Una Europa

Last updated

Una Europa
Formation1 February 2019
TypeEducation and research
Headquarters Brussels, Belgium
Region served
Europe
Secretary General
Sophia Karner (a.i.)
Website Una Europa

Una Europa is an international alliance of European research-intensive universities. [1] Established in early 2019, the alliance is headquartered in Brussels, Belgium and connects eleven universities, nine of which are in the European Union. [2] [1] Taken together, the participating universities teach more than 500,000 students with 80,000 staff. [3]

Contents

The network was formed in response to the European Commission's European Universities Initiative launched in 2017, which aims to create several transnational alliances of universities across Europe. [4] The proposal for Una Europa was selected by the European Commission for funding in its first call in June 2019, and became operational the same year. [1] [5] Some of Una Europa's initiatives have received additional funds from the European Union's Framework Programmes for Research and Technological Development intended to foster cooperation in the European Research Area. [6]

The alliance's ultimate goal is an integrated multinational university that enables student and staff mobility between its member institutions. This involves the creation of shared professorships, [7] transnational joint degrees, doctoral programs, and research projects. [8] The cooperation focuses on six main areas: cultural heritage, data science and artificial intelligence, European studies, materials science and technology, public health, and sustainability. [1]

Joint European degree programs

Joint Bachelor in European Studies

Una Europa launched its first transnational joint degree in October 2022, the Joint Bachelor in European Studies (BAES), including more than 270 students from 35 countries in its first cohort. [9] [10] The degree is the first of its kind in Europe, and allows students to study at several universities in the network during the three-year program. Students begin the program at one of the four 'degree-awarding universities' (Leuven, Bologna, Madrid, Kraków) and, during their second and third years, go on mobility programs to one or two different universities, choosing from any of the start universities or the mobility partner universities (Berlin, Helsinki, Edinburgh, Paris, Zurich). [11] [12] In the first three semesters, students follow the 'Truncus Communis', which includes introductory courses to various disciplines, multidisciplinary courses on Europe, a methodology track, and language courses. In the last three semesters, students follow a major and a minor module and develop a bachelor's thesis. Students choose one major and one minor in two different fields of study, which include: Business & Economics; Politics & International Relations; European & International Law; Philosophy; History; Languages & Culture; Communication, Education, Gender, & Sociology. Upon completion, students receive a single diploma awarded collaboratively by all four degree-awarding partners. [11]

In the 2025/26 academic year, more than 800 students from over 40 countries were enrolled across all three cohorts of the prorgam. [13]

Joint Bachelor in Sustainability

Following the introduction of its first transnational joint degree, Una Europa has developed its second joint program, the Joint Bachelor in Sustainability (BASUS). [14] This undergraduate program is coordinated by a network of six universities (Kraków, Leuven, Paris, Madrid, Zurich, Helsinki). As a joint degree, graduates receive a single diploma awarded collaboratively by all six institutions. The program has received accreditation through the European Approach procedure, granted by an international panel chaired by the Polish Accreditation Committee. It welcomed its first cohort in the 2025/26 academic year. [15] [16] [17] During the first year, all students follow the Common Core curriculum in Kraków, the 'start university'. In the second year, students disperse across the partner universities to pursue one of six specialized Tracks, each focusing on a different disciplinary perspective on sustainability studies: Sustainable Chemistry & Physics; Economy & Geography; Law & Politics of Sustainability; Environmental & Life Sciences; Economics, Management & Engineering; Social Sciences & Humanities. [18] The program culminates in the Final Semester, during which students write a bachelor’s thesis. In addition, students can apply to spend their final semester at any of the universities affiliated with the program, either at a degree-awarding partner university (Kraków, Leuven, Paris, Madrid, Zurich, Helsinki), or at a mobility partner university (Edinburgh, Berlin). [19]

Structure and Governance

Member universities

New member universities are admitted by the alliance's General Assembly.

InstitutionCountryFoundedStudentsStaff
KU Leuven Flag of Belgium (civil).svg Belgium 142565,53411,534
University of Helsinki Flag of Finland.svg Finland 164031,6008,120
Paris 1 Panthéon-Sorbonne University Flag of France.svg France 197145,2002,770
Free University of Berlin Flag of Germany.svg Germany 194838,5395,570
University College Dublin [20] Flag of Ireland.svg Ireland 185437,8894,138
University of Bologna Flag of Italy.svg Italy 108890,2915,882
Jagiellonian University, Kraków Flag of Poland.svg Poland 136433,5493,921
Complutense University of Madrid Flag of Spain.svg Spain 129386,15911,162
University of Zurich [20] Flag of Switzerland (Pantone).svg  Switzerland 183325,7325,753
Leiden University Flag of the Netherlands.svg Netherlands 157537,1363,435
University of Edinburgh Flag of the United Kingdom.svg United Kingdom 158339,11012,608

Governing bodies

The General Assembly is the highest decision-making body of the alliance and is composed of the Rectors or Presidents of the member universities as well as university-related members. It is responsible for defining the long-term strategic vision, approving amendments to the statutes, and deciding on the admission of new member institutions. [21]

The Board of Directors provides management oversight and is composed of the Vice-Rectors, typically responsible for international affairs, from each member university. It appoints its own president, as well as the secretary-general and treasurer of the alliance. [21]

Strategic groups

The External Advisory Board is composed of international experts from academia, public policy, and industry who provide independent strategic advice. [21] Its members are appointed by the General Assembly and meet at least once a year. [22]

The Student Board consists of two students of each member university and ensure that the student voice is taken into account in decision-making. It convenes monthly in an online format and a few times a year in person. [21] [23]

Operational framework

The Secretary-General and their team is based in the alliance's Brussels office and responsible for day-to-day activities. [21]

Partnerships

Una Europa maintains bilateral and multilateral collaborations with global partners, with an emphasis on long-term, strategic cooperation.

A key initiative is the Una Europa–Africa Partnership, which brings together eight African universities - University of Kinshasa (Democratic Republic of the Congo), University of Ghana (Ghana), University of Nairobi (Kenya), Eduardo Mondlane University (Mozambique), Kampala International University (Uganda), Makerere University (Uganda), University of Johannesburg (South Africa), and the University of the Witwatersrand (South Africa) - with the Una Europa alliance. Established in 2022, it is designed to build a transcontinental academic community focused on addressing global challenges. It places particular emphasis on supporting early-career researchers through structured collaboration in research, education, and societal outreach. Concrete initiatives include the Una Europa–Africa Seed Funding Call, which funds joint research projects between European and African institutions, and UnaVEx (Una Europa for Virtual Exchange), a program aimed at connecting 2,500 students across the two continents through virtual learning experiences focused on sustainability. The partnership also envisions mobility fellowships, academic training workshops, joint PhD supervision schemes, and online PhD masterclasses. [24]

See also

References

  1. 1 2 3 4 "About". Una Europa. Retrieved 2025-04-18.
  2. ↑ "European Universities Initiative launches UNA Europa". The University of Edinburgh. Retrieved 2021-07-14.
  3. ↑ "Una Europa | Université Paris 1 Panthéon-Sorbonne". www.pantheonsorbonne.fr. Retrieved 2021-07-14.
  4. ↑ "European Universities Initiative". Education and Training - European Commission. 2018-09-21. Retrieved 2021-07-14.
  5. ↑ "First 17 "European Universities" selected: a major step towards building a European Education Area". European Commission - European Commission. Retrieved 2026-01-07.
  6. ↑ "Una.Resin". Una Europa. Retrieved 2021-07-17.
  7. ↑ "Una Europa Chairs". Una Europa. Retrieved 2021-07-14.
  8. ↑ "Una Europa - European University Alliance - University of Bologna". www.unibo.it. Retrieved 2021-07-14.
  9. ↑ "Students embark on Europe's first truly joint Bachelor's degree". Una Europa. 2022-10-03. Retrieved 2024-06-12.
  10. ↑ "Students embark on Europe's first truly joint Bachelor's degree". Una Europa. 2022-10-03. Retrieved 2024-12-17.
  11. 1 2 "Programme Information". Una Europa. 2024-06-28. Retrieved 2024-06-12.
  12. ↑ "Across Europe in Three Years". www.news.uzh.ch. 2024-04-11. Retrieved 2024-06-12.
  13. ↑ "Primi laureati dell'Alleanza Una Europa, cerimonia a Madrid - Notizie - Ansa.it". Agenzia ANSA (in Italian). 2025-10-25. Retrieved 2025-10-29.
  14. ↑ "Basus – Una Europa Joint Bachelor in Sustainability" . Retrieved 2025-03-31.
  15. ↑ Sels, Luc (2024-11-26). "Five years in, European university alliances can claim success". Times Higher Education (THE). Retrieved 2024-12-17.
  16. ↑ "Basus – Una Europa Joint Bachelor in Sustainability" (in Polish). Retrieved 2025-04-03.
  17. ↑ "Welcome BASUS students - BASUS has started". Una Europa - Basus. 2025-10-01.
  18. ↑ "Programme structure – Basus" . Retrieved 2025-03-31.
  19. ↑ "Basus" . Retrieved 2024-12-17.
  20. 1 2 "Una Europa welcomes UCD and UZH". Una Europa. 9 May 2022. Retrieved 2022-05-09.
  21. 1 2 3 4 5 "Governance". Una Europa. Retrieved 2026-01-07.
  22. ↑ "C(2020) 9039 final" (PDF). Official Journal of the European Union. 2020-09-30.
  23. ↑ "Una Europa Student Board". Una Europa. Retrieved 2026-01-07.
  24. ↑ "Una Europa–Africa Partnership". Una Europa. Retrieved 2025-04-18.
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