The Second General Assembly of the E³UDRES² European University Alliance was held at Fulda University of Applied Sciences, Germany, the associate partner of which is Bohdan Khmelnytsky National University of Cherkasy.

Bohdan Khmelnytsky National University of Cherkasy was represented by the Head of the International Relations Office, Oleksandra Demianenko, and the Head of the Department of Modern English Teaching Practices and Erasmus+ Coordinator, Nataliia Slyvka. In the format of panel discussions, round tables, and working groups, the participants discussed transformations in modern education and science, challenges faced by educational institutions, the future of the alliance, work priorities for the coming years, as well as implemented and future joint projects in the educational and scientific spheres.

The E³UDRES² Alliance is one of 64 European University Alliances in Europe, an initiative launched by the European Commission to strengthen cooperation in the field of higher education. By pooling the resources of several universities, E³UDRES² actively develops not only individual institutions, but also the regions in which they are located. This is the essence of the name of the alliance, because E³UDRES² is an acronym, which stands for Engaged and Entrepreneurial European (3xE = E³) University as Driver for European Smart and Sustainable (2xS = S²) Regions.

In his welcoming speech, the President of the University of Fulda, Professor Karim Khakzar, emphasized the importance of the research and initiatives of the E³UDRES² European University Alliance for the University of Fulda and the region, and noted that the annual conference is a great opportunity to present the university, the city, and the region to the delegates of the partner universities. Professor Hannes Raffaseder, President of E³UDRES² and CEO of St. Pölten University of Applied Sciences, Austria, highlighted in his welcoming speech the successes in consolidating the efforts of the Alliance members.

“The creation of university alliances is one of the most important EU flagship initiatives for the further development of the European space for higher education, research and innovation. Our E³UDRES² alliance focuses on strengthening regional innovation systems to support small and medium-sized cities, rural regions particularly in their digital, ecological, and economic transformation,” Professor Hannes Raffaseder emphasized.

It is worth noting that the idea of ​​the Alliance belongs to St. Pölten University of Applied Sciences, Austria. It was through the initiative of Austrian colleagues that the integration of higher education institutions in Europe began, aiming to unite scientists for targeted research, serve as a platform for innovation, and jointly create powerful ideas and concepts of future universities.

The General Assembly of the E³UDRES² alliance gathered more than 100 delegates from nine European member universities of the association (Austria, Germany, Romania, Belgium, Portugal, Hungary, the Netherlands, Latvia, Finland), as well as six associated partners (Ukraine, Albania, Kosovo). Attendees had the opportunity to hear a report on the year’s results during a panel discussion with representatives of the E³UDRES² executive board – Vesa Saarikoski, President of Jamk University of Applied Sciences, Finland, Angela Lemos, President of the University of Setúbal, Portugal, Marc Vandewalle, President of the University of Leuven-Limburg, Belgium, Agnese Dāvidsone, Rector of Vidzeme University of Applied Sciences, Latvia.

During the following panel discussions and workshops, delegates had the opportunity to learn about the changes in E³UDRES², the latest news and transformations, to establish contacts with representatives of educational institutions in order to initiate and develop collaboration in the fields of education, research, academic mobility, management and support of projects within the Alliance. In a “world café” format, the participants of the General Assembly discussed ideas regarding the current activities within the E³UDRES² work packages, as well as proposed ideas for expanding cooperation in each of them and attracting new participants from member universities of the Alliance and associated partners. A separate part of the program was a strategic session with the participation of rectors, presidents and representatives of the administration of European universities on the drafting of the Alliance Development Strategy. Additionally, the President of Fulda University of Applied Sciences, Professor Karim Khakzar, personally conducted an exclusive tour of the campus.

It was symbolic for the host institution, Fulda University of Applied Sciences, that the date of the E³UDRES² General Assembly coincided with the 50^th anniversary of the University. In a gesture of collaboration and under the slogan “Growing Together”, a cherry tree was planted by Hannes Raffaseder, President of E³UDRES² and CEO of St. Pölten University of Applied Sciences, Austria along with Karim Khakzar, President of Fulda University of Applied Sciences. This tradition began last year in St. Pölten, Austria, to mark the anniversary of the Alliance. The tree, adorned in the signature pink colour of E³UDRES², symbolizes the growing cooperation between the partner universities and their shared vision for the future of European higher education.

“Bohdan Khmelnytsky National University of Cherkasy joined E³UDRES² as an associate partner in April 2023. During this period of time, we had the opportunity to get to know fellow representatives of member universities of the Alliance, to participate in various events, such as the General Assembly, international weeks, the training session for students and lecturers on the issues of understanding and forming European civic competences, etc. In addition, from 2023, the university has been collaborating within the Erasmus+ program with Vidzeme University of Applied Sciences, Latvia, under which students and lecturers of Bohdan Khmelnytsky National University of Cherkasy participate actively. That same year, an Erasmus+ agreement was signed with the Polytechnic University of Timişoara, Romania. Thanks to the productive communication during 2024, we concluded two more collaboration and academic mobility agreements within the framework of the Erasmus+ program, in particular with St. Pölten University of Applied Sciences, Austria, and Fulda University of Applied Sciences, Germany. Starting next semester, in spring 2025, students of Bohdan Khmelnytsky National University of Cherkasy will be able to study for a semester at these European educational institutions. The involvement of our university’s delegates in an interdisciplinary team of European colleagues for the development of the “Future University” concept is another outcome of this collaboration,” Oleksandra Demianenko emphasizes and claims that these are only the first steps towards new fruitful achievements of BKNUC in cooperation with the E³UDRES² European University Alliance.

The International Relations Office

Photos: Nicole Dietzel, DINIAS FOTOGRAFIE