Cutting-edge educational initiatives focus of 4EU+ meeting ****************************************************************************************** * Cutting-edge educational initiatives the focus of 4EU+ conference in Copenhagen ****************************************************************************************** The 4EU+ university alliance, pooling the resources and talents of six public research uni (including Charles University) aims to revolutionise research and education, offering inno programmes that should improve cooperation and mobility and create opportunities that push One of the alliance members, the University of Copenhagen, recently hosted work groups fro + Alliance, tasked with laying the foundations for innovative study programmes. The meetin Feb. 20 and 21, 2020. Rain, rain, go away… The first day of the meeting at the North Campus of the University of Copenhagen which inl Maersk Tower began with smiles but also an apology about the weather. Though conditions we began raining in the early hours and continued throughout the day well into the evening. U representatives apologised that conditions “could have been nicer”, but alas… Not that a b dampened anyone’s spirits: life in Copenhagen does not simply stop because of a little rai shades of grey clouds – far from it. The city’s wide sidewalks and excellent network of cy always being used: even when it pours, people bike from place to place, a walk to the venu At the university's North Campus At the meeting, proceedings went smoothly and were timed “to the t”. A full programme of p first day outlined not only the alliance’s continuing goals but offered a checklist of rec immediate next steps. Presentations were followed by rigorous discussions, getting to the different initiatives. Among the key speakers, was the 4EU+ Alliance’s new Secretary General, Volker Balli, a soc has led the alliance since January. He stressed the importance of something that could bes as a “4EU+ learning” label. Research, innovation, education, are all a given, he made clea ambitious is raising the bar and ensuring the highest quality possible. He gave an example A summer school within 4EU+ will vary from classic summer courses by bringing together stu and research from all the participant universities. We need to be careful to make overly b about breaks with past or game-changers but at the same time it is not “more of the same”. last 20 years have really seen many changes: in funding, ERC grants, how cutting-edge rese That is what we are building on and leaving the old 19th century professorial model – wher regurgitate what the professor said – behind. Onwards from the Flagships The focus of the alliance’s Flagship 1 is public health (something also discussed in an up interview with the University of Copenhagen’s Rector Henrik C. Wegener). Charles Universit for Education Milena Králíčková, who was a member of Flagship 1, along with colleagues Sab Rousseau, an associate professor at Sorbonne University and Research Associate at Heidelbe Anne Sommer, spoke at length about the preparation of study programmes and other education within 4EU+, with a special emphasis on skills. She outlined how members of the team’s wor and stressed that the task ahead was to create a “4EU+ educational activity framework”. In the two-day conference was the aim to begin putting together “a portfolio of students’ ski and values”. Milena Králíčková also talked about creating a “4EU+ learning pathway” which will serve a We want to design new study programmes on the framework of the flagships. This is somethin mind: all of us here will begin at a [modest] starting point of some small educational act are, in the end, aiming to create new study programmes. Programmes will offer students a n will require new preparation for both students and staff. [We now] have a unique chance to design completely new curricula defining the right skills are already engaged in their respective fields and already face new challenges. Pathways f for example, will use different kinds of mobility – both physical and virtual – and will b different partners within the alliance and will also include the transfer of skills. Transferal skills that are essential for students within 4EU+: Multilingualism, data liter entrepreneurship, critical thinking and social engagement, she said. Shortly, Sorbonne University’s Sabine Bottin-Rousseau outlined the task at the conference example, Master’s study programmes and internships that would be accessible online by all allowing the opportunity, for example, for researchers who wanted to spend a semester or y the member universities or for students to take the course online. Together with Anne Somm University of Milan’s Manuela Milani) the speakers outlined where 4EU+ is headed and just it will be. From teething pains to success Even steps forward can at times be difficult and there are always at least some teething p or ambitious projects. Sorbonne University’s Serge Fdida, a member of the 4EU+ Management addressed some of concerns, even certain frustration for some in working groups or concern aspects of the projects were “not moving ahead fast enough”. He and others through stresse temporary situation. The University of Warsaw’s Jolanta Choinska-Mika, for example, told F when things sometimes appear slightly chaotic it is just part of the process. She made cle examples and results are taking shape, saying this: Before 4EU+ [received backing in the EC call], we all worked in different groups. What is an integration and a joining of forces. By our next meeting, I think we will have made ano think things will come together and we will be united in a joint success.