2nd exploratory event towards a European Universities Initiatives Thematic group

The event was part of EARMA’s initiative to establish a 'Thematic Group' to support the European Universities Initiative (EUI) and started with the outline from a survey conducted by EARMA which mainstreamed the European University Alliances’ shared concerns such as the necessity for mechanisms for sustainable funding.

Doris Alexander, Associate Director of European Engagement (CHARM-EU, Trinity College Dublin) presented the CHARM-EU and TORCH journey and main achievements. Particularly, Doris Alexander highlighted the importance of EUI visibility at European level, allowing changes at member state level which have been translated into concrete actions such as the approval of CHARM-EU jointly awarded master’s degree.  She also discussed about the What, how and with whom approach in TORCH and stressed how the Knowledge Creating Teams (KCTs) are important and robust synergistic connection between education and research.   

Ensuring a long-term financial sustainability for the alliances

One of the main issues raised by participants at this event was to try to secure long term integrated financial sustainability encompassing both dimensions of education and research of the EUI, such as the CHARM-EU/ TORCH projects.  Doris Alexander presented the work of the FOR EU1 R&I subgroup, including the recent joint statement agreed by the 41 alliances on Future Funding for the European Universities and the dialogue with DG RTD to try to secure this financial sustainability as well as short term bridge funding. Stijn Delaure (Policy Officer in the ‘R&I Actors and Research Careers’ unit of the European Commission's DG RTD) spoke about ongoing the work conducted by DG RTD in this regard providing further information on the proposed European Excellence Initiative which aims to support the transformation of higher education sector and their surrounding ecosystems, including non-university research centres.           

Building synergies between research and education under the European University Alliances

During the event, participants also looked into the obstacles to build bridges and promote more synergies between research and education. Paramount to this issue was that management structures needed to understand that this is one initiative with two main funding streams at present and that more linkage between the two is needed.  The PhD was considered to be a strong connection point since is the last stage of higher education but the first stage in a research career.  It was also agreed that local knowledge sharing structures were needed not just at alliance level but within the Higher Education Institution members themselves to bring together communities from the two funding streams.  Finally, the use of digital platforms and tools were also discussed both, in the context of support they can provide for joint alliance activities, as well as from a Research and Innovation perspective, their role in helping activate researchers to engage in a common research agenda through seed funding and matchmaking activities.