Meet the University of the Greater Region. Together for the Europe of tomorrow … Sofia, 24 th October 2011

Meetthe University oftheGreater Region. Togetherforthe Europe oftomorrow… Sofia, 24thOctober 2011

Programme 11:30 How to create a European consortium of universities : best practices and governance structures by Prof. Dr. Volker Linneweber, President of Saarland University Best practices in double-degree Masters and PhDs by Prof. Dr. Rolf Tarrach, President of the University of Luxembourg How to create joint research projects with Bulgarian partners through exchange of young researchers and post-docs by Prof. Dr. Jean-Pierre Finance, President of the University Henri Poincaré (Nancy I) Closing Speech by Prof. Dr. Bernard Rentier, Rector of the University of Liège 11:00 Welcoming speech by Prof. Dr. Ivan Ilchev, Rector of Sofia University St. Kliment Ohridski” 11:10 Presentation of the “University of the Greater Region” consortium by Prof. Dr. Michael Jäckel, President of the University of Trier and Prof. Dr. Helmut J. Schmidt, President of the University of Kaiserslautern

The University of the Greater Region Presentation of the consortium Sofia, 24th October 2011

The Greater Region: A cross-border region in the heart of Europe 3 languages, 4 countries • Saarland and Rhineland-Palatinate in Germany • the Belgian Walloon region with its French and German speaking communities • the Grand Duchy of Luxembourg • the French region of Lorraine • A historical and cosmopolitan area • A European crossroad of economic, political and cultural life 4

The University of the Greater Region: Members of the University Consortium Germany • SaarlandUniversity • University of Trier • University of Kaiserslautern Belgium • University of Liège Luxembourg • University of Luxembourg France • Universities of Metz and Nancy (= University of Lorraine) 5

The University of the Greater Region: A single higher education area for the future • University oftheGreater Region • 7 universities • 115 000 students • 6 000 academicandresearchstaff • Teaching andresearchlanguages: French, German, English 6

The consortium promotes the higher education, research and innovation area of the Greater Region by improving mobility among students, researchers and administrative staff inter-connecting and creating joint study programmes close cooperation and joint efforts in doctoral education and cross-border research sharing information with other higher education institutes of the Greater Region for cooperation and best practice maintaining widespread international relations The University of the Greater Region: Profile 7

doctoral studies cooperation in research international appeal researchers • RESEARCH UniGR common higher education & research area partnerships students • GOVERNANCE • OPENING • EDUCATION cross-border studies non-academic staff • MOBILITY libraries transports recognition 8

The University of the Greater Region: What are the students’ benefits? • coverage of a wide range of fields of study • good support, small study groups and modern technicalequipment • high level of internationality and mobility: cross-border studies, numerous double degrees with international partner universities, European and international research programmes • interculturalexperience • historicalconsciousness • openness 9

The University of the Greater Region: Areas of Study 10

“How to create a European consortium of universities: best practices and governance structures” Prof. Dr. Volker Linneweber “Best practices in double-degree Masters and PhDs” Prof. Dr. Rolf Tarrach “How to create joint research projects with Bulgarian partners through exchange of young researchers and post-docs” Prof. Dr. Jean-Pierre Finance Closing speech Prof. Dr. Bernard Rentier The University of the Greater Region: Possibilities for cooperation with the UGR Consortium 11

How to create a European consortium of universities: best practices and governance structures Prof. Dr. Volker Linneweber, President of Saarland University

University of the Greater Region How to create a European, cross-border higher education and research area • Key questions for a governance strategy: • What do we decide to share? • Who has to be involved and how?

Activities – covering all universitykey areas • Module 4: RESEARCH • (Nancy/Luxembourg) UGR Cross-border higher education & research area • Module 1: GOVERNANCE • (Saarbrücken/Liège) • Module 5 : OPENING • (Liège/Nancy) • Module 3: EDUCATION • (Metz/Saarbrücken) • Module 2: MOBILITY • (Luxembourg/ Metz)

Governance structure • UGR Council • University presidents + political stakeholders • UGR Steering Committee • Vice-presidents / university representatives in charge of the project • UGR operational level • Project officers at each university • Advisory Students Council • Students representatives of each university • Experts • committees • Pilot • Activities • Working groups

Governance structure – involving all university levels (administrative and academic) • Council: University presidents and political stakeholders • Steering Committee: vice presidents • Students Council: Students • Experts Committees: University Administration • Pilot activities: Scientists, professors, lecturers

MODULE 1 – GOVERNANCE • Main results and best practices • Common strategies • Networking • Bottom-up cooperation • Visibility and communication

MODULE 1 – GOVERNANCE Main results and best practices • Strategic level: Developing common strategies • Operational level: • Setting up networks between the partner universities by creating experts committees and working groups. • Supporting bottom-up cooperation: 19 pilot activities in teaching and research.

Main results and best practices: Studying • UGR student status (complete realization until beginning of 2012): • Access to the courses of the partner universities • Access to the libraries, cafeterias and other university organizations and student services • UGR mobility fund (complete realization until beginning of 2012): • Financial support for students attending courses, conferences, etc. at the partner universities • Student council initiative

Main results and best practices: Research • Scientific cooperation: • Thematic workshops  networking(e.g. biotechnology, virology) • Database “research equipment” • Cross-border doctorate training: • Workshops for PhD students (e.g. European Doctoriales)

Main results and best practices: Communication & visibility • Internet portal www.uni-gr.eu: • Database containing all the courses on offer (to be published by the end of 2011) • Information on partner universities • UGR as part of communication strategy of each partner university • Common marketing strategy and material

MODULE 1 – GOVERNANCE • Perspectives: • From a project to a university network • EUA evaluation • Reflection on future UGR network structure,possible creation of an EGTC (European Grouping of Territorial Cooperation)

Timing

“How to create a European consortium of universities: best practices and governance structures” Prof. Dr. Volker Linneweber “Best practices in double-degree Masters and PhDs” Prof. Dr. Rolf Tarrach “How to create joint research projects with Bulgarian partners through exchange of young researchers and post-docs” Prof. Dr. Jean-Pierre Finance Closing speech Prof. Dr. Bernard Rentier The University oftheGreater Region: Possibilitiesforcooperationwiththe UGR Consortium 24

Best practices in double-degree Masters and PhDs Prof. Dr. Rolf Tarrach, President of the University of Luxembourg “University of the Greater Region” Sofia, October 24th 2011

Double / Joint degrees • What are the advantages of double / joint degrees? Why are they that desired? • Are double degrees a current trend or an evolution of the higher education offer? • What are the challenges? • What about a stepwise increase of integration? >> our objective : integrated higher education area

Levels of educational cooperation • Degrees with joint lectures/seminars • >> informal cooperation • 2. Degrees with “mobility windows” / integrated mobility and/or cooperation agreements • >> Erasmus, “UGR” agreement • 3. Integrated degrees • >> double or triple degrees, joint degrees, Erasmus Mundus, Co-tutelles Level of integration >> our aim: support all levels and lead to high integration Seite/Page 27

Deliverables to provide basis for cooperation in education • Joint online educational offer database (in progress – end 2011) • Comparative academic calendar • UGR student status to facilitate mobility • Mobility handbook (in progress – delivery April 2012) • Mobility funds • Network of university libraries • Charta for the doctoral education and European doctorate label (in progress) • Handbook for cooperation in education (in progress – delivery mid 2012) Seite/Page 28

Way of working • Involve administrative staff: create joint experts committees to analyse issues, and develop and implement sustainable and shared structures and procedures • Support initiatives of academic staff: finance and advise pilot activities to analyse barriers, develop solutions and to identify best practices Seite/Page 29

Identified best practices 1/2 • FLEXIBILITY • Flexibility in curricula • Flexibility in recognition • JOINT ADMINISTRATION • Involvement of all stakeholders – from students to academic staff to central administration • Joint administrative procedures • Pro-active support and networking of administrative staff and academic staff Seite/Page 30

Identified best practices 2/2 • DISSEMINATION AND ONE-STOP-SHOP PRINCIPLE • Visibility of education offer • Global information source • Pro-active internal promotion of added values related to integrated study offer • Pro-active support and promotion of mobility >> our statement: promote unity while respecting diversity Seite/Page 31

Motivations, challenges & perspectives • The UGR cooperation in education offers • >> infrastructure to support the development of integrated and broad educational offer at all levels • >> best preparation for a global labour market • >> simple procedures for smooth running of mobility • Our next challenges • >> enlarge curriculum offer • >> increase level of integration • >> open our collaborations to third countries • >> remain pro-active and maintain the current dynamism Seite/Page 32

How to create joint research projects with Bulgarian partners through exchange of young researchers and post-docs Prof. Dr. Jean-Pierre Finance President of Henri Poincaré University,Nancy Provisional President of Lorraine University

International research projects interests: To share knowledge To add complementary skills To mix the thinking and culture  an good way to quickly produce new knowledge and to obtain excellent results. UGR – Bulgarian universities :Why to create join research projects?

Integration in the scientific strategy of each partner Trust between partners Lot of travels Long or medium term stays in the partner’s institution.  corresponding costs  high availability of researchers What are the difficulties to implement such cooperation ?

Choice of topics of common interest Trust between partners  of long-term partnerships and well negotiated (intellectual property,…) Financial capacity to support costs Human resources : motivated and high available researchers Success conditions?

Availability (few family constrainsts) Openness to other cultures Motivation for a research experience abroad that will enrich their resumes that will improve their chances of obtaining sustainable and high-level employment in an university or in a large international company Qualities of young researchers?

In existing collaborative projects To create new joint projects : In prospective projects by providing a missing knowledge By join response to calls for proposals from various European programs Involving young researchers in join projects

UGR offer • Broad spectrum of research topics • Possibility of integrating collaborative projects between UGR universities • Access to high performance scientific equipments in all UGR universities • No need to speak neither German nor French, researchers often work in English • Various proposed positions with or without teaching activity : post-docs, visiting researcher-lecturer • Installation assistance – Euraxess centers

Dissemination of research topics proposed in the partner Dissemination of information on the intentions of response to calls for proposals in European programs Dissemination of the available positions Selection of candidates by the home university Final selection by the host university Exchange procedure

Conclusion • UGR universities are open to exchange young researchers • Bulgarian universities have been selected as preferred partner • UGR universities are ready to discuss a procedure for the exchange to be integrated into a partnership agreement

As a conclusion…

7 universities 115.000 students 4 countries, 5 regions, 2 languages (+ English) We share … A common history and similar development challenges A European higher education and research area An ability to build cross border activities We are…

Take advantage of our location to work on our similarities and differences Strenghten our universities in common teaching and research Search innovation in multilateral collaboration (based on bottom-up proposals) Contribute to the European knowledge area : be a European lab for university networks; be attractive as a European region; be a strong link with stakeholders We decided to…

Make the UGR consortium visible and attractive Explain that our best practices possess added-value : your university, your exchange students, your researchers Convince that the UGR facilitates collaboration and is a very good tool for long term relationships Students’ profile Collaboration between universities Study structures We would like to…

A shared experience in university networking Mobility within the consortium: Erasmus studies + internships doctoral education and multicultural experiences Experience in research and joint degree development Multicultural and European experience: languages, soft skills, partnerships within European consortia We offer…

For further information please visit our website www.uni-gr.eu Thank you for your attention! Project supported by the European Regional Development Fund (ERDF), « INTERREG IVA Grande Région » Programme L’Union européenne investit dans votre avenir Die Europäische Union investiert in Ihre Zukunft

Meet the University of the Greater Region. Together for the Europe of tomorrow … Sofia, 24 th October 2011