Alliance Members

The VU is a comprehensive research university, founded in 1880 and aims to contribute to a better world. A world in which justice, humanity, and responsibility for each other and for the world, are central. The VU is ambitious in scientific research and education and encourages free and open communication of ideas. Our university values academic freedom and independence. This independence is reflected in our name Vrije Universiteit; free from church, state and commercial interests. We are committed to delivering Academic Value by developing academic character, embracing diversity and our orientation towards society.

Located at the VU Campus in the heart of the Amsterdam business district, the VU houses 10 faculties, has approximately 23.000 students of which 3.000 international students, 4.500 staff and offers around 70 international programmes. Our education and research are clustered around four interdisciplinary research themes: Governance for Society, Human Health and Life Sciences, Connected World and Science for Sustainability.

A research-intensive university, the University of East Anglia (UEA) is ranked one of the United Kingdom’s top 15 universities, one of Europe’s top 100, and is also in the world’s top 100 for research excellence.

Located in the Norwich Research Park (NRP), UEA has 15,000 students (4,000 of them postgraduate) and 25 per cent of students are international. UEA shares the NRP with the research-intensive Institute of Food Research, the John Innes Centre, The Sainsbury Laboratory, the Earlham Institute and the Norfolk and Norwich University Hospital.

Specialisms range from environment and climate change, to health and nutrition, exploring issues of family and child policy, economics and business through to creative writing.

The university’s interdisciplinary approach, and the international reach of its research, ensures it’s well placed to continue to address significant research questions and make a real impact on the world.

The University of Iceland, founded in 1911, is a progressive comprehensive research university, situated in the heart of Reykjavik, the capital of Iceland. Great emphasis is placed on strengthening research and educating young people, preparing them for taking an active part in society as well as making their mark on the global community. The University of Iceland is ranked no. 201-250 by the Times Higher Education World University Rankings. Currently some 13,300 students are enrolled at the University, including over 1,100 international students. The University of Iceland comprises five schools and 25 faculties offering over four hundred different programmes of study in all major academic disciplines, The University employs a large number of highly qualified academics who are a part of a strong global network within the scientific community. Dynamic and extensive collaboration with research institutions and industry is an important factor in the University’s operations.

Founded in 2003 by merger of two universities in the cities Duisburg and Essen, we are one of the youngest universities in Germany. Located at the heart of the Ruhr metropolis, our university is like our region: dynamic, ambitious, and ever changing.

In our eleven faculties and four interdisciplinary research clusters – Nano sciences, Biomedical Sciences, Urban Systems, and Transformation of Contemporary Societies – our scientists develop ideas with a future. We deliberately interlock research and teaching as closely as we can to promote exchange of knowledge and perspectives.

At our two campuses at Duisburg and Essen and our university medical center, you meet 42,000 students from more than 130 countries. We embrace diversity and strongly support exchange and collaboration, both regionally – as with our neighboring universities

Founded by the emperor of the Holy Roman Empire Frederick II in 1224, the University Federico II is the world’s oldest state-supported institution of Higher Education and Research. Based in Naples, the University is rooted in a challenging and lively socio-economic context and aims at bridging southern Italy to the global scientific community. The University Federico II committed to its public mission, and its laic and pluralistic vocation, supports the independence, openness and inclusivity of teaching, learning and research.

As a comprehensive public university, Federico II offers high-quality courses in all academic disciplines, at all levels, allowing its students to pursue both intellectual development and the acquisition of professional skills. Federico II is also committed to quality research, societal impact and community engagement. The development of interdisciplinary and innovative teaching, learning and research are, therefore, among its priorities.

At Federico II, fundamental and curiosity-driven research as well as applied and out-put oriented researchers are highly praised, placing the University among the most active Higher Education and Research Italian and European institutions.

The Universitat Rovira i Virgili (URV) was created in 1991 by the Parliament of Catalonia. From the very first day, the university’s aim has been apparent: to place knowledge at the service of society to contribute to the social and economic development of the surrounding area, as it gradually transforms over time.

Located approximately 100 km south-west of Barcelona on the Mediterranean coast of Catalonia, the URV trains future professionals under the precepts of European harmonization, as a way of opening doors to a world of work without frontiers. With this aim, we currently provide over 130 different programmes of study in all areas of knowledge and at all levels, courses which are now enjoyed by over 14,000 students, with 34% of our 2,700 postgraduate students being international. The university has a staff of 2,900 members.

The special emphasis that the URV places on research allows it to play a leading role in regional development, especially in those areas that are closely linked to the region’s economic strengths: namely, Chemistry, Energy and New Materials, Nutrition and Health, Wine-making, Tourism, Housing, Heritage and Culture, ICT & Digital Economy.

Founded in 1669, Universität Innsbruck is the largest research and education institution in western Austria, with more than 27,000 students and 5,000 staff and faculty members. Located in the heart of the Alps, Universität Innsbruck is a research university comprising sixteen faculties and 81 departments. Its research activities are organised along with six main research areas, namely physics, mountain regions, cultural encounters – cultural conflicts, scientific computing, molecular biosciences and digital sciences. Furthermore, four interdisciplinary research platforms and 46 research centres shape our research profile, organised in a structure designed to promote inter- and transdisciplinary collaboration among our staff.

International higher education rankings regularly prove that Universität Innsbruck plays a distinguished role as an education and research institution in the European higher education area and enjoys an outstanding reputation in many fields of research. Universität Innsbruck strongly believes that the knowledge it generates is not only meant for the few but should benefit society as a whole.

Copenhagen Business School (CBS) was established in 1917. Today, with 20,000 students and 1,500 employees, CBS is one of the largest business schools in Europe and one of the 8 Danish universities

CBS is Denmark’s largest educational and research institution within business administration and economics in a wide sense. The university is committed to providing business-related education programmes and continuing education for the public and, in particular, the private sector.

CBS is committed to communicating knowledge and new ideas to tomorrow’s business leaders and society in general. Its main contribution in this field is research and research-based education, and investment in research and high academic standards is therefore crucial to CBS’ contribution to society.