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Minister Harris announces additional funding for Universities to support their participation in EU partnerships
Minister Harris announces additional funding for Universities to support their participation in EU partnerships
Minister for Further and Higher Education, Research, Innovation and Science, Simon Harris, TD announced the allocation of €2.7 million to support the participation of Irish universities in various European University Alliance partnerships.
One of the flagship initiatives of the European Union’s ambitions is to build a European Education Area.
“The success of the European Union (EU) is built on education and common purpose.
“Through seamless mobility, be it physical or virtual, students, staff and researchers from the EU are able to study, train, teach, do research, work and share services in partner institutions across different countries.
“The impact of that access and opportunity to explore and share our education systems and research communities cannot be understated.
“The funding I am announcing today further enhances the participation of our Irish Universities in European partnerships and strengthens those international relationships we have built over decades benefitting thousands of Irish students.
“The partnerships we have will continue to lead the way towards the universities of the future, promoting European values and identity, and revolutionising the quality and competitiveness of European higher education.
“I want to congratulate the 12 Irish Universities in the EU Commission’s ambitious programme."
The European Universities Alliance initiative aims to foster excellence, innovation and inclusion in higher education across Europe, accelerating the transformation of higher education institutions into the universities of the future with structural, systemic and sustainable impact.
It sets out to encourage the emergence of 60 'European Universities' by 2025, consisting of alliances of bottom-up networks of universities across the EU.
This will enable students to obtain a degree by combining studies in several EU countries and contribute to the international competitiveness of European universities.
There are now close to 400 higher education institutions in both capital cities and remote regions of 31 countries, including all EU Member States, Iceland, Norway, Serbia and Turkey.
Dr Alan Wall, CEO of the HEA added:
“The HEA is delighted to be partnering with the Department of Further and Higher Education, Research, Innovation and Science to support Irish higher education institutions’ participation in the European University Alliances for the development of collaborative and mutually beneficial joint initiatives in teaching and research.”
Minister Harris concluded:
“I will be launching Global Citizens 2030 – Ireland’s International Talent and Innovation Strategy later today, and our universities’ collaborations with their European peers will play a key part in delivering on its objective.
"I know this allocation of €2.7 million will assist institutions to meet resource costs arising for their involvement in these strategic partnerships.”