Meet the University of the Greater Region Meet the University of the Greater Region. Together for the Europe of tomorrow… Bucharest, 26th October 2011

Programme 11:00 Introduction by Conf. Univ. Dr. Mireille Radoi, General Director of the Central University Library of Bucharest Welcoming speech by Prof. Dr. Ioan Panzaru, Rector of the University of Bucharest 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 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 Romanian 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

The University of the Greater Region Presentation of the consortium Bucharest, 26th 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 Saarland University 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 of the Greater Region 7 universities 115 000 students 6 000 academic and research staff Teaching and research languages: French, German, English 6 6

The University of the Greater Region: Profile 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 7

cooperation in research doctoral studies international appeal researchers RESEARCH UniGR common higher education & research area partnerships students GOVERNANCE OPENING cross-border studies EDUCATION non-academic staff MOBILITY transports recognition libraries 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 technical equipment high level of internationality and mobility: cross-border studies, numerous double degrees with international partner universities, European and international research programmes intercultural experience historical consciousness openness 9

University of Lorraine Univ. of Kaiserslautern The University of the Greater Region: Areas of Study Saarland Univ. Univ. of Liège Univ. of Luxembourg University of Lorraine Univ. of Kaiserslautern Univ. of Trier Education (Teacher training etc.) X Humanities & Arts Social Sciences, Business & Law Science (Life, Physical, Computing, Mathematics) Engineering, Manufacturing & Construction Agriculture, Veterinary Health & Welfare (Medicine etc.) 10

The University of the Greater Region: Possibilities for cooperation with the UGR Consortium “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 Romanian partners through exchange of young researchers and post-docs” Prof. Dr. Jean-Pierre Finance Closing speech Prof. Dr. Bernard Rentier 11 11

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

Key questions for a governance strategy: What do we decide to share? 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? 13

UGR Activities – covering all university key 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 UGR Steering Committee University presidents + political stakeholders UGR Steering Committee Vice-presidents / university representatives in charge of the project Students representatives of each university Advisory Students Council UGR operational level Project officers at each university Experts committees Pilot Activities Meetings Council: twice a year Steering committee: once a month Expert committees: ~ 4 times per year Students‘ council: twice per year Working groups 15

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 Meetings Council: twice a year Steering committee: once a month Expert committees: ~ 4 times per year Students‘ council: twice per year 16

Main results and best practices MODULE 1 – GOVERNANCE Main results and best practices Common strategies Networking Bottom-up cooperation Visibility and communication Top down: common strategies, networking in administration Bottom-up: supporting cooperation activities 17

Main results and best practices 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. 18

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): Results of cooperation within experts’ committees and working groups in the different areas: studying, research, communication Studying: mobility fund = Students’ proposal  involvement of all groups/levels = very important Financial support for students attending courses, conferences, etc. at the partner universities Student council initiative 19

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) Database: research equipment at the universities have been collected  possibility to share equipment (« wissenschaftliche Großgeräte »)  Researchers’ demand for supporting cooperation and helping to profit from each others’ equipment European Doctoriales = 5days workshop for PhD students  career planning, business contacts  Promoting the project among doctorate students = good network with future academic staff and business partners 20

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: important for external visibility, but also for internal discussion about what to share and how Common marketing strategy and material 21

From a project to a university network 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) Evaluation = good means to optimize strategies and organisation for the future 22

Timing 2008 - 2012 2013 … 2020 UGR Interreg Project + Extension UGR NETWORK 23

The University of the Greater Region: Possibilities for cooperation with the UGR Consortium “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 Romanian partners through exchange of young researchers and post-docs” Prof. Dr. Jean-Pierre Finance Closing speech Prof. Dr. Bernard Rentier 24 24

Best practices in double-degree Masters and PhDs Prof. Dr. Rolf Tarrach, President of the University of Luxembourg “University of the Greater Region” Bucharest, 26th October 2011 Purpose of the presentation is to share our experience in the Greater Region in the setting up and running of double degrees with the potential bulgarian and romanian partners who asked to have an insight in our way of working in this matter. One question that might come up and is not really treated here are joint doctoral programs in the meaning of Erasmus Mundus Joint Doctoral programmes.

>> our objective : integrated higher education area 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? Introduction in the subject following your point of view. Questions can of course be changed / adapted >> 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 integration Level of What are we talking about when we say “double degrees”, it is all about integration of the educational offer… Joint lectures >> example: compact courses (Blockseminare), not specified by a formal agreement “mobility windows” and/or integrated mobility >> Erasmus agreements, UGR agreement (cooperation agreements specifically signed between identified degrees of the partner universities >> Lehrerbildung, Philosophie, Psychologie…) Double oder Triple degree >> example: Physics degree between Nancy, Saarbrücken, Luxembourg Joint degree (Erasmus Mundus type) example: AMASE Master (advanced material sciences and engineering) between INPL (Nancy), UdS, Lulea technical university and BarcelonaTech, Spain Joint or double degrees also at PhD level: co-tutelles : UGR work in progress to harmonize procedures for the setting up of co-tutelle between the partners >> our aim: support all levels and lead to high integration Seite/Page 27 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) Examples of deliverables / tools / structural measures put in place or to be put in place in the frame of the project from the visibility issues up to the set up of cooperations (agreements, double degrees...) in education. Logical evolution from information (visibility) up to support for evolving of practices. Could also be re-classified in 2 categories: 1. mobility support, 2. practices support Examples / explanation of statements & tools: Joint online educational offer database – Course offer at all partner universities at a glance (in progress – end 2011) Comparative academic calendar – better plan the semester UGR student status to facilitate mobility – visit lectures and take exams at the partner universities for free Mobility handbook – be informed about all opportunities (in progress – delivery April 2012) Mobility funds – Become mobile easily Network of university libraries – borrow books for free UGR-wide Charta for the doctoral education and European doctorate label – better coordinate cross border doctoral education (in progress) Handbook for cooperation in education – find advice and templates to set up cooperations (in progress – delivery mid 2012) Seite/Page 28 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 UGR combining a top down and bottom up approach : working plan defined at the beginning of the project respective to objectives identified >> as showed in the presentation of Prof. Dr. Linneweber about the UGR governance structure. Here a few examples of the experts committees involved in activities related to education (also existing but not listed here: marketing & communication, intellectual property management and entrepreneurship, legal departments –last to be put in place) >> student services (enrolment, central study guidance, recognition) >> international affairs >> research and doctoral education >> e-learning >> libraries Also a few examples of pilot activities taking place in the context of the UGR project. >> integrated compact courses >> new integrated Masters curricula (education sciences, french language & literature, systems biology, cancer research) >> scientific and non-scientific seminars for PhDs (control engineering, biotechnology, interoperability of systems, humanities, training in innovation management and career planning…) Seite/Page 29 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 Based on our experience accompanying colleagues within our network but also information sharing with other experienced partners and own university experience, here a few very important advices to ensure the best conditions for integration of education offer. Seite/Page 30 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 Based on our experience accompanying colleagues within our network but also information sharing with other experienced partners and own university experience, here a few very important advices to ensure the best conditions for integration of education offer. >> our statement: promote unity while respecting diversity Seite/Page 31 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 The added value of the UGR cooperation in education + the next challenges to face in the coming months/years Seite/Page 32 32

The University of the Greater Region: Possibilities for cooperation with the UGR Consortium “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 Romanian partners through exchange of young researchers and post-docs” Prof. Dr. Jean-Pierre Finance Closing speech Prof. Dr. Bernard Rentier 33 33

How to create joint research projects with Romanian 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

UGR – Romanian universities : Why to create join research projects? 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

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

Success conditions? 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

Qualities of young researchers? 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

Involving young researchers in join projects 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

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

Exchange procedure 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

Conclusion UGR universities are open to exchange young researchers Romanian 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

The University of the Greater Region: Possibilities for cooperation with the UGR Consortium “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 Romanian partners through exchange of young researchers and post-docs” Prof. Dr. Jean-Pierre Finance Closing speech Prof. Dr. Bernard Rentier 43 43

As a conclusion…

We are… We share … 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 decided to… 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 would like 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 offer… 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

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