Una Europa in action: building a stronger future through collaboration
Funding and training for researchers, a collaborative vision and strategy for teaching, and ways to amplify the voices of students. These are a few of the topics discussed at Una Europa’s General Assembly in Kraków from 26 to 28 May.
To highlight our work as a partner in this alliance of 11 leading research universities, we asked six Leiden University participants to tell us what they are working on through Una Europa.
Opportunities to flourish and work together internationally
Karolina Pomorska, Europe & the World Self Steering Committee member
‘My group looks at topics like foreign policy, security and development. To study these topics, you need to collaborate. In Una Europa, I find colleagues who I’ve worked with for 20 years and new people. I stay in touch with existing networks and open up for new collaborations in research and teaching.
‘Una Europa provides the structures, seed funding, and meetings like this General Assembly where we come together. So far, we’ve built a successful bachelor’s programme in European studies and in Leiden we’re running an interdisciplinary training session this autumn for doctoral students.
’It’s vibrant and dynamic, with many enthusiastic colleagues. It gives you opportunities to flourish and to work together internationally.
‘When we talk about European foreign policy, we say that no single country in Europe will matter in international relations alone. If we combine our efforts, then we matter a lot. I think it’s the same for research and education. Alliances like Una Europa are the future.’
Find interesting and rewarding research opportunities
Jasper Knoester, Research Strategy Group co-chair
’In the Research Strategy Group, we promote research activities between Una Europa partners and, occasionally, third parties. Our action lines include joint funding for research activities, training for early-career researchers like summer and winter schools, and initiatives to share infrastructure.
‘I’d love to see more colleagues involved with Una Europa. This is a fantastic alliance with 11 top universities. I think it’s very hard to imagine that you wouldn’t find someone in one of these universities who is very interesting and rewarding to work with, so go ahead and look around!
’For Leiden University, this alliance is very important. We put a lot into it in terms of people power to support your activities and we’re definitely in it for the long term.’
Shape the future of education together
Kristiaan van der Heijden, Teaching & Learning Strategy group member
‘In the Teaching & Learning Strategy Group, we’re building an overarching vision, strategy and guiding principles for our education across the Una Europa alliance.
’We’re tackling topics such as sustainability, the role of AI in education, and expanding student mobility. These are extremely important themes for all universities. Together we can support each other and share good practices.
‘What makes Una Europa meaningful and attractive is the way it connects our students, teachers, researchers and staff. I encourage everyone to explore what Una Europa has to offer. It’s always better to be stronger together.’
Study abroad, work on projects and make your voice heard
Gaia Sterre Mirotti, Student Board member
‘My role is to be the voice of students at Leiden University to the alliance, to make sure that students are heard. In Kraków, we brainstormed on what we can change and improve for students in the alliance. For example: how can we better include people who might be queer or have disabilities?
‘Una Europa gives students the chance to be part of something bigger. You become not just a Leiden University student but a European Union student. You can study abroad or go to a summer school, work on projects and even get funded. And next year we’re hosting the Una Europa Student Congress in The Hague. Our students will get to meet others from all over Europe and have their say about the future of universities.’
Cross borders, get out of your comfort zone and create impact
Joost Augusteijn, Historian & Sjoerd Louwaars, Una Europa Project Delivery Manager
Sjoerd: ‘What if we bring together the brightest minds of Europe, working at our 11 universities, to work on the biggest challenges facing humanity? And what if we do that in a comprehensive and interdisciplinary way, to inform society and find pathways towards a better Europe?’
Joost: ‘With that in mind, we’ve explored how to create research cooperation at an interuniversity level. We are now at the end of that process and hopefully at the start of something new: implementing a Joint Institute of Advanced Studies, based on 21st century models of cooperation.’
Sjoerd: ‘The challenges of the 21st century go beyond our national and institutional borders, and beyond research fields. Working in Una Europa is a way to cross those borders in a fun way, hopefully leading to results that we need as a society: interdisciplinary, interinstitutional and international.’
Joost: ‘Colleagues should see Una Europa as a cooperation platform, a way to broaden their minds academically and personally. A joint Institute of Advanced Studies could aid in building research careers, create international academic communities and advance reputations within the Una network.’
Get involved in Una Europa
Would you like to become actively involved in Una Europa? Are you interested in seed funding, an exchange or the other activities and opportunities that are regularly offered? Then sign up for the newsletter or join our Teams group.