FRANKFURT. „TruMotion“ is the chosen name. Motion and exchange are at the
heart of the alliance between the Goethe University and the universities in
Lodz, Lyon, Milan and Thessaloniki, which was contractually sealed on Wednesday
this week. The alliance is jointly planning a plethora of projects, programmes
and courses of study.
At the faculty level, cooperation and exchanges have already been
flourishing; now the managements of the five universities have joined forces in
order to cooperate even more extensively in the future. On Wednesday the
University of Lodz, the Université Lumière Lyon II, the Università Cattolica
del Sacro Cuore in Milan, the University of Macedonia in Thessaloniki and the
Goethe University signed the final cooperation agreements in the office of
Prof. Birgitta Wolff, President of the University of Frankfurt. A first
objective of the common endeavour is that the five universities intend to apply
for the “European University" title and the associated funding from the
European Union. However, irrespective of this, a wide range of ideas has
already emerged in the run-up to yesterday's signing of the agreement.
"We want to become a brand", states Prof. Rolf van Dick, Vice
President of the Goethe University responsible for International Affairs, on
the sidelines of the meeting. The logo is already available: designed at the
university in Lodz, Poland, it already adorns the joint documents. Five rays
crossing a circle - abstract, yet allowing a breadth of associations. The now
allied universities have many things in common and a lot of it has to do with
the location: "All these cities are so-called Second Cities. This is to
say that they are neither capitals nor the largest cities in their respective
countries. However, they are multifaceted metropolises with a strong economy,
good social cohesion and are steeped in a long civic and liberal tradition",
elaborates van Dick. They share similar problems such as high rents and strong
immigration. Still, the universities themselves also have a lot in common: they
are all comprehensive universities with medicine but without engineering - with
the exception of Thessaloniki.
Social cohesion, societal change and social identity – these are pressing
topics when it comes to a joint long-term educational strategy and a common
(virtual) "European campus". As a "European University",
the collaboration could be substantiated and intensified.
In a highly acclaimed 2017 keynote speech, French President Emmanuel Macron
proposed the establishment of twenty European universities by 2024, by which he
did not mean newly created institutions, but rather the European networking and
alignment of existing universities. At a challenging time for the European
Union, university science should be strengthened as a pivotal driving force of
European integration, so that the younger generation can develop a greater
affinity with the European project. During a visit to the Goethe University in
October of 2017, Macron emphatically reaffirmed his vision and therewith has
also inspired the Goethe University to launch the initiative. After an initial
attempt in the spring of 2019, it is now intended to resubmit the application to
the “European University" programme. In this process, Goethe University is
spearheading the consortium.
Focusing on strengths and jointly seeking solutions to challenges – is at
the core of the cooperation. "In our regions, we have more start-ups collectively
than Silicon Valley", says van Dick. The cities and counties of the
university locations are on board as associate members of the alliance, in
addition to the German-Italian Centre for the European Dialogue, the Villa Vigoni
on Lake Como, and the Association of Science and Technological Transfer (ASTP),
a non-profit organisation with the goal of conveying science to society.
The members of this week's meeting emerged with a sizeable workload. Key
topics are mobility and exchange; a new joint degree programme in
"Politics, economics and law" is to be established, which will entail
elements of computer science as well as two stays abroad. Novel teaching
formats are to be developed that do not always necessitate a change of
location. Moreover, both scientific and administrative staff should also
exchange ideas and familiarise themselves with the work methods and structures
at other universities. In the long term, a joint technological infrastructure
is also envisioned. These are grand goals that require perseverance – and
money. Even if these endeavours do not come to fruition it is intended to
continue and to hope for the support of their own countries and regions.
"Universities and their cities are to become 'Living Labs' and 'Agents
of Change' that take place in the interest of the people", elucidates Rolf
van Dick. "Mobility, internationalisation, joint research – these are our
high hopes for this alliance", states Professor Dimitrios Kyrkilis, Vice
President at the University of Macedonia in Thessaloniki. His Polish colleague
from Lodz specifies for his location: "We would like to disseminate
European ideas more strongly again in Eastern Europe and strengthen the
position of science", says Professor Paweł Starosta.
An image is available for download by clicking: http://www.uni-frankfurt.de/85526960
Image text:
The chairmanships of the universities in Lodz, Lyon, Milan and Thessaloniki
have signed the cooperation agreements for "TruMotion" together with
the University President Prof. Birgitta Wolff. Jointly they
intend to apply for the "European University" title. From left: Prof. Birgitta Wolff, President of the Goethe University, Prof.
Stelios D. Katranidis, Rector of the University of Thessaloniki, Prof. Antoni Różalski, Rector of the University of
Lodz, Prof. Nathalie Dompnier, President of the University Lumière Lyon 2 und
Edilio Mazzoleni, University of Milan. (Copyright: Uwe Dettmar)