E³UDRES²

The E³UDRES² alliance member universities lay the foundations for the European university of the future in Timișoara

Between March 4-6, 2024, Politehnica University Timișoara hosted the General Assembly of E³UDRES², the alliance of nine European universities promoting the development of small and medium-sized cities and their surrounding rural areas, transforming them into smart and sustainable regions. The member universities include St. Pölten University of Applied Sciences, Austria; Instituto Politécnico de Setúbal, Portugal; Politehnica University Timișoara, Romania; Hungarian University of Agriculture and Life Sciences, Hungary; UC Leuven Limburg, Belgium; Vidzeme University of Applied Sciences, Latvia; Saxion University of Applied Sciences, Netherlands; Fulda University of Applied Sciences, Germany; and JAMK University of Applied Sciences, Finland.

The project, funded by the European Union, is in its second development phase, known as E³UDRES² 2.0. After successfully achieving all its objectives in the first phase, the project now aims for expansion. The central vision is to shape the university of the future as a driving force for the development of smart and sustainable European regions. Simultaneously, the project promotes a new university culture more rooted in regional realities and providing solutions for society.

As highlighted by Hannes Raffaseder, initiator and coordinator of E³UDRES², at the opening of the Timișoara event, "Now, at the E³UDRES² General Assembly, it is a great pleasure to see how this community is growing, with people from the 9 universities from all corners of Europe. We have a real opportunity to become a key factor in defining the future of higher education, a system perfectly adapted for the future, capable of facing all challenges and crises in the economy and society, as well as those related to the environment. We need to come up with solutions, and for that, we are here to establish a plan and a schedule for upcoming actions. At this moment, we also want to finalize the details for common study paths at the bachelor's, master's, and doctoral levels, establish an academic micro-credit program, and set up several centers of excellence in common areas of interest."

In the opening of the General Assembly in Timișoara, Associate Professor Dr. Eng. Florin Drăgan, Ph.D., the Rector of Politehnica University Timișoara, stated, "It's the first meeting this year. Because we are at the beginning of E³UDRES² 2.0, the goal is to see how we will start the project, and I think it's good because many new things are coming for higher education. A different approach is needed, not just in education but also in the field of research. In the future, we will have joint study programs in high-tech fields, mobility for teaching staff and students, curricular paths which allow students to study at partner universities."

The E³UDRES² meeting in Timișoara focused on several major topics related to promoting innovation in the regions of the member universities, creating the university of the future, and jointly establishing a European multi-university campus.

To implement these objectives, various focus groups were created for discussions on specific topics, aiming to support and clarify the project's activities and next steps: Digitalization, Talent Funnel, Mobility, E³UDRES² Label, Student Involvement, Common Research Strategy, E³UDRES² 2.0 Quality Assurance, Communication Strategy.

Among the alliance’s most significant achievements, highly appreciated by both teaching staff and students, were the i-Living-Labs laboratories. The new project format amplifies the students' voices even more. The E³UDRES² Student Representatives Council initiated from the first project is the main representative body for students within the E³UDRES² Alliance. It consists of students from all partner institutions and represents the interests of students from all E³UDRES² universities.

The intense work and discussions in the focus groups were complemented by moments of relaxation during which guests from partner universities visited Timișoara and the UPT campus. This allowed them to discover the history of the oldest higher education institution in the western region of the country, as well as with the current status-quo, with Politehnica being well-embedded in local needs, economically through collaboration with major companies in the area, and in sports through its facilities. On the cultural side, Politehnica's involvement in events and projects during the European Capital of Culture year was highlighted.