Abstract

European University Initiative (EUI) is re-shaping the landscape of European Education Area, introducing transnational European Universities, alliances enabling long-term structural and strategic and sustainable cooperation between higher education institutions in Europe. Despite their focus on education, the EUI intrinsically have a research and innovation dimension. RMAs will play a key role in development of this R&I dimension. The EUI Thematic Group of EARMA provides a space for RMAs to build networks, share knowledge, and develop expertise that will facilitate integration of R&I in and among the European Universities.

A sustainable and robust strategy for development of the R&I dimension of the alliances is not in place yet. Supporting R&I integration in the European Universities thus requires significant creativity and broader knowledge of European Research Area (ERA) landscape. This is the domain of RMAs, who play a key role in the success of the EUAs, by (a) providing the expertise and support needed to develop and operationalise the R&I dimension, and (b) by helping to enable joint research projects, programmes, and initiatives.

In this INORMS 2025 session, we will introduce the progress and aims of the newly formalized EUI TG of EARMA. Participants will be invited to contribute to co-design of future activities of the Thematic Group and discuss important questions such as:
- How are the EUI embedded in their member universities? Is educational and R&I dimension embedded in the same way?
- How is the interplay of education, R&I, and societal engagement facilitated in different European Universities?
- How are RMAs represented in the emerging new legal entities representing the European Universities? How can RMA support be organized on the level of European Universities?
- How are different facets of research management integrated in European Universities? (e.g. Open Science, research assessment, research infrastructures, knowledge transfer)
- How can the RMAs support the development of projects and initiatives that develop the R&I dimension of the EUI?

Finally, we will seek to develop the EUI TG of EARMA into a platform that will highlight the importance of RMAs for success of European Universities in all their dimensions (education, research, innovation, societal engagement) and support development of robust and sustainable funding and policy framework for R&I in EUAs.