The European Universities Conference is an annual event organised by the Foundation for the Development of the Education System, the National Agency for the Erasmus+ Programme and the European Solidarity Corps. During this year's conference, held on 4-5 September, participants have the opportunity to exchange experiences and expand their knowledge on current trends and negotiations regarding the future of European university alliances.
During the conference, Prof. de Lazari-Radek took part in the panel "Academics and administration – two worlds or communicating vessels? Experiences and recommendations".
The Vice-Rector of the University of Lodz stated that university alliances are a milestone in building the influence of the Academy. Speaking about the challenges for universities that are their members, she pointed to the need to convince students that the presence of a university in one of the European University alliances means not only mobility – Erasmus and a Chance to take fantastic trips to various places in the world, but also a chance to take advantage of the extraordinary opportunities in the field of science, knowledge and education from other universities, which are available thanks to the alliance. Similarly in the case of scientists and academic teachers, for whom the alliance opens up opportunities to cooperate with scientists from foreign centres dealing with the same fields.
Finally, there is the city. UNIC, which the University is a member of, is an alliance of post-industrial cities, emphasizing the development of centres in which universities operate. The development of our city of Lodz should be very important to us as a university. We have such large scientific and research resources regarding the operation of the city that it would be a shame not to share them. I will try to persuade the city authorities to draw on them to the fullest extent
– said Prof. Katarzyna de Lazari-Radek.
In her opinion, university alliances will soon face other very important challenges, such as dual degrees and micro-credentials.
European Universities are currently 64 international consortia, bringing together more than 560 higher education institutions from across the continent. They are transnational alliances that will become the universities of the future, promoting European values and identity, and revolutionising the quality and competitiveness of European higher education by joint implementation of innovative solutions in the field of education and science and deep institutional integration. In 2024, nine more Polish universities joined the alliances.
University of Lodz joined UNIC, one of the European University alliances in 2022. UNIC 2.0 (European University of Cities in Post-Industrial Transition) is a continuation of the cooperation started as part of the UNIC (European University of Post-Industrial Cities) Alliance. It is an alliance of 10 universities working together to advance education and support engaged research, geared towards working with post-industrial cities. The new Alliance covers activities from 2023 to 2027.
Source: International Relations Office, University of Lodz; International Hub, University of Lodz
Edit: Communications and PR Centre, University of Lodz