Abstract

The European Universities Initiative (EUIs) is an initiative to create a more integrated and transnational collaborative European higher education-research area. The EC-led initiative has funded 50 European Universities Alliances (EUAs) to date. RMAs 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 agenda, and (b) by helping to enable joint research projects, programmes, and initiatives.
We suggest discussing the role of RMAs in the EUAs, focussing on:
● Exchange of best practices, to help improve the way research is organised and managed in the EUAs.
● Development of integrated R&I agendas, working together with researchers to develop joint research agendas.
● Promotion of equal importance of education, R&I, and societal responsibility.
● Opportunities for alliances to contribute to the transformation agenda of the ERA.
We will also discuss the common challenges facing RMAs in the EUAs, such as:
● (Dis)integrated vision of education, research and innovation: This will require close collaboration between RMAs, researchers, and other stakeholders and citizens.
● Different approaches by European and National Public Authorities to the Alliances: There is a need to ensure that there is a consistent approach to the EUAs by European and National Public Authorities.
● Collaborative vs competitive support to the researchers across the Alliances: There is a need to strike a balance between collaborative and competitive support to researchers in the EUAs. This will require careful consideration of the specific needs of each alliance.
● Lack of incentives for researchers to participate in institutional transformation projects. This could include providing opportunities for career development and access to funding.
● Under-resourcing of the university staff (including RMAs) to effectively engage in the Alliances. This could include providing training and funding.
● The universities´ internal governance shifts (especially VRRs) that affect successful implementation of the RI agenda.
Ways to address the challenges:
● Streamlined and strategic policy approach towards supporting universities as pivotal actors across the whole ERA, with dedicated funding streams.
● Investment in more targeted instruments to incentivize and support bottom-up research collaboration but also in “structures” that support the R&I dimension in an Alliance (i.e. a Virtual Research Institute).
● Support for a true European Excellence Initiative that provides support to higher education institutions in all ERA parts, along with the widening dimension.
● Stronger synergies between EU funding programmes, notably Erasmus+, Horizon Europe and Digital Europe, and National funding programmes, to ensure the EUAs have the resources they need to succeed.
● Upskilling of research support professionals to deal with the complexity of inter-institutional collaboration: This could include training in academic/teaching management, communication, application of new technologies and other skills.
The EUAs are a promising new initiative that has the potential to transform European higher education and research. RMAs play a key role in the success of the EUAs, and by working together, they can help to make the EUAs a reality.