about
the future of
education

About ECIU University

The ECIU University is the first European university where learners, teachers and researchers cooperate with cities and businesses to solve real-life challenges.

Together, we will create, test and evaluate a whole new educational pedagogy. This will help to focus all the university activities from education, research, administration and support through to innovation and valorisation.
Make real impact graphic eciu

Our Vision

We believe in a European-wide ecosystem based upon open and inclusive collaboration connecting societal stakeholders, researchers and learners to provide European answers to future societal challenges. We create a playground for solving multi-disciplinary challenges in entrepreneurial, innovative ways and provide personalised learning and career opportunities for life at the European level, enabled by a novel university model based upon co-creation.

Our Mission

ECIU University is an agile, open agora at the European level for solving multi-disciplinary societal challenges, doing research and learning for life. We create an invigorating model of a true European University for the benefit of European society.

Our Values

Research, education and innovation in ECIU University reflect our values:

  • Academic Quality
  • Entrepreneurial mindset
  • Open ecosystem
  • Agility and flexibility
  • Personalised, inclusive community
  • Impact on society
  • Resilience into the future
view our vision 2030

Key Elements of ECIU University

OPEN COMMUNITY

ECIU University is a European wide ecosystem where demands for innovation unite seamlessly with motivate individuals and teams contributing to Europe and its regions. We believe that the role of the university is to empower its surroundings and its learners to reach their best.

ECIU University is a space where communities of practice flourish around urgent and relevant societal topics, such as Sustainable Development Goals (SDGs), to help Europe achieve sustainability. Together we will establish a hybrid, digitally-enabled space, which will allow communities to collaborate across boundaries.

EUROPEAN EDUCATION AND RESEARCH

ECIU University offers a unified approach to challenge-based higher education at the European level. At the core of our educational pathways are European micro-credentials, fundamental building blocks for challenge-based life-long learning pathways. In our vision for 2030, learning opportunities are tailored to the learners’ needs: flexible, personalised, academic skills and competence development in collaboration with the community.

Education in ECIU University drives European values and strengthens European culture and citizenship. We support the development of creative and resilient European citizens with an entrepreneurial mindset, critical thinking and agility. We connect cultures, enable people to move freely, and shape the European job market by providing necessary skills well aligned with the needs of society.

For staff, ECIU University is a flexible and agile testing ground for novel education outside national boundaries. It is the breeding ground for new educational and research models, a space for conducting open research and innovation and connecting with multiple stakeholders at different levels throughout Europe.

INNOVATIVE CO-CREATION MODEL

ECIU University is about co-creation. We work and create value empowering our learners and partnerships. We nourish our people to step in and stand up for the benefit of the community and society, at the same time co-creating value for themselves.

For learners, ECIU University membership is an essential part of their personal development and career planning, providing personalised and intelligent access to cutting-edge knowledge, peers and employers. Learners find opportunities to work and learn with diverse stakeholders throughout Europe.

For private and public organisations, the ECIU University membership means continuous access and participation in shaping knowledge and talent, as well as open, creative collaboration. Cities and regions are interconnected to maximise benefits of the ecosystem, and enterprises find benefits in like-minded stakeholders, researchers and learners.

CUTTING-EDGE TECHNOLOGIES

Digital transformation is at the core of ECIU University, enabling innovations in education and research. Our vision for 2030 is that ECIU University functions as a hybrid, digitally-enabled learning, innovation and knowledge space with fit for purpose, low-cost, high-quality and people-centric services. Stakeholders, researchers and learners throughout Europe and beyond will use this environment to connect to each other and join our vibrant community no matter where they are. Our vision is that ECIU University will operate in multiple realities: the community will rely on a balanced interaction between the European-wide virtual organisation, the physical ECIU member university campuses, and involvement of our stakeholders.

Learn more about ECIU University Vision for 2030.

Illustrations: www.vanille.design

ECIU University: ERASMUS+ PILOT

The ECIU University is one of the 41 prestigious European University alliances that are part of the European Universities initiative. This initiative brings together universities to address societal challenges and skills shortages faced in by European countries. The university alliances test different models of the concept of European Universities and examine its potential to transform higher education. The European Universities Initiative is piloted in 2019-2022, and will be fully rolled out and scaled up under the next Erasmus programme 2021-2027. 
Learn more

The European Consortium
of Innovative Universities

We are ECIU, the European Consortium of Innovative Universities, a network of universities united by a common profile of shared beliefs, interests, and mutual trust.

The ECIU was founded in 1997, and the name underlines the European dimension of a selected group of entrepreneurial universities. We remain dedicated to ensuring a culture of innovation in all of our institutions, and to providing a catalytic role for innovation in business and society at large.


OUR SHARED PROFILE

Technology, engineering and social sciences
Firm commitment to innovation and entrepreneurship
Research intensive 
Innovative forms of
teaching and learning
High quality
education with an international focus
Close ties to
industry and regional development
Experiments in management and administration systems
European policy-making 
Sustaining and nurturing  internationally minded staff

EXPERTISE IN INNOVATIVE EDUCATION AND RESEARCH

ECIU has a collective wealth of experience and expertise in innovative education, research, knowledge exchange and administrative structures and practices.

ECIU maintains a highly competitive edge, allowing members to learn from each other and to progress activities that individual institutions could not pursue on their own. In European public debate, the ECIU provides a more powerful collective voice with greater impact than individual institutions engaged on their own.

ECIU Members

map of all ECIU members

ECIU Central office

Katrin Dircksen
Katrin Dircksen

ECIU Secretary General

contact
 Andrea Brose
Andrea Brose

ECIU University Educational lead

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Olga Wessels
Olga Wessels

Head of ECIU Brussels Office

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Laura Paternoster
Laura Paternoster

EU Funding Advisor

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Elena Tsigki
Elena Tsigki

ECIU University Lead User Services

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Sander Lotze
Sander Lotze

ECIU University Project Director

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Fiona Hazell
Fiona Hazell

ECIU University Community Coordinator

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Mireía Gali
Mireía Gali

Director of Organization and Management

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Sascha Diedler
Sascha Diedler

ECIU University Programme Coordinator

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Ryan Wakamiya
Ryan Wakamiya

ECIU University Learner Engagement Coordinator

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Silvia Perzolli
Silvia Perzolli

ECIU University Educational Portfolio Coordinator

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ECIU Presidium

Màrius Martínez
Màrius Martínez

ECIU President

Universitat Autònoma de Barcelona

Jan-Ingvar Jönsson
Jan-Ingvar Jönsson

ECIU Vice-President

Linköping University

Tom Veldkamp
Tom Veldkamp

ECIU Treasurer

University of Twente

ECIU University Board members

Andreas Timm-Giel
Andreas Timm-Giel

President

Hamburg University of Technology

Artur Silva
Artur Silva

Vice-Rector Research

University of Aveiro

Bertrand Raquet
Bertrand Raquet

Director INSA Toulouse, President INSA Group

Institut National des Sciences Appliquees

Eddie Arriaga Flores
Eddie Arriaga Flores

Learner representative

Hamburg University of Technology

Eugenijus Valatka
Eugenijus Valatka

Rector

Kaunas University of Technology

Jacob Blasius
Jacob Blasius

Learner representative

Aalborg University

Jan-Ingvar Jönsson
Jan-Ingvar Jönsson

ECIU Vice-President

Linköping University

Joaquin Guerra Achem
Joaquin Guerra Achem

Vice-President IA

Tecnológico de Monterrey

José Agostinho Ribau Esteves
José Agostinho Ribau Esteves

Society Stakeholder

Kalle Einola
Kalle Einola

Industry Stakeholder

Keijo Hämäläinen
Keijo Hämäläinen

President

Tampere University

Klaus Mohn
Klaus Mohn

Rector

University of Stavanger

Krzysztof Jóźwik
Krzysztof Jóźwik

Rector

Lodz University of Technology

Lisa Looney
Lisa Looney

Vice President for Academic Affairs

Dublin City University

Mats Philipsson
Mats Philipsson

Society Stakeholder

Maurizio Marchese
Maurizio Marchese

Vice-Rector International Affairs

University of Trento

Màrius Martínez
Màrius Martínez

ECIU President

Universitat Autònoma de Barcelona

Per Michael Johansen
Per Michael Johansen

Rector

Aalborg University

Petra Vorsteher
Petra Vorsteher

Co- Founder & former Chief Alliances Officer of the company Smaato

Tom Veldkamp
Tom Veldkamp

Rector

University of Twente

Àngels Guiteras Mestres
Àngels Guiteras Mestres

ABD-Asociación Bienestar y Desarrollo

ECIU Institutional Coordinators

Ana Soriano
Ana Soriano

Academic director Nordic Region Delegation

Tecnológico de Monterrey

Dorota Piotrowska
Dorota Piotrowska

Director International Cooperation Centre

Lodz University of Technology

Grazia Callovini
Grazia Callovini

Head International Relations Division

University of Trento

Jan Axelsson
Jan Axelsson

Director of Valorisation

Linköping University

Lise Thorup-Pedersen
Lise Thorup-Pedersen

Deputy Head Rector’s Office

Aalborg University

Liv Hassinger
Liv Hassinger

Programme Manager

University of Twente

Marie-Agnes Détourbe
Marie-Agnes Détourbe

Director of International Relations

Institut National des Sciences Appliquees

Minna Haka-Risku
Minna Haka-Risku

Head of International Relations

Tampere University

Mireía Gali
Mireía Gali

International Educational Projects

Universitat Autònoma de Barcelona

Niall Power
Niall Power

Strategic Advisor International Affairs

University of Aveiro

Olivia Daly
Olivia Daly

ECIU Senior Project Officer

Dublin City University

Sascha Diedler
Sascha Diedler

Programme Manager

Hamburg University of Technology

Trym N. Holbek
Trym N. Holbek

Project Manager

University of Stavanger

Ugnė Norvaišienė
Ugnė Norvaišienė

ECIU University Development Expert

Kaunas University of Technology

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