Report of the European Commission on the European Universities Initiative

The European Commission’s website features a detailed Report on the European Universities Initiative, which provides an overview of its results and potential since its launch in 2019.

“The European Universities Initiative is a large-scale and ambitious program that brings hundreds of universities across Europe. Its goal is to create transnational alliances and networks that promote integration and cooperation in higher education and research.”

The Report presentation highlights the key findings of a large-scale survey. A summary of these findings follows:

1. Key Achievements

• Numerous joint educational programs have been established, allowing higher education students to gain knowledge and experience at various European universities.
• The initiative promotes the mobility of students, faculty, and administrative staff, enhancing opportunities for training, internships, and experience exchange.
• The European Universities alliances actively cooperate in research and innovation, contributing to the creation of new knowledge and technologies.
• The initiative fosters the development of digital skills among students and staff, preparing them for the digital economy.

2. Potential and Prospects of the European Universities Initiative

• The initiative has significant potential to transform higher education in Europe, boost innovation and competitiveness, and lay the foundation for greater integration.
• It promotes the creation of a unified European educational area where higher education students and staff can move, study, and work freely.
• The initiative encourages intercultural dialogue and knowledge exchange among different countries and cultures.
• It also promotes the development of digital skills and infrastructure at universities.

3. Challenges and Difficulties Faced by Participants

• Ensuring stable and sufficient funding to support the activities of the alliances is a key challenge.
• Effective management and coordination of activities among the various member universities is critical to the initiative’s success.
• Overcoming bureaucratic and logistical barriers to accessing laboratory, material, and technical facilities and infrastructure at higher education institutions.
• Ensuring mutual recognition of qualifications obtained through joint programs is vital for the mobility of students and graduates.

Recommendations for Ukrainian Universities

• Ukrainian universities should actively participate in the European Universities Initiative by joining existing alliances or initiating a new one if they have an original and promising idea or concept that will contribute to the modernization of management systems.
• Developing joint educational programs with European partners will enable Ukrainian students to receive high-quality education that meets European standards, is recognized in the global labour market, and can be updated to align with current needs.
• Creating conditions for the mobility of higher education students, faculty, and administrative staff will facilitate their professional and personal development, foster experience exchange, and strengthen partnerships.
• Participation in joint research projects with European universities will open new opportunities for Ukrainian researchers, including establishing modern laboratories, research centres, and digital platforms for distance learning and international project management.
• Preparing to participate in global rankings, and promoting the university’s brand through participation in specialized exhibitions, conferences, and partnership projects within the European Initiative will help improve its reputation and attractiveness.

Ukrainian universities should actively seize the opportunities offered by this initiative to enhance the quality of education and expand international cooperation.

It is important to note that the success of the National Technical University of Ukraine “Igor Sikorsky Kyiv Polytechnic Institute” in the European Universities Initiative largely depends on the active participation of academic staff and students, and on the support of the administration, government, and business sectors.

Coordinated actions will help improve the reputation of domestic higher education institutions, both for individual representatives and for institutions as a whole, while also deepening partnerships between universities and promoting integration into the European Higher Education and Research Areas.

A list of partners of Igor Sikorsky Kyiv Polytechnic Institute is available on the “Associations” page of the International Collaboration Department’s website.