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get to know eciu
in brussels

ECIU is a strong advocate in Brussels for innovative universities. We believe that close collaboration across Europe between cities and regions, businesses, and citizens, coupled with bold educational innovations are essential for our learners, teachers, researchers and society in general.

ECIU works together with European stakeholders, policy makers, politicians and opinion leaders to further develop innovative universities. e.g. in European knowledge programmes, like Erasmus+ and Horizon Europe.

ECIU has an office in Brussels, headed by Olga Wessels, to closely follow-up on all the latest EU programmes and R&I Policy developments. In addition, we also have an expert group on R&I Policy and Programmes' with our institutional experts. Within the network, ECIU members seek joint action towards the European institutions to influence the debate on European funding programmes and policy. Here, ECIU with its specific profile can offer a unique view on the needs for modern and innovative universities.

Topics we work in

Our Engagement
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Joint Consortium Responses and Position Papers

Expert Groups

The ECIU Expert Group R&I Policy and Programmes (R&I Group) represents all member universities and is open to all research managers and administrators providing research and innovation services, i.e. funding, in ECIU.

The current members are: 

  • Anne D. Sand, Aalborg University
  • ‍Luísa Fernandes, University of Aveiro
  • ‍Nuria Claver, Autonomous University of Barcelona
  • ‍Sophie Ball, Dublin City University
  • ‍Monica Schofield, Hamburg University of Technology
  • ‍Laure Fabre, Sebastièn Leveneur, INSA Group
  • ‍Vilma Karobliené, Kaunas University of Technology
  • ‍Agnieszka Tiele, Lodz University of Technology
  • ‍Svjetlana Stekovic, Linköping University
  • ‍Antonio Pita Szczesniewski, TEC de Monterrey
  • ‍Kyrre Aas, Stavanger University
  • ‍Jörg Langwaldt, Tampere University (Chair)
  • Barbara Zamboni, University of Trento
  • ‍Telma Esteves, Andrea Guarise, University of Twente 

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The ECIU Expert Group Educational Cooperation Policy and Programmes (EduCo Group) is open to all Erasmus+ managers and administrators working on external funding support from member universities of ECIU.

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The current members are:

  • Sophie Ball, Dublin City University (Chair)
  • ‍Olga Faberland, University of Stavanger
  • ‍Xavier Biarnés, Universitat Autònoma de Barcelona
  • ‍Laure Fabre, INSA Toulouse
  • ‍Kirsi Hasanen, Tampere University
  • ‍Viviana Caldara, University of Trento
  • ‍Nicole Frei, Hamburg University of Technology
  • ‍Niall Power, Universidade de Aveiro
  • ‍Sophie Ball, Dublin City University
  • ‍Vilma Karobliene, Kaunas University of Technology
  • ‍Nils Peter Terp Uhre, Aalborg Universitet
  • ‍Dorota Piotrowska, Lodz University of Technology
  • ‍Koen de Pryck, University of Twente

 

The aims of both groups are to:

  • Foster best-practice exchange (in R&I and in Educational Cooperation)
  • Support ECIU initiatives related to EU affairs 
  • Strategic foresight and proactive identification of funding opportunities and coordinate joint proposals
  • Gain and share intelligence
  • Support bottom-up initiatives of academic staff members of ECIU Universities for research /educational proposals or initiate project applications for calls that are using ECIU as a framework

Strategic European Projects Office

What is SEPO

SEPO is a platform to pool expertise for all external grants and funding opportunities relating to ECIU University priorities and needs according to the Vision 2030 and the ECIU thematic action plans.

It is composed of:

  • Members of the Research & Innovation (R&I) Group and of the Educational Cooperation Policy and Programmes (EduCo) Group[PL(S1] ;
  • European Funding Adviser.
  • It has a SEPO core team, composed of the European funding adviser, the two chairs of the ECIU expert groups R&I and Edu, and the head of the ECIU Brussels office. The latter links the operations of SEPO with the Brussels networks and the European Commission through lobbying and information-sharing efforts.

Aims of SEPO

SEPO has the following aims:

  • to pool expertise for all external grants and funding opportunities relating to ECIU University priorities and needs according to the Vision 2030 and the ECIU thematic action plans
  • to scout for funding opportunities
  • to provide strategic support decisions for project development, and lead initiatives for R& I and educational project proposals in line with the Vision 2030 and the ECIU thematic action plans
  • to provide a competence centre for training, capacity building, and project management communities
  • to act as a lobbying mechanism towards the EU and national level regarding funding and financial investments, in close cooperation with the ECIU Brussels office.
  • Through the R&I and Edu group, to support bottom-up initiatives of academic staff “making use” of the ECIU as a framework and using it to prove the sustainable, long-term collaboration of the project, and for projects which support the research or education agenda

For information, please contact lpaternoster@eciu.org‍

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Featured News & Events

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EU Affairs
ECIU 25th Anniversary Celebration
December 15, 2022

ECIU 25th Anniversary Celebration

University Staff
EVENT
The University of Twente is hosting a celebration on the 25th anniversary of the ECIU with a hybrid exhibition 'Back to the Future' and a party.
Challenges bring together students and employers: experience at Tampere University
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Learners
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The Citizen Arena - SMART-ER Citizen Science Pilot has been launched

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EU Affairs
EVENT
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Challenges bring together students and employers: experience at Tampere University
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Challenges bring together students and employers: experience at Tampere University

Learners
EVENT
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Students meet to work on the Big Data and Climate Change challenge
November 14, 2022

Students meet to work on the Big Data and Climate Change challenge

Learners
EVENT
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Learners
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A new way of working: external societal stakeholders on board
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Kampusareena receives award for the sustainable development of facilities

Business & Society
EVENT
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ECIU 25th Anniversary Celebration
December 15, 2022

ECIU 25th Anniversary Celebration

University Staff
EVENT
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Board meeting in Kaunas: setting strategic directions and opening of ECIU University space

University Staff
EVENT
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Master's insert 'Shaping Responsible Futures' of the University of Twente wins the Dutch Higher Education Award
May 16, 2022

Master's insert 'Shaping Responsible Futures' of the University of Twente wins the Dutch Higher Education Award

University Staff
EVENT
The Master's insert 'Shaping Responsible Futures' of the University of Twente has won the Dutch Higher Education Award. The prize is also accompanied by a sum of EUR 1.2 million.
The growing ECIU community of teamchers
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The growing ECIU community of teamchers

University Staff
EVENT
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The Citizen Arena - SMART-ER Citizen Science Pilot has been launched
November 23, 2022

The Citizen Arena - SMART-ER Citizen Science Pilot has been launched

Researchers
EVENT
In project “Citizen arenas for improved environmental quality and resource use in SMART-ER cities” a group of ECIU universities will come together with the aim of co creating SMART-ER Citizen Science Pilots to raise citizens' awareness...
Interdisciplinary Networking for a Sustainable and Circular Economy
November 4, 2022

Interdisciplinary Networking for a Sustainable and Circular Economy

Researchers
EVENT
The project „Interdisciplinary networking for a sustainable and circular economy (INSCE)“, funded by the ECIU SMART-ER program action „Blended mobility to create networks“, aims to organize ...
Hamburg University of Technology seeks Professor Quantum
February 11, 2022

Hamburg University of Technology seeks Professor Quantum

Researchers
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SMART-ER Co-creation workshop for Citizen Science Pilots
February 3, 2022

SMART-ER Co-creation workshop for Citizen Science Pilots

Researchers
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Innovation in higher education continues: next phase of ECIU University granted
July 27, 2022

Innovation in higher education continues: next phase of ECIU University granted

EU Affairs
EVENT
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Presentation of the third ECIU University Micro-Credentials paper: A vision for European learners, values, and priorities
June 17, 2022

Presentation of the third ECIU University Micro-Credentials paper: A vision for European learners, values, and priorities

EU Affairs
EVENT
‍On 17 June, ECIU University presented its third paper on micro-credentials, outlining both actions taken by ECIU University and Europe, and advising on the future of micro-credentials.
ECIU welcomes the EU Member States commitment to micro-credentials
June 17, 2022

ECIU welcomes the EU Member States commitment to micro-credentials

EU Affairs
EVENT
ECIU University welcomes the adopted Council Recommendation on micro-credentials for lifelong learning and employability by EU Member States on 16 June 2022.
The future of research is Challenge-Based
May 30, 2022

The future of research is Challenge-Based

EU Affairs
EVENT
On 24 May, ECIU University presented its Challenge-Based Research strategy to stakeholders and policy-makers at a hybrid event in Brussels. The European Commission expressed strong support for using this document...
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