Saxion joins European network of top universities bringing major opportunities to the region

Accession to the European network of applied universities and universities is fundamentally different to the international partnerships that Saxion has been active in up till now. These are mainly concerned with student exchanges and designing specific international education and research projects, explains Kim Venema (Programme Manager International Cooperation at Education & Student Support Services/Saxion International Office).

“However, this cooperation is taking us a step further. The plan is that we, with eight European applied universities and universities, draft a joint application that will enable us to implement a common agenda for research and education from 2023. This also includes practical regional projects as well as broad and substantive general support.” This means that not only students and researchers will notice the effects of the cooperation, but also Saxion staff who support education and research. They too will soon be working with the other European partners in the network, beyond the borders of Saxion as university of applied sciences. A cooperation that will be felt in every fibre of Saxion’s being.

A massive opportunity

Henny Oude Maatman (Internationalisation Coordinator at the Saxion School of Education) is also intensively involved in developments and explains how, based on an idea put forward by French president Emmanuel Macron in 2017 and a handful of successful pilot schemes, the European Commission has freed up financial resources to set up 50 of this kind of networks in Europe in the coming years. These focus on strengthening knowledge sharing, from the perspective of shared European values, explains Henny: “There are about ten universities and applied universities cooperating in each network. We can now join this current network together with the Hochschule Fulda. This is a massive opportunity and a very positive development for Saxion. We are a good fit with the other participants. They are all higher education institutions, just like Saxion, that have strong ties and cooperation with their home regions.”

Offering joint education

After the joint E³UDRES² agenda has been approved in 2023 and agreed to by all stakeholders, Saxion can start working with its international partners. What will this cooperation actually look like? Kim: “The idea behind the European Universities Alliance is that we will offer joint education together. The programmes will take shape in the coming years and we want students to be heavily involved in the development of this education. This will involve a lot of exchanges and cooperation. The options available for remote collaboration will also certainly be made use of too. Lecturers and educational support staff will notice the increasing international cooperation, says Henny: “When you offer joint education, this also has consequences for examination boards for example. Our participation in E³UDRES² will stimulate the development of Saxion as a whole, in all parts of the organisation.”

Stronger through cooperation

As of 2023 not just Saxion, but the whole region will notice more of the international network, expects Kim: “In the first place I think that we should be proud of what we have achieved. Twenty European institutions attempted to join this international consortium. After a lengthy selection procedure, it was Saxion and Hochschule Fulda that managed to secure these two places. This step fits perfectly with Saxion’s strategic line internationalisation. It is key for us and the region that we strengthen our international cooperation with other knowledge institutions and businesses. Globally, but certainly also in Europe and the Euregio. This will benefit both our research and education. And most importantly our students, who will soon be entering this job market. They need to acquire the right competences while studying. And internationalisation is an important means of doing this.”

For the benefit of the region

In the network Saxion will be operating on the cutting edge of education, research and entrepreneurship, working intensively with its international partners on societal challenges at European level. Henny: “You can only spend money for education and research once, but if in doing so you compliment and strengthen each other substantially, then together you can take bigger steps. And the regions surrounding the participating applied universities will benefit from this too, also the Eastern Netherlands.” As far as Kim is concerned this the real future: “The European Union has its sights set on a free European education area by 2025. That is a massive ambition, but everything is heading that way. If we take a look at the challenges we have in the region and the job vacancies that need to be filled, then international cooperation is a powerful resource that can be utilised for the benefit of your own region. This fits perfectly with Saxion’s strategy. Otherwise, how can we retain talent? How can local and regional businesses collaborate better? This network will assist us in this in the coming years.”