European University of Technology

The European University of Technology (EUt+) was founded under 2020 Erasmus + call and is an alliance of nine European technological universities across nine countries each with its own campuses, collectively educating 100,000 students. EUt+ aims^[1] to develop an integrated model of technological education and research that includes engineering, sciences, humanities and social sciences disciplines, aiming to develop and offer joint European degrees in engineering by self-customized multicampus curricula.

European University of Technology

Other name	EUt+
Motto in English	European Values Empowering Technology
Type	European University Alliance
Established	2020
Academic staff	7 000
Administrative staff	5 000
Students	100 000
Location	Cartagena, Cassino, Cluj-Napoca, Darmstadt, Dublin, Limassol, Riga, Sofia, Troyes European Union
Website	www.univ-tech.eu

The first phase of EUt+ has already been implemented. In the second phase, EUt+ transitions from a project to an actual institutional process.^[2]

European University Initiative

Context and origin

The European University Initiative, initiated by President Emmanuel Macron in 2017 in his speech at Sorbonne University,^[3] aims to foster academic mobility and enhance the quality and competitiveness of European higher education and to deepen the feeling of European citizenship. It seeks to establish alliances among European higher education institutions to promote excellence in higher education,^[4] research, and innovation. It is primarily funded by the Erasmus+ program, alongside other EU funding sources and national^[5] or regional funding schemes.

Principles of European Universities Initiative

The European Universities Initiative aims to enhance international competitiveness of European higher education institutions (HEIs) and promote European values and identity.^[6] The diversity and values of European society, the European ways of life is reflected in European HEIs. Through European university alliances, the European Union and its member states collaborate to support common vision, cultural and regional diversity to enrich educational opportunities.

European University Alliances

European University alliances aim to implement long-term joint strategies, with the goal of improving access to education, research, and innovation.^[7] A budget of €402.2 million allocated in the 2021-2027 Erasmus+ program, these alliances developing and implementing joint strategies to expand access to high-quality, inclusive education, research, and innovation. European University includes alliances from major capital cities to remote regions across 35 countries, engaging nearly 1,700 associated partners.^[8]

Vision

The European University of Technology EUt+ aims to address global challenges, with technology playing a crucial role.^[9] They aim to be a benchmark for policymakers, guiding European strategy towards unified, evidence-based approaches to global issues.^[10] Europe faces challenges in maintaining technological innovation challenges, the European University of Technology (EUt+) addresses these global challenges, emphasizing the critical role of technology in driving solutions. EUt+ sets standards for policymakers by advocating unified, evidence-based approaches to global issues, thereby guiding European strategies.

Emphasizing multiculturalism and a strong European ethos, EUt+ integrates societal needs into its educational framework with a focus on human-centered principles. Financial support primarily derives from the Erasmus+ program, supplemented by contributions from member institutions and additional funding from national and regional schemes like France 2030 and DAAD. With EUt+ European technological education empowers individuals to address global challenges, contributing to an impactful Europe in the 21st century.

Member universities

• Technical University Sofia (Bulgaria)
• Technological University Dublin (Ireland)
• Cyprus Technical University (Cyprus)
• Technical University Riga (Latvia)
• Universidad Politécnica de Cartagena (Spain)
• Technical University Cluj Napoca (Romania)
• University of Cassino and Southern Lazio (Italy)
• Darmstadt University of Applied Sciences (Germany)
• University of Technology of Troyes (France)

Joint bachelor's and master’s degree programs

EUt+’s joint engineering degrees are designed to provide a comprehensive and interdisciplinary approach to technological education. These programs integrate technical expertise with insights from the humanities and social sciences, benefiting from each member institution's diverse strengths and specializations.

EUt+ fosters a multilingual and multicultural environment, encouraging the learning of multiple languages. The flexible self-customized study track enables students to personalize their educational journey in a modular and adaptable learning environment. EUt+ emphasizes active student involvement and practical application of knowledge through a student-centered approach and engagement with research. Additionally, there is a strong focus on sustainability and ethical technological solutions, preparing students to contribute positively to society.

Progress

During its initial phase (2020–2023), EUt+ worked on a new model of technological education and developed the 12 features for its European Degree in Engineering.^[11]

In its second phase (2023–2027),^[12] EUt+ integrated a ninth member and is transitioning from a project management to a more institutional organisation.

Beyond 2027, EUt+ aims to deepen full integration, evolving progressively from a confederation into a single federative institution.

Key research areas

EUt+ promotes research to contribute to the technology that addresses the significant challenges of today and tomorrow.The curriculum is research-integrated, allowing students to engage with the latest technological advancements and apply their theoretical knowledge practically.

EUt+ creates the European Graduate Research School (EGRS) that will integrate existing structures in the member universities and facilitate, among others, the inclusion of postgraduate students in the Erasmus mobility scheme, training with and for the ERIs, development, and support of masters-by-research programs.

Also, the EUt+ Innovation and Technology Transfer Office, European Research Labs, and Innovation Hubs are their ways of creation. EUt+ accelerates the transformation of an open and inclusive higher education system in Europe and strengthens the European Higher Education Area.

Satellite projects

EUt+ develops auxiliary projects to fulfill its mission.^[13]

Inno-EUt+

One of this projects is Inno-EUt+, part of the EIT HEI Initiative aimed at enhancing entrepreneurial capacity within the European University of Technology.

SUCCESS

The SUCCESS is another project carried out in cooperation with for higher education institutions and one company specialized in providing specialized training in the industry. The project represents opportunities to develop and implement new innovative ideas in already existing curricula. The main goal is to encourage the use of creative learning and teaching methods by offering students-centered curricula, and to reach a cross-disciplinary approach to engineering studies. Our strategies partnerships, students and specialists involved will help shaping the future of our students.

SUCCESS stands for: Solutions Unified Communication Competences Engineering Students Specialists.

EUt+ collaborates with over many companies and organizations, including Electrogroup S.A., Telefónica, Emerson SRL, the European Space Agency, GSI & FAIR, and AED-Vantage, enable internships, research visits, specialised lecture series for students and researchers and joint master's theses.^[14]