The Partner Universities Sign the Statutes of EUTOPIA at the Joint Academic Year Opening

On 29 September 2023, the grand EUTOPIA Joint Academic Year Opening was organized in collaboration with Vrije Universiteit Brussel at the European Parliament. This occasion marked a historical milestone since the formation of the EUTOPIA alliance and reinforced its relevance in Europe's higher education map. The event took place in the hemicycle of the European Parliament under the motto "Europe, EUTOPIA, and the Need for a New Renaissance."

The dais was graced by the presence of the rectors of ten partner universities in their academic robes. The rectors of the ten universities of the Alliance signed the Statutes of EUTOPIA by establishing the alliance into an international legal entity, under Belgian law, granting it legal existence and administrative autonomy. This significant step underlines EUTOPIA's commitment to promoting partnership and collaborative academic connection across Europe.

Tiziana Lippiello, Rector of the Ca' Foscari University of Venice and President of EUTOPIA in her Presidential Address highlighted the importance of this inaugural event while focusing on the European identity and the central role of European universities in building this identity.: "This first joint opening of the academic year at the European Parliament marks an important milestone for EUTOPIA. It symbolizes our unity and our shared commitment to the advancement of European higher education, research and knowledge transfer”. She also added, "Succeeding in creating a legal entity for EUTOPIA illustrates our dedication to promoting excellence, innovation and inclusiveness throughout the alliance. We hope to continue the collaboration and have a lasting impact on the European educational landscape."

Internationalisation and Multilingualism are the cornerstones of the European University Initiative. The Rector of the Vrije Universiteit de Brussels (VUB), Jan Danckaert came up with two examples of how EUTOPIA can play a role in the new Renaissance: Multilingualism and Science Diplomacy. "It is through multilingualism, and through the connected learning communities of EUTOPIA, that we will be able to learn from others at a deeper level. With a multilingual approach, we can unlock new ideas, new concepts and new visions." He defended during his speech and in Catalan, the officiality of Catalan, Basque and Galician in community institutions. "Maybe it's the first time speaking from this platform in Catalan, but I hope it won't be the last." "It is through multilingualism, and through EUTOPIA's Connected Learning Communities, that we will be able to learn from others at a deeper level," Danckaert defended. "With a multilingual approach, we can unlock new ideas, new concepts and new visions."

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EUTOPIA Defends the Officiality of Catalan at the Opening of the Academic Year at the European Parliament

Read more on the VUB Official Website