of students and teachers, the quality, accessibility and competitiveness of European higher education.
Tibor Navračić, the European Commissioner for Education, Culture, Youth and Sports. said: "I am pleased to see the extensive ambitions of the first 17 European universities – they will act as a model for other EU universities, enabling the future generations of students to get to know Europe by studying in different countries. I am convinced that this initiative, – an essential element of the European education area – will stimulate excellence and accessibility, thereby achieving a real turning point in higher education in Europe. "
European University Alliances will form associations, virtual campuses, where students, staff and researchers from different universities will be able to move freely. They will pool their experience and resources to offer joint study programmes or modules covering different disciplines. These programmes will be very flexible and will allow students to personalize their education and choose for themselves how, where and when to study for a European diploma. European University Alliances will also contribute to the sustainable economic development of regions, working with entrepreneurs, municipalities, and researchers to find solutions to the challenges encountered by regions.
The funded European University Alliances include a wide range of higher education institutions from across the EU – technical universities, art academies, and a wide range of universities with intensive research work. The University of Latvia and the Art Academy of Latvia represent Latvia in the supported alliances.
The budget for the first 17 European University Alliances amounts to EUR 85 million. Each Alliance will receive up to EUR 5 million over the next three years to start implementing its plans, and the EC will closely monitor their progress. The objectives of the projects are very diverse. Some funded alliances will introduce innovative collaborative study and research methods in a wide range of programmes, others will highlight, for example, sustainable development in cities of coastal regions, social science or health issues of a global scale. Creating new partnerships, each alliance brings together an average of seven universities from all parts of Europe.
The first call for European University Alliances projects will be followed by a second one this autumn. Various models will be tested to promote the quality of higher education through international cooperation. The EC has proposed to allocate even more funds in the next EU long-term budget for 2021–2027 in order to expand the programmes supporting the initiatives of European University Alliances within the Erasmus + programme.
