Collaboration between European universities is taking firm steps towards innovation and professional growth, and proof of this is the European Alliance of Universities STARS EU, a very ambitious initiative in this field. Made up of nine trusted universities committed to education, research and the dissemination of democratic values in Europe, STARS EU is a real springboard of opportunities for the professional development of its staff.

 

Someone who knows this very well is Maryvonne Nieboer, lecturer at the school of Engineering at Hanze University of Applied Sciences (Netherlands), expert in Organization and Management as well as Human Resource Management. Nieboer is one of the many teachers who has found in this network an invaluable opportunity to expand their academic horizons, so she does not hesitate to assure that STARS EU opens a “world of opportunities” for teachers and researchers.

 

As a member of the STARS EU Curriculum Lab, Nieboer places special emphasis on highlighting both the relevance of the alliance and the impact it undoubtedly has on the educational community. “The STARS EU Alliance connects us with trusted partners across Europe. It is a fact that by streamlining processes within universities, we create endless possibilities to collaborate, innovate and grow together.”

A network of collaboration without borders

Teachers who join STARS EU can access a series of benefits designed to strengthen their educational and research work. And one of the most valued aspects is the possibility of working side by side with colleagues from leading institutions throughout Europe, an aspect that Professor de Hanze considers “essential” in order to try to find solutions to problems that affect today’s society. “Sharing knowledge and projects with other teachers and researchers allows us to address problems from a broader and enriching perspective. The internationalization of teaching is key to training prepared professionals who know how to face the challenges of the future,” explains the professor.

 

Mobility and access to other campuses

Thanks to STARS EU, teachers have the possibility to teach or conduct research at partner universities, both face-to-face and virtually, which facilitates the creation of synergies between faculties and opens up new opportunities for professional development. For Nieboer, academic mobility is a fundamental pillar of the alliance. “Access to different campuses allows us to experiment with new teaching methodologies and adapt them to our own institutions.”

 

Thematic Interest Groups: innovation spaces

One of the great attractions of STARS EU is the participation in the so-called Thematic Stakeholders (TIGs), in which professionals from different disciplines work together to address global and challenging challenges such as the Green Transition, Digital Transformation, Social Value and Well-being or the Circular Economy. “These groups encourage interdisciplinary work, which allows us to find innovative solutions to the problems facing our society.” On this point, the Hanze researcher stresses that education “cannot be left behind in these changes”.

 

Towards a more connected and engaged education

For the Hanze University professor, participation in STARS EU not only strengthens teaching and research, but also promotes the dissemination of democratic values and the construction of a more inclusive society. “Every teacher has the opportunity to make a real impact in their community and across Europe, because education is the key to regional transformation,” she concludes.

 

Full interview, here.

If you’re part of a member university, STARS EU can open doors to new experiences and knowledge. Do not hesitate to contact your STARS EU manager and discover everything this network has to offer you.

 

Transforming Regions. Empowering people.

 

The Strategic Alliance for Regional Transition (STARS EU)

A delegation from STARS EU led by Dick Pouwels, coordinator of STARS EU and rector of Hanze University of Applied Sciences (Netherlands), Tomáš Gongol, rector of Silesian University in Opava (Czechia), as well as several members of the alliance’s Steering Committee, attended the high-level meeting organised by the European Commission (EC) to discuss the future of European Universities.

The conference, which brought together more than 400 higher education leaders on 26 and 27 February representing the 65 university alliances operating in Europe, led to a collective debate on the achievements of these five years and the challenges that still remain to be addressed.  The meeting, developed under the slogan ‘Shaping the future: European Universities alliances for a competitive Europe’, served to define the contribution of alliances to the generation of prosperity and sustainability in Europe, without losing sight of the defence of democracy and the promotion of social justice.

The event was inaugurated by Roxana Mînzatu, Vice-President of the European Union, who met afterwards with the rectors of European Universities to discuss the added value of alliances as drivers of the transformation of higher education and agents promoting the improvement of competitiveness, strategic autonomy and progress in Europe.

In the afternoon, the day continued with several high-level debates with rectors from different universities as speakers, and whose opening and closing were carried out by the Director General of Education, Youth, Sport and Culture of the EU, Pia Ahrenkilde-Hansen.

Day dedicated to alliances

The conference on Thursday, February 27 focused on the role of European University alliances, especially in the transformation of the panorama and future of higher education, as well as in the strengthening of cooperation between innovation ecosystems. Other aspects addressed in the different panels of experts were the improvement of synergies between the universities themselves, the mobilisation of regional funding and the research and innovative dimension of European higher education institutions.

 

‘Shaping the future: European Universities alliances for a competitive Europe’ brought together representatives of all European University alliances, holders of the Seal of Excellence and organisations interested in higher education, including student organisations – which spoke at the event – the European Parliament and representatives of Member States.

The representation of STARS EU, in addition to the rectors of the universities of Hanze and Opava ─two of the nine partners that make up the alliance─ was in charge of Rima Dijkstra, general coordinator of the alliance, José Sigut and Vera-Ferro Lebres, both members of the Steering Committee.