The founding goals of the Network are to strengthen and develop cooperation in the areas of research, academic education and service to society among a cluster of highly-ranked, young research universities in Europe on an equal basis and for their common benefit.
On Christmas Eve, the European academic community received both a good and a bad ‘gift’: as the EU and the UK finalised negotiations for their future trade relationship it was agreed that the UK will participate in the EU’s research programme, Horizon Europe, but that, unfortunately, it will no longer take part in the future Erasmus programme, which will be replaced by a new UK mobility scheme called ‘Turing’.
December: the time of the year when we take stock of the past twelve months, the lessons we have learnt and what we are looking for in the year to come. For 2020, this exercise is particularly interesting, considered how exceptional this year has been for the entire world. Some YERUN leaders have shared with us their thoughts on the past year with a view to the one that is fastly approaching. The optimism sparked by their words is inspiring, as it shows the will to catch the opportunities that this year has offered us: those linked to increased collaboration, inclusiveness, flexibility, sustainability, social engagement, just to name a few. From the YERUN Brussels Office, we thank them and wish our members and the entire European education, research and innovation community a nice and safe Christmas and a happy new year! Silvia, Chiara, Inês.
The year 2020, a truly unusual year, is coming to an end. Who would have thought last Christmas that a previously unknown virus would disrupt our plans to such an extent?” says Prof. Michael Weber, President of Ulm University in his Christmas speech.
In a little while, 2020 will be behind us. There was no way I could have predicted what was to come a year ago. The corona crisis has overtaken us and is still gripping us. With the start of vaccination, there is hope, but at the same time we know that we are not there yet and that 2021 will also be a difficult year. Despite this, I am optimistic. That optimism stems from my respect for the way students and staff have responded to all the constraints they have faced overnight. What we thought impossible was achieved in a short space of time. From on campus to off campus, from offline to online. Where possible, we have succeeded in having education and research take place in our buildings. Ultimately, the physical encounter is an indispensable part of an academic community.
At Brunel, the safety of our staff, students, visitors and local community continues to be our top priority as we have been through a year in which the teaching, learning and broader experience of our students has differed considerably from those of previous generations.
What a year this has been... one topic that dominated everything – that’s something we haven’t seen in the last few decades. But were there any positive things about the past year? The answer is definitely ‘yes’!
It has been a turbulent year for universities. However, despite the huge challenges we have faced, many of the outcomes have been positive. This was summed up for me recently when DCU Governing Authority member Sharon McCooey (Head of LinkedIn Ireland) stated that the pandemic has “cemented the crucial role of Universities” in society.
Still raging across the globe, the coronavirus pandemic has fundamentally changed the world we live in. Interestingly, it has also made visible the abilities of different political, economic and social systems to respond to the crisis.
This has been a difficult year for citizens, companies, governments, for the global economy overall, but also for universities. However, for NOVA University Lisbon (NOVA), the pandemic was an important test to its resilience and ability to adapt to an unprecedented situation. And, most importantly, it brought us the opportunity to launch a series of transformations already anticipated in our Strategic Plan, which have become essential in responding to the various challenges brought by this global threat.
“The corona pandemic has been an extraordinarily challenging year for all of us,” states Professor Bernd Scholz-Reiter, president of the University of Bremen. “Despite all of the difficulties we have faced, we have shown that we are capable in dealing with such situations and are able to adapt to them. The university’s core operations – namely teaching, examinations, and research – have been able to continue. I would say that we have succeeded in continuing to achieve most of what we usually do. This will surely also improve over time and with an increase in experience. I am certain that we will come out of this crisis much stronger and will be able to confidently say that we have overcome it together.
Join a digital experience between 17 European Universities on "working with the UN Sustainable Development Goals"! How might we integrate the UN SDGs in developing our universities? What opportunities do they provide in shaping the future? What challenges do we meet in integrating such complex issues into everyday management and development of the university sector? As part of the YERUN, you are hereby invited to join the conversation! If your daily work is actively influenced by the commitments within the UN SDGs or you find it relevant to reflect on how this might become part of your daily work life in the future, we invite you to join in creating an international community of colleagues from 17 different European Universities.
Looking for an unforgettable summer full of knowledge and fun? University of Antwerp has launched its first series of programmes for the 12th edition. The list of programmes is available below and registration is already open. The second and third series will be announced mid-December 2020 and early February 2021. If covid-19 won’t allow to physically organise the summer schools on campus, several programmes will be offered online. Visit www.uantwerp.be/asu to stay up-to-date and find out everything about Antwerp Summer School programmes!
Looking for an unforgettable summer full of knowledge and fun? University of Antwerp has launched its first series of programmes for the 12th edition. The list of programmes is available below and registration is already open. The second and third series will be announced mid-December 2020 and early February 2021. If covid-19 won’t allow to physically organise the summer schools on campus, several programmes will be offered online. Visit www.uantwerp.be/asu to stay up-to-date and find out everything about Antwerp Summer School programmes!
