EUTOPIA during the Belgian State visit to Germany: best practices in Education and Research in European University Alliances

© 2023 André Wirsig

The German Federal President Frank-Walter Steinmeier and his wife Elke Büdenbender received the Belgian royal couple, King Philippe and Queen Mathilde, for a state visit to Germany from 5 to 7 December 2023. The first state visit by King Philippe and Queen Mathilde to Germany was a tribute to the two countries’ multifaceted ties – from economic cooperation and joint work on the energy transition to cultural exchange. The program included stops in Berlin and Dresden.

As part of the program for the academic delegation accompanying the Belgian royals to the city of Dresden on 7 December 2023, rector Ursula Staudinger (TUD) and rector Jan Danckaert (VUB) co-hosted an interactive session highlighting European University Alliances’ best practices in Education and Research.

Demonstrating their alliance’s innovative approaches, speakers included:

1. Jan Danckaert (rector Vrije Universiteit Brussel), presenting EUTOPIA’s Connected Communities
2. Peter Lievens (vice-rector International Affairs KU Leuven), presenting the UnaEuropa seed funding initiative
3. François Heinderyckx (Advisor to the rector for CIVIS, Université Libre de Bruxelles), presenting CIVIS’ approach to employing Blended Intensive Programmes
4. Anne Adams (Head of Unit Grant Office UAntwerpen), presenting YUFE’s approach to doctoral and postdoctoral training

Participants were furthermore introduced to the TUD-led Connected Community on ‘New Technologies for Social Inclusion’ by lead Ercan Altinsoy, who highlighted the Community’s joint ambitions in education and research, as well providing some hands-on impressions with a guided tour of TUD’s lab on Acoustic and Haptic Engineering.