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NEOLAiA (Youth in Greek) is a close-knit alliance of six young, dynamically developing higher education institutions based in small and mid-sized cities in the regions beyond metropolises: Bielefeld University (Germany), University of Crete (Greece), University of Jaén (Spain), University of Ostrava (Czech Republic), Stefan cel Mare University of Suceava (Romania) and Siauliai State College (Lithuania).
Most members of the EU are living in small- and medium-sized cities or in the countryside. As young universities with the power and commitment for reform, we are the most important drivers of innovation and social change, in our regions, in the EU, and beyond. NEOLAiA partners have compatible profiles as research-intensive universities with common values, they have strong connections with their regions’ networks, and a complementarity of expertise and experiences.
NEOLAiA alliance is designed to achieve ambitious goals reaching to 2030 when we see ourselves:
as a strong, highly integrated European University representing a mainstay of European values and high-quality education for all the member university regions and contributing substantially to the European as well as global knowledge community;
as an open and inclusive educational and social environment fostering equity in the University and in the European society at large, ensuring that the diverse communities within the academia and in the regions feel connected and committed to work together to face the challenges of megatrends and improve the well-being for all;
as a model international educator motivating widening cohorts of students to engage in innovative research-informed and socially relevant study programmes crossing the borders of disciplines, research areas, countries and cultures, keeping pace with the digitalization of teaching and learning and at the same time cherishing personal contact and tailor-made approach.
NEOLAiA universities are firmly anchored in their regions through their close cooperation with local authorities and institutions and most importantly through their students, attracting large numbers of talents from the respective regions. NEOLAiA aims to serve as a model of European cooperation, bringing Europe closer to people’s homes in the regions and translating European values into its activities. Our students see shared interests, shared goals – shared Europe and shared peace as one of the key values our European University promotes.
The activities of NEOLAiA alliance are shaped by the principles of widening participation and inclusion, driven by the concept of equity in education and research. We are convinced these principles will help us discover hidden talents, develop everybody’s potential and achieve excellence in both teaching and research. We are ready to build together with our students the participative, open and inclusive University for a new European dimension.
NEOLAiA universities join their expertise, resources and facilities to motivate the generation of digital natives: digital student card, shared mobility databases and research platforms are the first steps that will help students make their European study experience smooth and international, fully focused on their needs and interests. Shared virtual and blended courses, interdisciplinary joint degree programmes and an open mobility scheme enable students to exploit and enjoy the complementary offer of NEOLAiA universities, and to feel truly connected to regions across Europe. Our goal is to make our students’ dream – European education at its best: enroll easily, study internationally, learn interculturally, and graduate jointly - a reality.
As we believe the ultimate goal of education and research is to improve the well-being for all we feel committed to provide our students not only with knowledge and research experience but also with values and skills crucial for empowering democracy and meeting the challenges of the globalized world- critical thinking, active citizenship, a socially engaged attitude and an entrepreneurial mindset. Our students themselves see outreach as an essential asset of educated citizens: students and graduates should understand people’s needs and be ready to help develop everybody’s potential.
We feel responsible for equipping our students with the competence and courage to meet the challenges that they may have to face and be prepared to respond. The focus on the concept of megatrends addressing the far-reaching goal patterns evidenced in the contemporary world is a distinctive feature of NEOLAiA and the unifying characteristics of the teaching and learning innovations envisaged. The objective to bring our students up in the culture of preparedness and encourage them to become the game-changers corresponds with the tasks our students set for the European universities of the future: change the rules, innovate the system, transform the world.