THE U4 NETWORK

Dr. Stephan van Galen, Secretary-General, University of GroningenProf. Dr. Hiltraud Casper-Hehne, Vice-President for International Affairs, University of Göttingen

Intensive Collaboration in Education, Research, Management and Governance

Brussels, 16 April 2018

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U4 – A VIBRANT NETWORK WITH STRONG IMPACT

UPPSALA UNIVERSITY

UNIVERSITY OF TARTU

UNIVERSITY OF GRONINGEN

GHENT UNIVERSITY

UNIVERSITY OF GÖTTINGEN

Founded in 2008 Five comprehensive research

universities with similar profile and similar size

Excellent reputation All members in The Guild of European

Research-Intensive Universities Long tradition in academic cooperation

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November 2018 – 10 Years Anniversary U4 Rectors' Conference (80 P.) U4 Conference "Science for Peace

and Sustainability" (500 P.) U4 Cluster Conference "Current

Challenges for a Sustainable Future" (150 P.)

U4 – A VIBRANT NETWORK WITH STRONG IMPACT

UPPSALA UNIVERSITY

UNIVERSITY OF TARTU

UNIVERSITY OF GRONINGEN

GHENT UNIVERSITY

UNIVERSITY OF GÖTTINGEN

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MAIN INTERESTS OF THE PARTNERS FOR COLLABORATION

JOINT MISSION Platform for joint initiatives within the fields of education, research and institutional

management

Supportive sustainable framework for collaboration in international projects

JOINT VISION Enhancing the impact of the respective universities on the global scene

JOINT GOALS Broadening the education offerings and enhancing the students' international

experience

Strengthening the research output through intensive cooperation and joint projects

Sharing knowledge and pooling resources in university management and governance

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SCOPE Outstanding variety, extent and breadth of activity

Includes student exchanges, summer schools, scientific workshops, conferences and scientific exchanges

LEAD More Ph.D. exchanges (207) than the other 20 projects combined

More administrative staff exchanges (212) than the other 20 projects combined

OUTPUT Most successful in acquiring third-party funding

Highest number of joint bi-/multilateral publications

SCIENTIC EVALUATION OF IMPACT (2017)INCHER-Kassel (on behalf of DAAD) - Conclusions in comparison to 20 other networks

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Enhanced quality and innovative teaching concepts

Digital Tools in Internationalisation

Internationalisation of the Curricula

International Perspectives in Teaching and Learning

Intercultural Competence

Supervising International Doctoral Candidates

Staff Trainings and Networks

Graduate Schools

HR & Career Services

Marketing and Recruitment

Welcome Services

Open Science

Core Infrastructure and Security

Sustainability

Career Services Staff Training 2017

Internationalisation of the Curricula Workshop 2017

ADDED VALUE IN TEACHING AND STAFF DEVELOPMENT

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SOCIAL SCIENCES, ECONOMICS & LAW Joint Master/Double Degrees

Euroculture (Groningen-Göttingen-Uppsala + five European Partners) Finance & Accountancy (Ghent-Göttingen) Humanitarian Action (Uppsala-Groningen) International Economics (Göttingen-Groningen)

Institutionalised Joint Summer Schools Globalization and Diversity Gender Studies Legal Research

Institutionalised Cooperation in Research Areas Globalization and Diversity [cross-cluster] Global Studies Migration [cross-cluster] Development Economics Gender Studies [cross-cluster] Environmental Law Legal Research Medical Law [cross-cluster]

Environmental Law Workshop 2017

SSEL Cluster Conference 2017

Medical Law and Human Rights Workshop 2017

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SCIENCE AND TECHNOLOGY Joint Master/Double Degrees

Biomedical Engineering (Ghent-Groningen) Evolutionary Biology (Groningen-Uppsala) Sustainable and Innovative Natural Res. Management (Ghent-Uppsala)

Institutionalised Joint Summer Schools Particle Physics Biomedical Engineering Sustainable Materials Data Science

Institutionalised Cooperation in Research Areas Evolutionary Biology Developmental Biology Microbiology and Genetics Polymer Chemistry Raw Materials Particle Physics Geoscience and Geography

U4 article ‘Science’ Vol 356, Issue 6338

SciTech Cluster Meeting 2017

HASCO Summer School 2017

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Ageing Lung Workshop 2017

Ageing Brain Summer School 2017

MEDICINE AND PHARMACY Joint Master/Double Degrees

International Master of Innovative Medicine (Groningen-Uppsala)

Institutionalised Joint Summer Schools Ageing Brain Biological Psychology & Psychophysiology Clinical and Translational Neuroscience

Institutionalised Cooperation in Research Areas Ageing Brain Ageing Lung Neuromuscular Diseases Antimicrobial Resistance Biological Psychology & Psychophysiology [cross-cluster] Medical Education Social Interaction in Health Care [cross-cluster] Labour Participation

Neuroscience Summer School 2017

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HUMANITIES Institutionalised Joint Summer Schools

Antiquity Archaeology Historical Linguistics Multilingualism Family Ethics/Bio-Ethics Religion Studies

Institutionalised Cooperation in Research Areas Cultural Transfer and Transmission Digital Humanities Family Ethics/Bio-Ethics [cross-cluster] Multilingualism Religion Studies Reverberations of Revolution Taiwanese Studies [cross-cluster]

Religion, Conflict, & Peace Summer School 2017

Gender Studies Workshop 2017

Taiwan Studies Workshop 2017

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U4 NETWORK AS BEST PRACTICE EXAMPLE Vibrant network with strong impact

Huge number of benificiaries

Added value in all areas – benchmarking

High spill-off effect: joint publications, projects, visibility

Enhanced quality in innovative teaching

Strong synergies in research and education

Sustainable network with commitment of the whole institution and its bodies

Basis for the success (Scientific evaluation)

Optimal governance and communication structure

Great support through university leadership

Collaboration founded on trust

Variety, extent and breadth of activity in research, teaching and governance outstanding

Most successful strategic partnership of the entire DAAD programme"Strategic Partnerships and Thematic Networks" between 2013 and 2016

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MOST IMPORTANT POINTS FOR DEVELOPING THE CONCEPT OF EUN

Objectives

Prepare young talents for the 21st century - from bachelor to postdoctoral level

In all areas: education, research, innovation and institutional management

Development of inclusive European mindset

Developing academic excellence matching with societal relevance

Strong link between education and research

Call

Flexible call: No institutional balance as eligibility criteria

4 to 6 universities from minimum of three different member states

Sufficient funding

Conclusions

Institutions of Higher Education, cooperating at each level, and collaborating in education, research, innovation, institutional management and governance

With excellent past performance and a strong strategy for the future

EUN should be flagships of the European Education and Research Area

THANK YOU FOR YOUR ATTENTIONDr. Stephan van Galen, Secretary-General, University of Groningen

Prof. Dr. Hiltraud Casper-Hehne, Vice-President for International Affairs, University of Göttingen

Kay Svensson, Deputy University Director, Uppsala University

Dr. Gijs Coucke, Policy Advisor and Coordinator U4 Network, Ghent University

More information on www.u4network.eu