More than 50 representatives of the European Digital UniverCity Alliance meet at the Universitat Jaume I to review progress and discuss future challenges.
Representatives from the eight partner universities that form the European Digital UniverCity Alliance gathered this week at Universitat Jaume I (UJI) for the alliance's steering committee and student board sessions.
In addition to examining the status of the different areas of the project over the course of two days, attendees had the opportunity to work on proposals for improvement through dynamic and participatory sessions in different thematic areas: digital education, educational formats, innovation and research, and governance and collaboration.
Student Voices
The student board, for its part, discussed the most effective ways to promote the programmes and benefits offered by EDUC to the students of each member university. Additionally, they participated in various project follow-up sessions, offering their student perspective.
The alliance coordinator, Britta van Kempen, from the University of Potsdam, highlighted some of the milestones achieved in the project so far, such as the integration of digital infrastructures, one of the main pillars of the alliance, both from an educational and administrative point of view; or the progress in mobility options for students, teaching and research staff, and administration and services staff through different EDUC programmes.
The importance of the students in the alliance has also been emphasised, as well as the different options offered to this collective apart from the catalogue of courses, such as Think Lab, a proposal that seeks solutions to current challenges. Other milestones of the project have been the alliance's governance model, which includes advisory boards in education, research and student affairs, and the integration of new universities.
Complementarity and diversity
As for the future, Britta van Kempen explained that the aim is for all the work that has been carried out in EDUC during this time to continue and remain in each university and in Europe.
"It is very important for the future because we want to promote the European vision in our universities, while always taking into account the strengths and particularities that each university brings. The complementarity and diversity that we have in EDUC are part of the future", she said.
In turn, the vice-rector for International Relations at the Universitat Jaume I, Eva Camacho, praised the work that has been carried out during these two years of the project and emphasised that "the integration of the UJI into the alliance has been a challenge, but it has been a very worthwhile effort, because the EDUC alliance is a great opportunity for the whole university community".
Information provided by: Communication and Publications Service, UJI