The University of “Goce Delčev” – Štip (UGD), together with eight other European universities, has joined a European project as part of the European University Alliance, gaining new opportunities to develop alongside leading European universities.
At the end of June 2024, the European Commission announced the results of the Erasmus+ call for 2024 for European universities, where only 14 university alliances received financial support for their operations. One of the recipients, with 92 points from the project application evaluation, is the European University Alliance ACE²-EU – the alliance of Applied, Connected, Entrepreneurial, and Engaged European Universities, which includes UGD along with eight other EU universities. This means that the ACE²-EU Alliance will receive funding amounting to €14 million, which will be used to finance the joint activities outlined within the alliance and support long-term transnational and institutional cooperation between the universities.
International Collaboration and Student Mobility
Professor Dr. Ana Nikodinovska-Krstevska, UGD’s Vice Rector for International Cooperation, emphasized that these European alliances will contribute to the new generation of Europeans studying and working in various European countries, learning languages, and accessing different European disciplines. Through combining multiple study curricula across several European countries, students can obtain a degree in higher education, enhancing the attractiveness and competitiveness of higher education within the Single European Higher Education Area. These alliances also work together to bring innovations to European regions by enabling students to collaborate with academic staff, researchers, businesses, local governments, state institutions, and the civil sector.
Additionally, UGD staff will have the opportunity to deepen their cooperation with colleagues from the Alliance, conduct joint research, projects, and develop shared educational programs, along with many other activities.
Focus on Entrepreneurship and Innovation
Professor Dr. Dejan Mirakovski, Rector of UGD, pointed out that this project would allow students to combine their studies at different universities and gain a new set of skills and knowledge. The focus is on enhancing the mobility of students and staff, fostering entrepreneurship, and developing a strong European educational community. UGD’s involvement in the Alliance will facilitate the creation of new opportunities and educational innovations, supporting the development of a new generation of highly skilled Europeans.
UGD’s Role in the Alliance Within this Alliance, UGD is responsible for developing the e-campus for the Alliance, which will create a shared digital space where students and staff from these nine universities will have access to educational opportunities and challenges offered by the Alliance. UGD is also a co-coordinator for the work package related to mobility and European values, which will provide additional mobility and exchange opportunities for both students and staff. Approximately €2 million has been allocated to the mobility initiatives within the Alliance.
Expanding Global Cooperation So far, the European Union has funded 64 such alliances across 35 countries, including all EU member states, as well as Albania, Bosnia and Herzegovina, Iceland, North Macedonia, Norway, Serbia, and Turkey. These alliances represent deeply integrated communities and innovation networks that connect over 2,200 partners, including non-governmental sectors, businesses, local and regional communities, higher education institutions part of the Bologna Process, and nearly 40 higher education institutions from Ukraine as associate partners.
This article was translated using ChatGPT.
