Una Europa

Una Europa
Formation2019
TypeEducation and research
HeadquartersBrussels, Belgium
Region served
Europe
Secretary General
Emily Palmer
WebsiteUna Europa

Una Europa is an international network of European research-intensive universities.[1] Launched in early 2019, the alliance is headquartered in Brussels, Belgium and connects eleven universities, nine of which are in the European Union.[2][1] Taken together, the participating universities teach more than 500,000 students with 80,000 staff.[3]

The network was formed in response to the European Commission's European Universities Initiative launched in 2017, which aims to create several transnational alliances of universities across Europe.[4] The proposal for Una Europa was selected by the European Commission for funding in its first call in 2019, and became operational the same year.[1][5] Some of Una Europa's initiatives have received additional funds from the European Union's Horizon programmes (previously known as the Framework Programmes for Research and Technological Development) intended to foster cooperation in the European Research Area.[6]

The network's ultimate goal is an integrated multinational university that enables student and staff mobility between its member institutions. This involves the creation of shared professorships,[7] transnational double degrees, doctoral programs, and research projects.[8] The cooperation will focus on five main areas: cultural heritage, data science and artificial intelligence, European studies, public health, and sustainability.[1]

Key Initiatives

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Una Europa launched its first transnational joint degree in October 2022, the Joint Bachelor of Arts in European Studies (BAES), including more than 270 students from 35 countries in its first cohort.[9][10] The degree is the first of its kind in Europe, and allows students to study at several universities in the network during the three-year program. Students begin the program at one of the four 'degree-awarding universities' (Leuven, Bologna, Madrid, Krakow) and, during their second and third years, go on mobility programs to one or two different universities, choosing from any of the start universities or the mobility partner universities (Berlin, Helsinki, Edinburgh, Paris, Zurich).[11][12] In the first three semesters, students follow the 'Truncus Communis', which includes introductory courses to various disciplines, multidisciplinary courses on Europe, a methodology track, and language courses. In the last three semester, students follow a major and a minor module and develop a bachelor's thesis. Students choose one major and one minor for in two different fields of study, which include: Business & Economics; Politics & International Relations; European & International Law; Philosophy; History; Languages & Culture; Communication, Education, Gender, & Sociology. Upon completion, students receive a single diploma awarded collaboratively by all four 'degree-awarding partners'.[11]

Following the introduction of its first transnational joint degree, Una Europa is developing its second joint program, the Joint Bachelor in Sustainability (BASUS). This forthcoming undergraduate program is coordinated by six network universities (Krakow, Leuven, Paris, Madrid, Zurich, Helsinki). As a joint degree, graduates will receive a single diploma awarded collaboratively by all six institutions. The program, currently awaiting accreditation through the European Approach procedure by the Polish Accreditation Agency, is set to launch in 2025.[13] During the first year, all students will follow the Common Core curriculum in Krakow, the 'start university'. Starting in the second year, students will disperse across the partner universities to pursue one of six specialized Tracks, each focusing on a different disciplinary perspective on sustainability studies: Sustainable Chemistry & Physics; Economy & Geography; Law & Politics of Sustainability; Environmental & Life Sciences; Economics, Management & Engineering; Social Sciences & Humanities. The program culminates in the Final Semester, during which students write a bachelor’s thesis. In addition, students can apply to spend their final semester at any of the universities affiliated with the program, either at a degree-awarding partner university (Krakow, Leuven, Paris, Madrid, Zurich, Helsinki), or at a mobility partner university (Edinburgh, Berlin).[14]

Members

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Institution Country Founded Students Staff
KU Leuven  Belgium 1834 65,533 13,590
University of Helsinki  Finland 1640 31,426 7,838
Paris 1 Panthéon-Sorbonne University  France 1971 45,200 2,770
Free University of Berlin  Germany 1948 33,900 5,143
University College Dublin[15]  Ireland 1854 39,522 3,781
University of Bologna  Italy 1088 96,984 6,617
Jagiellonian University, Kraków  Poland 1364 35,517 3,942
Complutense University of Madrid  Spain 1293 86,159 11,162
University of Zurich[15]   Switzerland 1833 27,958 5,753
Leiden University  The Netherlands 1575 33,474 7,860
University of Edinburgh  United Kingdom 1583 49,740 11,167

See also

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References

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  1. ^ a b c d "About". Una Europa. Retrieved 2021-07-14.
  2. ^ "European Universities Initiative launches UNA Europa". The University of Edinburgh. Retrieved 2021-07-14.
  3. ^ "Una Europa | Université Paris 1 Panthéon-Sorbonne". www.pantheonsorbonne.fr. Retrieved 2021-07-14.
  4. ^ "European Universities Initiative". Education and Training - European Commission. 2018-09-21. Retrieved 2021-07-14.
  5. ^ "First 17 "European Universities" selected: a major step towards building a European Education Area". European Commission. Retrieved 2021-07-14.
  6. ^ "Una.Resin". Una Europa. Retrieved 2021-07-17.
  7. ^ "Una Europa Chairs". Una Europa. Retrieved 2021-07-14.
  8. ^ "Una Europa - European University Alliance - University of Bologna". www.unibo.it. Retrieved 2021-07-14.
  9. ^ "Students embark on Europe's first truly joint Bachelor's degree". Una Europa. 2022-10-03. Retrieved 2024-06-12.
  10. ^ "Students embark on Europe's first truly joint Bachelor's degree". Una Europa. 2022-10-03. Retrieved 2024-12-17.
  11. ^ a b "Programme Information". Una Europa. 2024-06-28. Retrieved 2024-06-12.
  12. ^ "Across Europe in Three Years". www.news.uzh.ch. 2024-04-11. Retrieved 2024-06-12.
  13. ^ Sels, Luc (2024-11-26). "Five years in, European university alliances can claim success". Times Higher Education (THE). Retrieved 2024-12-17.
  14. ^ "Basus" (in Polish). Retrieved 2024-12-17.
  15. ^ a b "Una Europa welcomes UCD and UZH". Una Europa. 9 May 2022. Retrieved 2022-05-09.
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