The European University for Smart Urban Coastal Sustainability (EU-CONEXUS) offers a challenge-based, multidisciplinary and transnational approach with regard to the organization of studies and research tackling the complex problems and opportunities facing urban coastal environments. Reflecting the most important current social, economic, technical and environmental challenges impacting coastal areas, the study programme will be focused on four interdisciplinary study dimensions: Environment and biodiversity, Energy and sustainable construction, Digital transformation, Culture, society, organisation and education.The partners located in diverse geographical areas of Europe share a common vision with regard to a new form of transnational university that will issue common European degrees and common European diplomas and disseminate essential values about open and responsible science, inclusive pedagogies, innovative teaching and learning methods, multilingualism, cross-and multidisciplinary research and education and cross-sectorial study programmes. Tailor-made mobility programmes for staff and students will develop cross-fertilisation between partner institutions, and the possibility for European citizens to feed from other cultures and methods.EU-CONEXUS will contribute to research and innovation towards product and service developments of industries in the field of the “blue economy” and “blue growth” by closely involving regional economic actors and public entities. This will significantly enhance the employability profile of students.A major outcome of the project will be a guidebook on the basis of evaluation reports and risk assessments that will give feedback to other European universities and the Commission on how the administrative integration of educational and research and also other campus related activities of partner institutions could be further developed in order to achieve the objective of creating highly competitive European Universities.
EU-CONEXUS promotes common European values and strengthens European identity by bringing together a new generation of Europeans, who can cooperate and work within different European cultures, in different languages and across borders, sectors and academic disciplines. EU-CONEXUS is committed to creating a new institutional framework for higher education in Europe that allows for a truly European way of studying and carrying out research through institutional alignment and seamless mobility.
The EU-CONEXUS Alliance emerged in response to the Call for European Universities issued in 2018 on the initiative of La Rochelle Université. The partner universities agreed to develop an integrated transnational University system specialised on societal challenges faced by urbanised coastal areas based on an interdisciplinary and inclusive approach to education, research and innovation. 6 founding partner universities have been joined by 3 associated HEIs covering all European coasts.
<< Background >> The EU-CONEXUS Alliance emerged in response to the Call for European Universities issued in 2018 on the initiative of La Rochelle Université. The partner universities agreed to develop an integrated transnational University system specialised on societal challenges faced by urbanised coastal areas based on an interdisciplinary and inclusive approach to education, research and innovation. 6 founding partner universities have been joined by 3 associated HEIs covering all European coasts. << Objectives >> EU-CONEXUS promotes common European values and strengthens European identity by bringing together a new generation of Europeans, who can cooperate and work within different European cultures, in different languages and across borders, sectors and academic disciplines. EU-CONEXUS is committed to creating a new institutional framework for higher education in Europe that allows for a truly European way of studying and carrying out research through institutional alignment and seamless mobility. << Implementation >> EU-CONEXUS focused over its first three years of implementation on the development of pilots of innovative joint educational programmes, on promoting thematically focused joint research area, impacting its socio-economic and international environment and on creating an integrated campus life for its students. A strong governance and management structure and support services for mobility, IT, career and communication and marketing complement the comprehensive and inclusive set-up of the Alliance. << Results >> The strong commitment of all partners to the Alliance, testified by the creation of a non-profit association, has been rewarded by the funding of its full-roll out proposal. Innovative joint educational programmes on all cycles have been created, inter-Alliance mobility on all levels is rising as is the number of joint research project proposals. Students participate actively in campus activities and stakeholder engagement got its focus on cities and ports. The EU-CONEXUS identity is set-up.