ENHANCE Alliance is pleased to welcome TU Delft University of Technology (Netherlands), Gdańsk University of Technology (Poland) and ETH Zurich (Switzerland) as new members. High-ranking representatives of the three institutions attended the ENHANCE Leadership Meeting at RWTH Aachen University on Friday 25 November 2022. During the meeting of the now ten member universities of the alliance, the signed memorandum of understanding was presented, which constitutes the basis for future collaboration between partner institutions.
By expanding the network, ENHANCE will benefit from the long-standing institutional relationships between the seven founding universities and the three new members. The teaching and research excellence of TU Delft, Gdańsk Tech and ETH Zurich is a great asset to the alliance. Together, all ten universities expand the potential of their shared expertise and knowledge.
The ENHANCE Leadership Meeting also set the stage for the strategic orientation of ENHANCE in the coming years.
“The expansion of our alliance is a true testament to our commitment to the mission of developing a strong and sustainable European university. We are proud that such renowned institutions join our alliance and help us shape the future of Europe,” he says Professor Anne Borg, chair of ENHANCE’s board of directors and dean of the Norwegian University of Science and Technology (NTNU).
Speaking on behalf of the Alliance’s coordinating university, Technische Universität Berlin (TUB), Professor Geraldine Rauch, president of the university, said: “Welcoming new members brings new ideas to ENHANCE to foster a strong European community which supports research and teaching in a peaceful and united Europe. Current developments show us that this is more important than ever.”
Each new member of the alliance contributes very individual strengths to further improve the offers and services of the consortium and to make them more diverse.
TU Delft is the oldest and largest technical university in the Netherlands. It was founded in 1842 and brings ENHANCE more than 27,000 students and more than 6,000 employees. Science, technology and design are the cornerstones of the university’s research strategy. “We are delighted to be part of this strong alliance, where we can combine the research and educational capabilities of all partners to create excellent experiences in a European university for students and staff,” says Professor Tim van der Hagen, Rector and president of TU Delft.
Gdańsk University of Technology is the second ENHANCE university in Eastern Europe and was founded in 1904. It brings together more than 15,000 students and about 2,800 employees. In 2017, Gdańsk Tech was recognized by the European Commission as one of the institutions creating the best working and development conditions for researchers in Europe. “We want to make a tangible contribution to the development of ENHANCE – as a truly integrated and fully fledged European university – which has a significant social impact within the EU and also has an impact outside the Union to help disadvantaged regions to develop their skills,” says Professor Krzysztof Wilde, rector of Gdańsk Tech.
ETH Zurich was founded in 1855 and will add nearly 25,000 students and nearly 10,000 employees to the ENHANCE community. Freedom, personal responsibility, entrepreneurial spirit and cosmopolitanism characterize the institution as a center of innovation and knowledge. “ETH Zurich is pleased to be able to contribute to shaping the European Higher Education Area together with the other technical universities in ENHANCE and to develop solutions for common challenges,” says Professor Günther Dissertori, Rector of ETH Zurich.
The ten universities will work towards a smoother and deeper integration of all partners. As part of the application for the European University Initiative’s new Erasmus+ call – and beyond – ENHANCE will develop a mission that will take the alliance beyond the current funding framework. “The expansion of our alliance means a further enrichment of our community. I consider our diversity to be our strength and believe that the power of different perspectives and different teaching and research methods will help us bridge the blind spots and not just the European Area of education, but really impacting Europe as a whole,” says Naveed Syed, Secretary General of the ENHANCE Alliance.
Further information and contacts at TU Berlin:
Paul Forberger: [email protected]
