European University Alliances: Where Local Roots Meet Global Innovation
The Academy of Research and Higher Education (ARES), in Belgium, organized a hybrid event titled European Universities: Between Local and Innovation. Celebrated on December 12, 2024, it gathered in Brussels key stakeholders to explore the role of European university alliances in shaping both local communities and the broader academic landscape through innovative initiatives.
Rony Snyders, EUNICE Project Leader at the University of Mons, explained the particularity of EUNICE European University while underligning that EUNICE is particularly committed to supportting students from disadvantaged socio-economic backgrounds. He also mentioned a number of initiatives put in place by the alliance. All his thoughts are collected in a podcast available in French.
The idea behind EUNICE is to offer students an academic pathway that is as tailored as possible to their needs, aspirations and ambitions, which in a way contrasts with the current universal university model.
Rony Snyders, EUNICE Project LeaderUniversity of Mons
Local Implementation: Strengthening Regional Ties
The first segment of the event focused on how these alliances impact local communities. Representatives from participating institutions shared concrete examples of how European collaborations translate into tangible benefits for their respective regions.
Innovation: Transforming Higher Education
The second half of the event showcased the innovative practices emerging from these university alliances.
A key feature of the event was the “180-second” presentations, where alliance representatives succinctly presented their experiences and initiatives. This engaging format fostered dynamic discussions, allowing participants to exchange insights and strategies for enhancing collaboration.
A replay of the event is available in the video below (English subtitles available).
Podcasts
Each alliance representative recorded a short podcast during the event to discuss their respective alliances in more detail. These podcasts provided deeper insights into the objectives, ongoing projects, and future ambitions of each partnership, further promoting awareness and engagement with the broader academic community.
The podcast specific to EUNICE is available in French here.
Podcasts about the other alliances are available in French here.
