Alongside the University of Bremen, the universities Maastricht (coordinator), Antwerp, Carlos III Madrid, Eastern Finland, Essex, Roma Tor Vergata and Cyprus are part of the alliance. Over 50 networks handed in applications and 17 will be financed by the EU. The project funding will begin on September 01, 2019.

Professor Martin Paul, Chair of the YUFE alliance and President of Maastricht University said: “Our European University will provide students with the skills they need for a successful career and will offer truly European career paths to all members of the universities. In doing so, the YUFE European University will strengthen our collective identity and contribute to a more cohesive European society.

“We are extremely pleased about this success”, stated the President of the University of Bremen, Professor Bernd Scholz-Reiter. “We can now realize our aim of creating one of the first European universities together with our partners. We are making a clear commitment to Europe and will conceptualize and design the university and all its facets in a new way.”

The YUFE Vision: Studying throughout Europe

The YUFE European University will enable prospective students to compile their curricula, choosing from programmes offered at each of the eight YUFE universities. To allow access to all systems and facilities of these universities, the alliance will introduce a YUFE student card, valid at all participating universities. Multilingualism is an important topic, despite the circumstance that most students will surely study in English. Everyone who spends a period in another country will be supported in learning the language of their host country. When they have successfully completed their studies, students receive a European diploma that will be valid anywhere in Europe. Students with a YUFE diploma will have studied at several universities, learnt foreign languages, completed internships and will have job-shadowed in various fields. They are also characterized by their services to the community.

Feeling at home in the YUFE cities

To guarantee accessibility for as many students as possible, YUFE is preparing to set up a virtual European campus. Students or interested citizens who want to follow a single virtual or physical course can also make use of the YUFE offer. YUFE will develop housing solutions that facilitate cultural exchange, mutual support and integration with the local community. The students will be encouraged to become active in the community of their place of study and thus support cultural exchange between not only universities but also between the cities.

Regional focus and impact

The YUFE programme itself pays a lot of attention to the specific regions in which the eight YUFE universities are located. When it comes to internships, for example, every university will work together with local authorities, the business community and other organisations. The University of Bremen together with Bremen State places a focus on green cities: Sustainability, mobility, town development and climate protection are topics for which the university hopes to receive valuable ideas from YUFE students.

Dr Daniela Trani and Jan Hupkens, coordinators of the YUFE-alliance said: “In this way, YUFE education provides a European mind-set for students, enabling them to view matters from different perspectives and allows the various regions and their residents to benefit from this exchange of knowledge across Europe.”

European integration

The Chair of the YUFE alliance and President of Maastricht University, Professor Martin Paul added: “The selection of the YUFE proposal represents an important milestone for our alliance and we are keen to contribute to a unique momentum in European higher education.”

Partners and Associated Partners of YUFE:

The YUFE alliance is geographically diverse and includes universities, cities and companies.
YUFE full partners are:

• Maastricht University (coordinator) - Netherlands
• Carlos III University of Madrid - Spain
• University of Antwerp - Belgium
• University of Bremen - Germany
• University of Cyprus - Cyprus
• University of Eastern Finland
• University of Essex - United Kingdom
• University of Rome Tor Vergata - Italy

YUFE associated partners are:

• European Entrepreneurs CMA-PME
• Kiron Open Higher Education
• Nicolaus Copernicus University of Torún - Poland
• The Adecco Group France
• The Educational Testing Service Global
• The University of Rijeka – Croatia

About the European YUFE Network

The Young Universities for the Future of Europe (YUFE) alliance is a major strategic partnership established between eight young research-intensive universities from as many European countries. The YUFE alliance, together with its six associate partners, aims at bringing a radical change in European higher education by establishing itself as the leading model of a young, student-centred, non-elitist, open and inclusive European University. A unique ecosystem linking universities to communities, YUFE will be based on cooperation between higher education institutions, the public and private sector, and citizens across Europe.

Further information:

www.yufe.eu
Twitter: @AllianceYufe
Instagram: @yufe_alliance
Facebook: www.facebook.com/YUFEalliance
/www.uni-bremen.de/en/cooperation/university-cooperation/international-partners/
 

Contact:

Prof. Dr. Eva-Maria Feichtner
Vice President for International and Diversity
University of Bremen
Phone: +49 421 218-60041
Email: kon3protect me ?!uni-bremenprotect me ?!.de

Dr. Annette Lang
Head of the International Office and YUFE Coordinator
University of Bremen
Phone: +49 421 218-60361
Email: langprotect me ?!uni-bremenprotect me ?!.de