Aurora Alliance consists of nine research-intensive universities in the EU, working together towards the long term vision of building the universities of the future. Aurora Alliance Capacity Development Support Programme (CDS) is specially designed to help reduce the disparities between the research-leading and research-emerging countries in Europe by assisting universities in Central-Eastern Europe and Neighboring Countries to develop their institutional capacity for academic excellence and societal relevance. The expected outcomes are to spread the Aurora Alliance principles, values, skills, working processes and practical learnings to some 30 target universities in Europe and beyond.
To this end, Aurora Capacity Development Support Network of Universities (CDS Network of Universities) is being set up, with the purpose to articulate and strengthen the collaboration in supporting universities that are interested in the same objectives as Aurora Alliance member universities: in equipping diverse student populations with the skills and mind-set to address societal challenges as social entrepreneurs and innovators; in engaging with students and stakeholders at regional, national, European and global level; and in making our universities sustainable organisations.
The purpose of the Network is the following:
- To support members in developing /sharing expertise in the areas connected to the Aurora objectives
- To support members in applying this expertise to improve their universities’ practice in meeting its vision & mission
- To strengthen cross-European (including neighbouring countries) links between higher education institutions and decrease the gap between regions with leading and emergent universities
- In observing the above stated to contribute to the European Research Area and Europeans Education Area objectives towards a prosperous and harmonious Europe
The Aurora CDS Network of Universities currently consists of:
Six Aurora Alliance member universities: Palacky University Olomouc (Czech Republic);Vrije Universiteit Amsterdam (Netherlands); University Duisburg-Essen (Germany); University of Naples Federico II (Italy); Copenhagen Business School (Denmark); University of Innsbruck (Austria)
Four Associate Partner universities of the Aurora Alliance: Pavol Jozef Šafárik University in Košice (Slovakia); South-West University “Neofit Rilski” (Bulgaria); University of Tetova (N.Macedonia); V.N. Karazin Kharkiv National University (Ukraine);
We are now looking for additional collaborating universities!
How to Join the Network – Criteria and Selection Procedure
The Aurora CDS Network of Universities is an inclusive platform for universities that want to work with Aurora’s common objectives. Applicant universities should freely express interest in the Aurora Alliance CDS mission as described in the Introduction section of this document by submitting a Letter of Intent and a University Fact Sheet to Selma Porobic via email at selma.porobic@upol.cz
The criteria for joining us are the following:
- Applicant universities show an understanding of the key objectives of the Aurora Alliance programme and are interested to further at least some of these objectives at their institutions
- Applicant universities express willingness to invest time and bring their resources and expertise to the collaboration
- Applicants are made aware of external funding needed for collaboration activities developing in the Network
Applicants will be assessed on a rolling basis 2021-2023 by the CDS Task Team, led by Palacky University Olomouc with Vrije Universiteit Amsterdam as co-lead. In the assessment, the opinion of the Associate Partners will be sought.
What We Offer – Network Programme
During the 2021-2023 period of collaboration, we focus our exchanges on awareness-raising training events and projects developed together focusing:
- Virtual Mobility/Internationalization at home
- Co-creation and Service Learning
- Inclusive, Equal and Diverse Education
- Academic Competence Skill in Social Entrepreneurship.
The continued programme and activates of the Network will be a subject of evolving collaboration and co-sharing of interests in the internationalisation of higher education.
Cooperation Arrangement
There will be no legally binding duties between the members as a result of entering into the Network collaboration. Any bilateral agreements between the Network universities are subject to the inter-institutional arrangements and internal institutional regulations and policy in international cooperation.
For more information on Aurora Alliance and CDS programme visit:
www.aurora.upol.cz and www.aurora-universities.eu
