Networking, Exchange, Collaboration: The First BAUHAUS4EU European University Alliance Forum Kicks Off in Portugal
The BAUHAUS4EU European University Alliance will be holding its first forum from 11 to 13 June in Castelo Branco, Portugal. In addition to the ten participating universities, important partners from the region have also been invited. The forum is intended to strengthen cooperation at regional level, enable exchange with various European University Alliances, and offer a space for efficient working sessions in small groups and at all levels. Around 200 attendees are expected. President Prof. Peter Benz, Chancellor Dr. Horst Henrici and other senior staff from the departments, faculties, and project teams at the Bauhaus-Universität Weimar will be travelling to Portugal for the event.
Three days of workshops, round-table discussions, and working sessions: Participants can expect a packed programme. On the first day of the event, measures for improving cooperation will be developed together with representatives from local politics and the local business association. A meeting of university presidents and rectors will take place on the same day. On the second day of the forum, the focus will be on European university alliances. Experiences and best practices in Europe-wide cooperation will be discussed with other alliances. On the last day, participants will finally meet in their respective working groups to continue working together on their specific tasks, inspired by the wealth of insights they have gained.
The involvement of regional cultural, social, and industry partners plays an important role in the project. Through close international cooperation, the Alliance is establishing networks that can also have a positive impact on Thuringia. For the Bauhaus-Universität Weimar, this holds great potential: The event is a promising opportunity to increase the university's visibility and make its own services even more appealing – for university members from research, teaching, and administration, as well as for our regional partners and the public.
Castelo Branco is located in the centre of Portugal and is known for its well-preserved historic old town, which has been built around its namesake castle. The Instituto Politécnico de Castelo Branco, the host of the forum, is home to six faculties: Technology, Health, Education, Art, Management, and Agriculture. The university is well integrated in the region, working closely with companies, local authorities, and civil society organisations in its research and innovation projects.
About the BAUHAUS4EU European University Alliance
The BAUHAUS4EU is a consortium of ten European higher education institutions, including: Bauhaus-Universität Weimar (Germany), Blekinge Tekniska Högskola (Sweden), Università degli Studi di Bergamo (Italy), Universitet po Architektura, Stroitelstvo i Geodezija, (Bulgaria), Uniwersytet Ekonomiczny w Katowicach (Poland), Instituto Politécnico de Castelo Branco (Portugal), Université de Picardie Jules Verne (France), Université Lumière Lyon 2 (France), Universiteti Polis (Albania), and the University of Macedonia (Greece). Together, these institutions represent 124,000 students and 10,000 staff members, who collaborate closely in various innovative cooperation formats to shape the future of education, learning, research, and innovation.