On 4 October, the University of Helsinki joined the UNA Europa alliance.
“This is a really significant step for the University of Helsinki. We are building an entirely new kind of strategic partnership with our European partners. The UNA Europa’s four focus areas Data Science & AI; Cultural Heritage; European Studies; and Sustainability will bring complementarity and further boost the grand challenges highlighted in our strategic plan. In essence, this increases our impact in solving societal challenges and increases our chances of attracting competitive funding,” says Vice-Rector Hanna Snellman, who is responsible for the UNA Europa alliance at the University.
In addition to the University of Helsinki, the UNA Europa alliance partners include Freie Universität Berlin, Alma mater Studiorum Università di Bologna, the University of Edinburgh, Uniwersytet Jagielloński w Krakowie, KU Leuven, Universidad Complutense de Madrid and Université Paris 1 Panthéon-Sorbonne.
“Together, we are building the European university of the future with our partners,” notes Snellman.
“The University of Helsinki is a committed Nordic partner that brings a new and strong Nordic and Arctic dimension to UNA Europa’s diverse research, educational, linguistic and cultural portfolio. Bringing complementary strengths to the UNA Europa four focus areas, it makes us even better equipped to address the challenges of the future,” says Professor Alessandra Scagliarini, Vice-rector at Alma mater Studiorum Università di Bologna and Chair of the UNA Europa Board of Directors.
New educational offerings, opportunities in research collaboration
One of the guiding principles of the alliance is to provide the staff and students of the partner universities with new opportunities for study, mobility and work.
“What this means in concrete terms is, among other things, an increase in the range of virtual learning opportunities and the diversification of our educational offerings. And our University has a lot to contribute, for example, to indigenous studies and to teaching in many disciplines in the form of MOOCs,” Vice-Rector Snellman states.
“The University of Helsinki is world-renowned for its research in university pedagogy and has significant hubs of creativity for blended and online learning, thereby brining innovative insights and tools into UNA Europa,” adds Emily Palmer, Secretary-General of UNA Europa.
By joining the UNA Europa alliance, the University of Helsinki will have the opportunity to take part in the 1EUROPE project from its early stages; the project’s aim is to create new concepts for international education, learning and research.
“1EUROPE will foster a true international education to all University of Helsinki students via physical mobility, blended and digital learning, covering all geographical regions and many linguistic corners of the continent and will allow the University of Helsinki to test new innovative formats for international education,” notes Professor Peter Lievens, Vice-rector at KU Leuven and Coordinator of the 1EUROPE project.
“We will now be able to have a say in the future of the entire European university sector. The UNA Europa Alliance will also provide new opportunities for applying for research funding from the EU,” says Vice-Rector Snellman.
The University of Helsinki is currently in the process of strengthening its strategic partnerships, and the UNA Europa alliance makes it possible for the University to collaborate with some of the most established universities in Europe.