The alliance of European Universities of Applied Sciences is taking its next steps under the leadership of swissuniversities.
Within UAS4EUROPE, the network of Universities of Applied Sciences (UAS), swissuniversities has assumed the role of Chair for the next 12 months. The network, which was launched in 2016, has grown in stature and visibility while expanding its activities over the past years. It now brings together nine umbrella associations uniting over 450 UAS across Europe with the ambition of promoting the role of these institutions in applied research and innovation at the European level. The next steps will move the alliance moving closer to this end.
The goal over the next 12 months, under the leadership of Chairwoman Luciana Vaccaro, Rector of HES-SO (University of Applied Science and Arts Western Switzerland), is to consolidate the significant gains by formalising an association status and engaging deeper in dialogue with the European Institutions on the design and focus of EU policies and programmes relevant to applied research. Initiatives related to Sustainable Development Goals and the European Innovation Area are foreseen, in addition to regular events and networking opportunities for researchers from affiliated institutions and prospective partners.
UAS have historically been less active than traditional research universities in EU research and innovation programmes due to several factors, including their more limited internal research funding, their more regional focus, and consequently a relative lack of resources, network and experience to compete at the European level. Outside perception also plays a role, as the European Commission and other stakeholders gain a better understanding of the role that such institutions and their researchers could play to improve Europe’s performance in innovation and in enabling a broad-based dissemination of the benefits of innovation. As showcased by the recent Networking Conference, UAS4EUROPE has done much to begin the dialogue on how to take the strengths and needs of UAS more into account in the design of EU programmes. Hopefully Europe can exploit their full potential in achieving our economic and social goals through the digital and green transitions.