EPICUR submits its application in the European Universities Initiative

In the “European Partnership for an Innovative Campus Unifying Regions” (EPICUR) the University of Freiburg is collaborating with the Karlsruhe Institute of Technology, the Universities of Strasbourg and Upper Alsace in France, the University of Amsterdam in the Netherlands, the Adam Mickiewicz University in Poznań, Poland, the University of Natural Resources and Applied Life Sciences in Vienna, Austria and the Aristotle University of Thessaloniki in Greece. The partners have submitted their joint application in the European Universities Initiative to the European Commission.

EPICUR focuses on the field of university teaching and places liberal arts and sciences education, the digital transformation of teaching forms as well as the expansion of mobility for students at the heart of its collaboration. In addition, the European languages and the various networks in which the universities are embedded form the focal points of the collaboration. “EPICUR brings together universities from all over Europe that have long traditions of cross-border and intercultural cooperation in their respective regions. Developing new learning formats in a European dialogue is a great benefit for all participants and opens up unique opportunities for our students to study and acquire degrees in the European educational realm,” says Prof. Dr. Hans-Jochen Schiewer, rector at the University of Freiburg.

The European Universities Initiative is a funding instrument of the European Commission that focuses on teaching. It is part of the new Erasmus+ program from the Directorate-General for Education and Culture. Four of EPICUR’s participating partners are member universities of Eucor – The European Campus. Its fifth member, the University of Basel, is not eligible to apply in the European Universities Initiative, as Switzerland is not an Erasmus+ program country.

The regional model of the trinational university network Eucor – The European Campus will remain unchanged and will be further developed on a continuous basis. With its jointly agreed strategic plan for the next five years, its own European legal personality in the form of a European Grouping of Territorial Cooperation (EGTC) and binding governance, the European Campus is a pioneer in regional cross-border university cooperation. The cooperation of the network, which includes the Universities of Basel, Freiburg, Upper Alsace, Strasbourg and the Karlsruhe Institute of Technology, covers the entire knowledge triangle of teaching, research and innovation at the universities. The European Campus places particular emphasis on the areas of “Quantum Science and Technologies,” “Precision Medicine / Personalised Health,” “Sustainability” and “European Identities.”

EPICUR member universities

• University of Strasbourg

The University of Strasbourg has an international flair. 20 percent of the 50,000 students and half of the doctoral students come from abroad. It is characterized by interdisciplinary research, a comprehensive range of courses as well as a rich cultural offering and heritage.

• University of Freiburg

The University of Freiburg is characterized by a mixture of traditional subjects and current research fields. Founded in 1457, the University enjoys an excellent reputation in teaching, research and further education. The courses offered by the comprehensive university range from information technology, medicine and natural sciences to the humanities and social sciences. About 25,000 students are enrolled at the University.

• Karlsruhe Institute of Technology (KIT)

Being „The Research University in the Helmholtz Association“, KIT creates and imparts knowledge for the society and the environment. It is the objective to make significant contributions to the global challenges in the fields of energy, mobility and information. For this, about 9,300 employees cooperate in a broad range of disciplines in natural sciences, engineering sciences, economics, and the humanities and social sciences. KIT prepares its 25,100 students for responsible tasks in society, industry, and science by offering research-based study programs.

• University of Upper Alsace

The University of Upper Alsace is located in Mulhouse and Colmar and is known for its innovative strength, its expertise in cross-border and intercultural relations and its corporate partnerships in research and teaching. The University has around 10,000 students, to whom it offers a range of 170 courses.

• University of Amsterdam

Founded in 1632, the University of Amsterdam enjoys a strong international reputation in research and teaching. In current rankings, the comprehensive university ranks among the top 20 European universities. More than 30,000 students study and more than 3,000 doctoral students research at its seven faculties.

• Adam Mickiewicz University in Poznań

Named after an important Polish poet, the Adam Mickiewicz University in Poznań is one of the three leading universities in Poland and looks back on 100 years of history. More than 40,000 students and 1,300 doctoral students study and conduct research at a total of 15 faculties.

• University of Natural Resources and Applied Life Sciences, Vienna

The University of Natural Resources and Applied Life Sciences, Vienna, or BOKU for short, sees itself as a teaching and research center for renewable resources and sustainability and combines natural sciences, technology and economics. Around 13,000 students study at its 15 departments.

• Aristotle University of Thessaloniki

With its 74,000 students, Aristotle University of Thessaloniki is the largest university in Greece. Founded in 1925, the comprehensive university is one of the scientific magnets of Southeast Europe. More than 4,000 doctoral students and more than 2,000 scientists work at the ten faculties.