A European

Universities Initiative

NEOLAiA (youth in Greek) is the alliance of young European Universities for digital natives, which stands for inclusion, gives personal and tailor-made answers, strengthens democracy and encourages their members to make a difference, becoming game-changers.

DISCOVER THE INITIATIVE

Who we are

NEOLAiA is the European Universities consortium that answers global challenges with empowering regions.

Bielefeld University

Germany

For over a decade it has been a leader in digital and technological research, especially in the area of Artificial Intelligence and Machine learning, securing numerous national and international grants that fuel top end outcomes.

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University of Jaén

Spain

UJA has more than 30 departments (which are the main university units responsible for organizing and developing research and teaching) related to different university areas: business administration, anthropology, geography and history, chemistry, languages, etc.

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University of Nicosia

Cyprus

The University of Nicosia (UNIC) is one of the leading comprehensive research-oriented universities in the Mediterranean region, committed to teaching and learning, research and innovation, sustainability, societal engagement, and contribution to culture.

Today, UNIC offers more than 100 on-campus and online programmes of study, at all degree cycles.

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Örebro University

Sweden

Örebro University has strong research and a study programme in Artificial Intelligence and Robotics, and a growing number of national and international collaborations with universities and companies.

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University of Ostrava

Czech Republic

OU is particularly strong in fuzzy modelling and Artificial Intelligence, in genome biology, and in the study of biodiversity, and environmental geography, and boasts a competitive interdisciplinary team exploring human movement and healthy aging in contemporary society.

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University of Salerno

Italy

The University of Salerno is ideally linked to the oldest academic institution in the Old Continent: the Schola Medica Salernitana. Its geographical position makes the university easily accessible from all over Campania Region.

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University "Ștefan Cel Mare" of Suceava

Romania

The first university in Romania in terms of number of patents and inventions over the last decade. USV plays a key role in the development and dissemination of scientific knowledge, with a recent focus on implementing and assessing the digitalization – sustainability convergence.

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University of Tours

France

As an acknowledged leader in its economic, social and cultural environment, the University of Tours (UT) is a cutting-edge, innovative institution promoting humanistic values, which are deeply rooted in a region overflowing with history and cultural heritage.

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Šiauliai State University of Applied Sciences

Lithuania

ŠVK is a higher education institution offering more than 20 study programmes belonging to science fields groups of informatics, engineering, social, health, business and public management. Each year College prepares several hundred professional bachelors.

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Logo Siauliu University
logo universidad de jaen
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Logo Université de Tours

We stand for 3 NeoTrends

“Global challenges such as climate change, digitalization, demographics, and urbanization are the Global Challenges of the time. They affect metropolises and regions differently.”

Two students regarding at a computer

Digitalization and its impact on sustainable development at a regional scale

two girls smiling at a camera in orebro university

Diversity and inclusion and their impact on European regions

several health students attending to exposition

Global health challenges and solutions at a regional scale

Meet the people behind NEOLAiA

WHAT DOES NEOLAiA MEAN FOR YOU?

“This European University will lay the foundations of a future of opportunities for students, teachers and researchers from all the partner universities and for the environments they are located in. Both at personal and professional levels, NEOLAiA means an opportunity for growth and learning; it is also the path to my future.”

Daniel López – International Relations Officer – UJA

WHAT DOES NEOLAiA MEAN FOR YOU?

“A genuine personal and professional step change. NEOLAiA is a radically new way to vertebrate collaboration amongst universities in Europe. The result? A wealth of creative ideas and academic growth thanks to a unique spirit of common work and the novel perspective of a truly special group of engaged, top-notch colleagues”.

María Luisa Pérez – Rector’s Delegate for European Universities and Language Policy – UJA

WHAT DOES NEOLAiA MEAN FOR YOU?

“From a university leadership perspective, NEOLAiA offers a strategic network of “best friends universities” together with which we build novel study programs and courses for the benefit of European students. At the same time, joint research addresses burning issues of a contemporary and
future democratic Europe”.

Åke Strid – Pro Vice-Chancellor International – ORU

WHAT DOES NEOLAiA MEAN FOR YOU?

“Good research and teaching require an intellectual challenge and an inspiration. NEOLAiA offers me an interesting platform to proof and develop my skills as historian within an already established network of universities, and brings new perspectives, questions, and collaborations into my work through engaged activities with colleagues and students having interest in my topics”.

Izabela Dahl – Associate Professor engaged in research and teaching within NEOLAiA – ORU

WHAT DOES NEOLAiA MEAN FOR YOU?

“NEOLAiA is an amazing initiative of young, research-driven universities with a strong orientation towards interdisciplinary. Also, it represents the idea of being a European citizen and of being at home in Europe – in presence but also on the digital level. Regarding the particular responsibilities of Bielefeld University, it is as well a starting point to set up an innovative idea of an European university based on values like inclusion and diversity.

Michaela Vogt – Professor at the Faculty of Educational Science – UNIBI

WHAT DOES NEOLAiA MEAN FOR YOU?

“NEOLAiA means for me to overcome borders and barriers together and to shape and empower diversity and inclusion in Europe”.

Michael Johannfunke – Accessible Services Coordinator – UNIBI

WHAT DOES NEOLAiA MEAN FOR YOU?

“NEOLAiA started as a project intent, an ambitious goal to pursue but soon has developed into much more – a laboratory of ideas, an arena for discussions, a cosy environment for sharing experiences and practices, and first and foremost a team of inspirational colleagues and friends you can rely on”.

Renata Tomaskova – Vice-Rector for International Relations – OU

WHAT DOES NEOLAiA MEAN FOR YOU?

“NEOLAiA provides space for development and new approaches, their initial testing and answering the current questions regarding international online learning, blended mobilities or EWP”.

Kamila Danihelkova – Head of Centre for International Cooperation – OU

WHAT DOES NEOLAiA MEAN FOR YOU?

“NEOLAiA is a quantum leap for the development of a regional university. The Alliance encompasses all the vital components of a modern and committed HEI.  Undoubtedly, a win-win cooperation!”

Nedas Jurgaitis – Deputy Director,
leading representative of ŠVK

WHAT DOES NEOLAiA MEAN FOR YOU?

“NEOLAiA is a great opportunity to create and share ideas and experiences, to develop researches, to improve the study process, to grow and develop professionally and personally for students, for academics, the entire higher education community in those aspects and at a level that would not be possible working separately”.

Rasa Pocevičienė – Head of Study and
Science Coordination Service – ŠVK

WHAT DOES NEOLAiA MEAN FOR YOU?

“From a university leadership perspective, NEOLAiA offers a great opportunity to enhance our strategic network collecting minds into a multilateral agreement. Our efforts are devoted to openminded students and colleagues.”

Gianluca Sbardella – Pro Vice-Chancellor International Relations – UNISA

WHAT DOES NEOLAiA MEAN FOR YOU?

“NEOLAiA Consortium offers a unique opportunity to strengthen my cross cultural competence and negotiation ability. My personal efforts are devoted to our students in creating an inclusive learning space.”

Bice Della Piana – Associate Professor of Cross Cultural Competence and Cross Cultural Management – UNISA

WHAT DOES NEOLAiA MEAN FOR YOU?

“Neolaia brings together innovative minds and builds bridges between several young universities of Europe. Young universities – Fresh perspectives – Dynamic communities. These are the main ingredients in Neolaia’s story, where the students, teachers and researchers are the main actors and subjects in a better, reinvented future”.

Carmen Chasovschi – Office Coordinator for International Relations and European Affairs – USV

WHAT DOES NEOLAiA MEAN FOR YOU?

” It is only by working together that we can deal with a changing world. Neolaia brings a fresh perspective and better chances in dealing with the future societal challenges. It is motivating to see committed partners, working together for a better and inclusive education in Europe.”

Stefan Purici – Vice-rector for Image, International Relations and European Affairs – USV

WHAT DOES NEOLAiA MEAN FOR YOU?

“NEOLAIA is a unique opportunity to implement the primary goal of European construction: “to lay the foundations of an ever closer union among the peoples of Europe”. The acceleration of exchanges and the establishment of rich collaborations, both in education and research, are essential to train tomorrow’s citizens for the major challenges of our time.“

Colombine Madelaine – Vice-president in charge of international relations – UT

WHAT DOES NEOLAiA MEAN FOR YOU?

“The multicultural educational environment promotes active learning and plays a crucial role in the development of specialized, soft and digital skills, which are essential for graduates to succeed in the labour market and the knowledge society in general.”

Melpo Iacovidou – Director of Academic Compliance Office – UNIC

WHAT DOES NEOLAiA MEAN FOR YOU?

“NEOLAiA provides a shared vison and strategy for implementing the Knowledge Square to Higher Education and societal contribution. It expressly empowers us to collectively address, amongst others, the challenges for achieving the EC priorities of the green and digital transformation, as well as the 17 SDGs of the UN 2030 Agenda for sustainable development.”

Panayiotis Angelides – Vice Rector for Academic Affairs – UNIC

Meet US

NEOLAiA in Figures

“We, as Universities, are the most important drivers of innovation and social change, in our regions, in the EU, and beyond.”

Students

FACULTIES AND SCHOOLS

MASTER'S DEGREE PROGRAMS

BACHELOR'S DEGREE PROGRAMS

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What is the European Universities Initiative?

The aim of this initiative is to bring together a new generation of creative Europeans able to cooperate across languages, borders and disciplines to address societal challenges and skills shortages faced in Europe.

The education landscape across Europe is changing. At the 2017 Gothenburg Summit, EU leaders outlined a vision for education and culture. In its December 2017 Conclusions, the European Council called on Member States, the Council and the Commission to take forward a number of initiatives, including “…strengthening strategic partnerships across the EU between higher education institutions and encouraging the emergence by 2024 of some twenty ‘European Universities‘, consisting in bottom-up networks of universities across the EU which will enable students to obtain a degree by combining studies in several EU countries and contribute to the international competitiveness of European universities”.

Co-developed by higher education institutions, student organisations, Member States and the Commission, the European Universities Initiative responds to this call. Today, it is one of the flagship initiatives of the EU’s ambitions to build a European Education Area.

What is a European University?

European Universities are transnational alliances that will become the universities of the future, promoting European values and identity, and revolutionising the quality and competitiveness of European higher education. In order to achieve this major step forward, the Commission is testing different cooperation models for European Universities with two calls for proposals under the Erasmus+ programme. The alliances will:

Include partners from all types of higher education institutions and cover a broad geographic scope across Europe

Adopt a challenge-based approach according to which students, academics and external partners can cooperate in inter-disciplinary teams to tackle the most pressing issues facing Europe

Be based upon a co-envisioned long-term strategy focussed on sustainability, excellence and European values

Offer student-centred curricula jointly delivered across inter-university campuses, where diverse student bodies can build their own programmes and experience mobility at all levels of study