The ENHANCE alliance celebrates the addition of TU Delft (Netherlands), Gdansk Tech (Poland) and ETH Zurich (Switzerland) as new partners. The signing of the integration agreement took place during the rectors’ meeting held recently at the RWTH Aachen University (Germany). This meeting also laid the groundwork for finalizing the general strategic direction that ENHANCE wishes to take in the coming years.
By expanding its network, ENHANCE benefits from long-lasting institutional relationships between the seven founding universities and the three new members. Excellence in teaching and research are among the defining strengths of TU Delft, Gdansk Tech and ETH Zurich. Together, the ten universities will benefit from their joint experience and expertise.
«The extension of the partnership is a true sign of commitment to our mission, to develop a strong and sustainable European university. We are proud that such prestigious institutions are joining us to help us shape the future of Europe,» commented Anne Borg, Chair of the ENHANCE Board of Trustees and Rector of the Norwegian University of Science and Technology (NTNU).
For her part, Geraldine Rauch, president of the Technische Universität Berlin (TUB), coordinator of the project, pointed out that «the new members bring new ideas to ENHANCE to foster a strong European community, enabling research and learning in a peaceful and united Europe. Current events have shown us that this is more important than ever.»
TU Delft, among the 200 best in the world
TU Delft is the oldest and largest university of technology in the Netherlands. It was founded in 1842 and has 27,000 students and 6,000 employees. Science, engineering and design are the cornerstones of its research strategy. «We are delighted to be part of this strong alliance where we can combine the educational and research capabilities of all partners to create excellent European university experiences for students and staff,» says Tim van der Hagen, Rector and President of TU Delft.
Gdansk Tech, excellent conditions for research
Gdansk University of Technology, established in 1904, has more than 15,000 students and 2,800 employees. In 2017, it was recognized by the European Commission as an institution that provides some of the best working conditions for researchers in Europe. «We want to make a tangible contribution to the development of ENHANCE so that it will have a significant social impact in the EU, reach further afield and help disadvantaged regions to improve their capabilities,» says Krzysztof Wilde, rector of Gdansk Tech.
ETH Zurich, 20th best in the world according to Shanghai
ETH Zurich was founded in 1855 and has around 25,000 students and almost 10,000 employees. Freedom, individual responsibility, entrepreneurship and open-mindedness guide the institution as a center of innovation and knowledge. «ETH Zurich is pleased to join our technical university counterparts in the framework of ENHANCE to help shape the European Higher Education Area and develop solutions to common challenges,» says Günther Dissertori, Rector of ETH Zurich.
Impact in Europe and beyond
And so, the ten universities will work towards a smooth and deep integration that will take ENHANCE beyond the current funding frameworks. «The broadening of our partnership means further enrichment of our community. I believe that our diversity gives us strength, empowers us from different perspectives and helps us to have a real impact not only in the European Education Area, but across Europe,» concludes Naveed Syed, secretary general of the ENHANCE alliance.
About the ENHANCE alliance
The ENHANCE alliance was created in 2019, with the aim of developing a joint European campus, free of physical, administrative or educational barriers, where students, faculty and staff can move freely to experience the European Education Area. ENHANCE’s mission is to foster responsible social transformation and promote the development and use of science and technology for the benefit of society. ENHANCE participates in the ERASMUS+ European University Initiative and the Horizon 2020 Science with and for Society (SwafS) program.
The alliance brings together ten member universities: Technische Universität Berlin (Germany), as coordinator, Chalmers University of Technology (Sweden), TU Delft (Netherlands), ETH Zurich (Switzerland), Gdansk University of Technology (Poland), Norwegian University of Science and Technology (Norway), Politecnico di Milano (Italy), RWTH Aachen University (Germany), Universitat Politècnica de València (Spain) and Warsaw University of Technology (Poland).