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.
Problem-Based Learning (PBL) is a cornerstone of Maastricht University’s identity. It is iconic, yet a lot less monolithic than one might assume. Wary of resting on its ‘leading in learning’ laurels, UM commissioned research into the practices, problems and potential of its educational philosophy – all with a view to formulating a vision for the future.
YERUN together with 13 European associations of universities, calls the European Parliament to ensure Research excellence and cooperation prevail in Horizon Europe. Current negotiations towards the compromise amendments for the position of the European Parliament are leading towards an undesirable approach in Horizon Europe that would diminish its attractiveness to researchers and innovators, its impact to Europe's competitiveness and its overall success.
The Universidad Carlos III de Madrid (UC3M) and Banco Santander, through Santander Universities, have launched the twelfth call for Chairs of Excellence, aimed at attracting scientific talent on an international level.
Ready-made snap-together solar panels that turn waste heat into hot water are being developed at Brunel University London in a £10 million sustainable energy scheme starting next month. With energy use in buildings predicted to double or even triple by 2050*, and most home energy used to heat water, project PVadapt promises to crack several sustainable energy problems at once. Funded by Horizon 2020, the three and a half-year multi-disciplinary project aims to perfect a flexible solar powered renewable energy system that generates both heat from hot water and electricity.
A large-scale study led by Maastricht University (UM) found that a higher body mass index (BMI) is associated with shorter telomeres, particularly in people under the age of sixty. Telomere length, measured in white blood cells, is also considered a marker for ageing. According to the researchers, an increase of five BMI units equals one biological year older. The results of the study were published in the American Journal of Clinical Nutrition.
YERUN welcomes the launch of Plan S, by cOALition S, a group of 13 national research funders and the European Commission (ERC)for the realisation of full and immediate OA. YERUN members discussed the principles during their General Assembly held at Brunel University London, 5 September 2018, and decided to give it its support while presenting some considerations.
Thanks to the YERUN mobility award, I was able to visit Dr. Alexandra Xanthaki and Dr. Derek Groen at Brunel London University. They are part of the consortium of the H2020 proposal called Active management of migration to promote successful integration (AMMProSI) that I am coordinating from the UAB. The three of us have developed the general objectives, impact and innovative elements of the project. Also, we have worked on WP1 (Ethics) and WP5 (Infrastructure), the work packages in which Brunel will participate as a partner. In addition, I have attended several seminars and conferences related to migration law and international relations.
The Federal Ministry of Education and Research (BMBF) in Germany, is planning to establish an institute for social cohesion. A network of 11 higher education institutions and research institutes from ten Federal States was selected for this purpose, and the SOCIUM – Research Center on Inequality and Social Policy of the University of Bremen is one of them. Bremen’s focus will be on the middle classes as a preserver and threat to social cohesion.
Scientists have discovered new compounds that may explain whole grain health benefits, reports a new study led by the University of Eastern Finland. A high intake of whole grains increased the levels of betaine compounds in the body which, in turn, was associated with improved glucose metabolism, among other things. The findings shed new light on the cell level effects of a whole grain-rich diet, and can help in the development of increasingly healthy food products.
Maria Petrova, ICREA-UPF research professor with the Department of Economics and Business, linked to the Institute of Political Economy and Governance (IPEG), has obtained an ERC Starting Grant from the European Research Council (ERC). The researcher will receive a grant of 1,467,736 euros to carry out, over five years, research focusing on the various personal factors and factors of the social and media environment that help to explain the phenomena of populism and extremism.
The University of Essex, in collaboration with University Roma Tor Vergata and Carlos III Madrid, organised the first YERUN Research Workshop. The first of a series of 6 research workshops focused on Big Data, Data Analytics and the Digital Economy. Registration was reserved to researchers from YERUN institutions. Update! -> Check out the report of the YERUN Research Workshop on Big Data here.
Our colleagues from University of Konstanz are very pleased to announce our Erasmus+ Staff Week in December 2018 at the University of Konstanz, Germany. This year's theme will be "Third Mission - structures and examples of university social responsibility". The Staff Week will take place 3-6 December 2018 (arrival day on Sunday, departure day on Friday).
