The European Union is currently facing multiple social and political challenges: nationalism, populism, euro-scepticism are rising in nearly every European country. There is an urgent need to better educate European citizens and sensitise students about European values and politics. In this context, the University of the Greater Region - UniGR (composed of Technische Universität Kaiserslautern, University of Liège, Université de Lorraine, University of Luxembourg, Saarland University, Trier University) and their associated partner Hochschule für Technik und Wirtschaft des Saarlandes (htw saar) decided to implement a strategic partnership dedicated to the transmission of European values and fundamental knowledge on Europe. The project consortium’s aim is to provide students of the Greater Region, regardless of their academic discipline, with a fundamental knowledge about Europe and intercultural competences. The latter comprise competences that the eight consortium partners consider to be essential for students in order to understand and tackle future challenges the world will be facing, especially in a cross-border region at the heart of Europe. The acquired competences will also prepare the students for their future careers in Europe. The project EurIdentity Certificate will focus on the creation of a common certificate composed of two levels, combining theoretical learning, international mobility and innovative teaching formats: Level 1 of the certificate will be optional at first, but the ultimate goal is to implement it as a mandatory element of all study programmes within the seven partner universities, after the project period. It will offer a combination of new pedagogical formats (virtual mobility, peer-to-peer courses and common project work) and a joint face-to-face seminar. A diverse sample of students coming from the seven universities and from diverse fields of study will be selected to participate in and evaluate the "test run" that will take place in the third year of the project. Level 2 of the certificate addresses students who wish to acquire a deeper knowledge about the European Union and European cultures. Students will select courses from a common catalogue, regularly updated by the seven universities. They will have to attend at least one course at one of the partner institutions. The faculty members and administrative staff of the seven universities will closely work together to implement the certificate simultaneously at each university. As such, the project will foster cooperation within UniGR and the Greater Region. It will also provide inspiration to other university alliances in Europe and around the globe.
As part of the strategic action plan 2025 of the UniGR network, this project aimed at strengthening the strategic and structural cooperation between the partners of this consortium. By pooling educational content on Europe and the creation of an innovative and complementary joint certificate on European values and knowledge about Europe, the project can serve as a model for other European university networks. The core of the project was the joint creation of a Basic Module on European values and essential knowledge about Europe and the composition of an Advanced Module comprising an extensive range of existing courses concerning Europe offered by the faculties of the partner universities. While the Certificate is designed as an optional qualification in a first step, the long-term goal is to implement the Basic Module as a mandatory element of all study programmes within the seven partner universities. By benefiting from the geographical and linguistic set-up of the Greater Region, the project fosters virtual and cross-border on-site mobility equipping students with intercultural competences and strengthening their European awareness. These qualifications and skills boost the employability of the students on the job-market.
Rising nationalism, populism and Euroscepticism in nearly every European country pose multiple social and political challenges for the EU. In order to address the need to better educate European citizens and sensitise students about European values and politics, the partner universities of the University of the Greater Region decided to jointly develop a university certificate providing students of the Greater Region, regardless of their academic discipline, with European values and fundamental knowledge on Europe. Combining theoretical learning on the EU, its institutions, its history, and values; cross-border mobility in the Greater Region and beyond; and the strengthening of linguistic and intercultural competences among the students, the project addressed the need to educate a new generation of highly qualified, open-minded European citizens and train multipliers of the European spirit and values. Due to the skills and competences the students acquire with the certificate, they will be prepared for the cross-border labour market of the Greater Region and beyond.