The project, to be developed in the context of the ERASMUS + program, aims to establish the RUN-EU consortium (Regional University Network – European University), leaded by the Polytechnic of Leiria (Portugal) and composed by the following founding members: Polytechnic of Cávado and Ave (Portugal), Limerick Institute of Technology (Ireland), Athlone Institute of Technology (Ireland), Széchenyi István University (SZE) (Hungary), Häme University of Applied Sciences HAMK (Finland), NHL Stenden University of Applied Sciences (The Netherlands), and FH Vorarlberg University of Applied Sciences (Austria).
At the launching ceremony of the regional network of European universities, which was attended by around 70 representatives from the eight Higher Education Institutions (HEIs), was signed a mission agreement that will govern the creation of the consortium and establish the lines of action of this alliance. The students’ representatives also played a leading role in this event, presenting their vision for the creation of the new European university.
The Regional University Network (RUN-EU) aims to implement training programs that include the promotion of future and advanced skills for social transformation in the regions of the European Union. Higher Education Institutions will jointly develop a diverse range of teaching and learning actions, providing students with different international programs (short-term and e-learning), while international cooperation projects in the area of research and development are also implemented. In the future, students will also have the opportunity to obtain European double/multiple degrees within the framework of joint training programs.
RUN-EU will also have the mission of promoting the economic, social, cultural and sustainable development of the regions covered by the network, providing the necessary skills so that students, researchers and regional agents can successfully face the challenges of the future. This new consortium intends to be an active agent in the social transformation of the regions, fostering active citizenship and leading the creation of a new multinational interregional alliance (European Zone for Interregional Development – EZ-ID).
The RUN-EU launch event was attended by the Portuguese Secretary of State for Science, Technology and Higher Education, João Sobrinho Teixeira, by the Ambassador Pedro Lourtie, Deputy Permanent Representative of Portugal to the European Union, by diplomatic representatives from Ireland, Hungary, Finland, the Netherlands and Austria, and also had the participation of some accredited assistants of the European Parliament.
IPCA considers that the pro-active participation in innovative academic cooperation projects and the fostering of strategic alliances, co-creation platforms and collaborative networks play a nuclear role in the development of its internationalization and modernization strategy.
RUN-EU, together with all the challenges inherent to it, allows IPCA to take another step forward towards national and international visibility In order to accomplish its goals, the alliance will count with the collaboration of CCDR-n, InvestBraga and INL, as associated partners from the Northern region of Portugal.
