Liesbet Cosyn is leaving her familiar spot as head of degree programme biomedical laboratory technology and taking a turn in her career in January: as future Head of HOGENT U!REKA SHIFT, she will coordinate HOGENT activities within the framework of the new U!REKA European University Alliance. "I considered this a great opportunity to change direction after 9 years as head of degree programme, especially because this U!REKA programme has a lot of potential," she explains.
Just to put things in perspective: this summer, the European Commission officially approved the U!REKA SHIFT programme as a 'University Alliance'. European University Alliances are transnational partnerships that, as the European Commission itself describes it, "lead the way to the universities of the future, promote European values and identity and revolutionise the quality and competitiveness of higher education in Europe."
By supporting and funding such partnerships, European policymakers aim to encourage knowledge sharing, the creation of joint international teaching and research projects, international student and faculty mobility, and the interaction between educational institutions and external partners.
The U!REKA alliance comprises HOGENT, Amsterdam University of Applied Sciences, Frankfurt University of Applied Sciences, Metropolia University of Applied Sciences in Helsinki, Politecnico de Lisboa and VSB Technical University of Ostrava, as well as some 25 more associated partners.
Proud
The U!REKA European University Alliance kicks off in January 2024, so from then on Liesbet will coordinate the HOGENT-related aspects of it as Head of HOGENT U!REKA SHIFT. Initially this will be a halftime position, to ensure a smooth transition within the biomedical laboratory technology programme, but after a few months this will evolve into a fulltime assignment.
Liesbet believes there’s reason to be proud of being selected as a European University Alliance: "Only 10% of all higher education institutions in the European Union are part of such an alliance. So we really do belong to a highly select group."
The U!REKA programme focuses on 'sustainable and smart cities', which means that competences related to sustainability and IT are particularly important. In addition, transversal skills such as communication and entrepreneurship are also key.
"We have already been working on the transition to a sustainable society for some time, within the research centres, programmes and general policies of HOGENT. So we are already doing quite a lot, but we can further strengthen our efforts by cooperating more internationally and - for example - offering additional training, both for students, staff and externals, or developing new courses. Within education, the main focus will be on collaborating around sustainability and IT challenges. For research, there will be more international cooperation within three new European centres of excellence."
"The U!REKA SHIFT programme sets out a framework, but there is still plenty of room to develop new initiatives ourselves that fit within the U!REKA story and respond to students' needs.
Liesbet Cosyn, future head of HOGENT U!REKA SHIFT
Mindshift
For teachers, the opportunities are unmistakable, Liesbet assures: "The U!REKA SHIFT programme sets out a framework, but there is still plenty of room to develop new initiatives ourselves that fit within the U!REKA story and respond to students' needs. For example, it will be possible to organise a micro-credential or course units or even a whole new course with other U!REKA partners. "However, it will be up to the lecturers themselves to make the mindshift towards a more internationally focused education," she notes.
The alliance also offers particular advantages for students, Liesbet explains: " In any case, it is enriching for students to work with fellow students from other European educational institutions on current and wide-ranging topics. Thanks to the U!REKA alliance, it will be possible to do this more and better in the future. So there will be more opportunities to develop one's own (international) study path."
Participation
Within the alliance, HOGENT is pulling a work package around student engagement and stakeholder engagement. By no coincidence at all, as HOGENT is a pioneer in the field of student participation policy. The aim is to use the HOGENT model as a starting point to develop a student council and participation policy within U!REKA as well.
The U!REKA European University Alliance can be considered an anchoring and extension of the U!REKA partnership that has already existed since 2016, and of which HOGENT is a founding member. HOGENT has always played a leading role in that partnership since then and, now that U!REKA has been acknowledged as a European University Alliance, it will continue to do so. And Liesbet will be the guide.