EUROPEAN UNIVERSITY

What is E³UDRES²

Vidzeme University of Applied Sciences represents Latvia in the Alliance of European Universities

in project E³UDRES². Nine universities from nine different countries (Austria, Belgium, Hungary, Portugal, Romania, Germany, Netherlands, Finland and Latvia) combine their resources in the fields of learning, research and innovation to find solutions to the future challenges of the region. The Alliance follows the idea “From Europe – For Europe”. For anyone, who's interested (including ViA students, partners, residents of Vidzeme region etc.), have the opportunity to participate in project activities and become part of European University.

CREATING FUTURE UNIVERSITIES, SHAPING SMART & SUSTAINABLE REGIONS

The higher education institutions working together in E³UDRES² aim to co-create outstanding ideas and concepts for future universities, set up formats and events introducing challenge-based education, bring together researchers for mission-oriented research, and serve as a platform for human-centered innovation. All these concepts are contributing to the vision of E³UDRES² creating a multi-university campus across Europe.

With the full name of E³UDRES² being "Engaged and Entrepreneurial European University for European Smart and Sustainable Regions", the main focus topics are already mentioned: Through its collective power, knowledge, experience and expertise, E³UDRES² aims to help small and medium-sized European cities turn into what we call "Smart & Sustainable Regions". These are regions that are future-proof, offer the best possible quality of life for its citizens, and stand for a progressive European society. Deeply embedded into those smart & sustainable regions, there's higher education institutions that also need to re-think the way they operate, how they educate their students, and what they stand for to be ready for the challenges the future holds - the Future Universities.

E³UDRES² mission

The E³UDRES² Alliance is exemplary as an engaged and entrepreneurial European university that responds to the social, environmental, and economic challenges of the 21st century and is committed to sustainable development goals. It acts as a living laboratory for the society of the future in progressive European regions and connects research, innovation, education and service to the community.

Download the full Vision & Mission of E³UDRES² here

Challenge-based Educational Formats

Almost all E³UDRES² formats have one thing in common: They are based on real-life regional challenges that come for example from local businesses, university members, or engaged citizens. Working on these challenges, participants of the E³UDRES² events not only get to know people from around Europe, further develop their skills, and get the chance to work in interdisciplinary teams, but also actively contribute to solving the challenges European regions are facing.

Find out more about the E³UDRES² formats

Further Focus Areas

With the overarching themes of "Smart and Sustainable Regions" as well as "Future Universities", the E³UDRES² alliance aims to support European regions in making them innovative, future-proof places for all. In connection to these themes, E³UDRES² is focusing on four further topics:

Health, Wellbeing and Social Inclusion for Regions
Digital Solutions and (Applied) Deep Tech for Regions
Resilient Economy and Innovation for Regions
Creative Industries for Region’s Identity

Find out more

I Living Labs

I Living Labs are course units in a study programme (or extracurricular course units) in which teams of students set to work on a challenge. This challenge is a complex problem that confronts an entrepreneur, (non-profit) organisation or local government for example, for which there is no cut-and-dried solution and for which a solution can have a positive impact on the region they are located in.

The student teams working together over the course of several weeks in the I Living Lab have the benefit of profiting from all the individual backgrounds of each student - coming from different study programmes, different countries and being equipped with different skills, the teams represent a diverse mix of people, each bringing in their own strengths to solve the challenge they are working on. This is what we call trans-disciplinary work - and it’s also an important component in the tool belt of future jobs. Students will also work with entrepreneurs, policymakers, citizens, researchers, and other groups of people, who may offer a different perspective on the challenge the students are facing. Finally, education professionals will supervise the students in every step along the way. They are not there to tell them what to do and how to do it, but to coach the teams and provide maximum support.

More info: I Living Labs | E³UDRES²