Around 150 representatives from nine universities across Europe met in Freiberg and Mittweida in Germany from September 23 to 27, 2024. As part of the European university alliance EURECA-PRO (European University on Responsible Consumption and Production), they are working towards nothing less than creating a European education space where new forms of cross-border science can emerge.
EURECA-PRO brings together the expertise of nine European universities focused on sustainability in research and teaching, particularly on Sustainable Development Goal 12 (SDG12). Alongside the meeting hosts, TU Bergakademie Freiberg (Germany) and Mittweida University of Applied Sciences (Germany), the alliance includes Hasselt University (Belgium), Montanuniversität Leoben (Austria), Technical University of Crete (Greece), Universidad de León (Spain), Silesian University of Technology (Poland), University of Petroșani (Romania), and Université de Lorraine (France). Representatives from these universities regularly meet for their Review Week to further develop their joint alliance.
Professor Volker Tolkmitt, Rector of Mittweida University of Applied Sciences, stated:
“The Review Week is a highlight of our alliance’s campus life. We are particularly pleased that for the first time, we were able to welcome our partners here in Central Saxony. Our high expectations for the meeting were fully met. On our path to becoming an international competence centre for sustainable consumption and production, we were able to take important steps and engage in personal exchanges – a key aspect of our collaboration.”
The working groups focused primarily on joint study programs and research projects, as well as establishing a virtual campus. They also discussed ways to involve students more closely in the alliance's planning.
Dr. Susanne Feiel from Montanuniversität Leoben, Strategic Director of International Relations for EURECA-PRO, emphasised the value of regular face-to-face meetings and the exchange of different European cultures:
“The past few days have shown us impressively that we are part of something bigger, something permanent and forward-looking. Our personal meetings constantly renew our motivation and clarify what we are really working on. For example, during this week, we made significant progress in developing joint study programs and advancing the virtual campus. The motivation and commitment of our alliance to consistently pursue these goals are clearly evident.”
The next meeting of the EURECA-PRO partner universities will take place in 2025 at Université de Lorraine in France.
About EURECA-PRO
EURECA-PRO was founded in 2020, inspired by French President Emmanuel Macron's initiative three years earlier. With its core focus on "Sustainable Consumption and Production", EURECA-PRO is dedicated to the 12th of the United Nations' 17 Sustainable Development Goals. At the same time, the alliance brings people from across Europe closer together. For example, joint study programmes have already been developed, allowing students to seamlessly switch between two or more EURECA-PRO universities through integrated semesters abroad.
