ABOUT NEOLAiA 

OUR HISTORY

NEOLAiA wants to raise the potential of our regions

students at ostrava university

NEOLAiA was born as a strategic collaboration initiative of a group of universities from Spain, Germany, Czech Republic and Sweden in May 2019.

The formal establishment of the consortium stems from the previous cooperation that existed for several decades between the founding universities through collaborations in international mobility, research and teaching.

As a consortium of European Universities, the first proposal for an agreement to create the NEOLAiA Alliance was formalized in September 2019. The Alliance has subsequently grown with the active incorporation of full partners from Italy, Lithuania, Romania, France and Cyprus.In addition, in 2022 NEOLAiA received the highly coveted certificate by the European Commission of a High Quality Proposal in a Highly Competitive Evaluation Process with an overall score of 84/100. During these almost four years of sustained and constant academic collaboration, the alliance has launched numerous strategic institutional collaboration activities, covering areas such as:

 

      • Teaching and Learning: Proposals for double and joint degrees (ERASMUS-EDU-2021-EMJM-DESIGN “NEOTrend Inclusion – degree, competence, mobility”), cross-disciplinary and micro-credential courses, mapping of teaching resources, funding for the implementation of an Erasmus KA2 Strategic Partnerships project (KA220-HED – Cooperation partnerships in higher education “Supporting Academics to Become INTERNATIONAL EDUCATORS through Professional Learning Communities”) with a total grant of 399,670.4€.
      • Research: Implementation of joint research actions aimed at Horizon Europe, mapping of research resources and complementarity of research areas.
      • Inclusion and Diversity: Mapping of inclusion and diversity resources at the universities, presentation of a Joint Project on Inclusion and Diversity in the call for proposals KA226 – Partnerships for Digital Education Readiness (“E-learn for all: Inclusive education through virtual learning environments”).
      • Mobility: Implementation of BIPs within the NEOLAiA Focus Academy initiative.
      • Entrepreneurship and Employability: Joint publications in the field of employability, mapping of entrepreneurship resources.
girl painting a graffity

In addition, NEOLAiA partners have jointly competed for international calls within Erasmus+ and Horizon Europe. Projects in the field of mobility have also been developed jointly (creation of mobility maps with specific tracks for mobility connected with the Focus Academy, Neotrends, and preparation of mobility windows for researchers and students of future double or joint plans). In 2021, a pilot project has also been launched with specific scholarships for students who will undertake international mobility in the Alliance countries, with an additional financial endowment per mobility scholarship. 

NEOLAiA participated in the pilot phase of the 2020 European Universities Call for Proposals, exceeding by far the score corresponding to the quality threshold. In these three years, the own and external funding obtained to finance activities of the Alliance has amounted to 550,000 €, most of it provided by the universities participating in the consortium themselves.

NEOLAiA is the result of a constant and determined commitment of the universities in the consortium and, stemming from this stable commitment, they have established a long-term institutional collaboration strategy that covers the future of the Alliance over the next 7 years. The participation in the European Universities Initiative call is one further initiative of the consortium aimed at strengthening its cooperation strategy, as well as its collaboration structures. This will allow the implementation of the actions included in the Work Packages of the project that will be submitted as a consolidated Alliance. 

Our Nature

Most members of the European Union are living in small and medium-sized cities or in the countryside. So, as young universities with the power and commitment to reform, we are the most important drivers of innovation and social change, in our regions.

Global challenges such as climate change, digitalization, demographics, and urbanization are the Global Challenges of our time. They affect metropolises and regions differently. Global Challenges fuel growing populism, worries and the call for authoritarian structures, especially outside capitals. The regions beyond the metropolises are the places where Europe’s future is negotiated on a daily basis as an opportunity and as a challenge.

NEOLAiA makes Europe an experience. Our students are first generation academics, often with a migrant background within their family. They are ambitious, they are diverse, and they are talented. Our societies and the future of the European Union need their potential.

NEOLAiA wants to raise the potential of our regions. Empowering regions means strengthening democracy, preventing populism, fostering inclusion, exploiting the potential of heterogeneity, countering extremism, and making excellent research and teaching an everyday experience.

students with bikes at orebro university

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