Fulda University of Applied Sciences is situated in rural east Hessen – where it’s assuming a key role as a driving force for the region. At the same time, and like many other higher education institutions outside urban centres, it’s facing challenges: skills shortages, demographic transformation and limited international visibility. To counteract these challenges, the university has joined the European university alliance – Engaged and Entrepreneurial European University as Driver for European Smart and Sustainable Regions. This alliance aims to expand practice-oriented teaching at the partner universities and formulate sustainable solutions for the development of rural and provincial regions in Europe.

DAAD and Erasmus+: Funding for European university networks

The E³UDRES² network is currently one of over 65 European university networks funded by the Erasmus+ programme as part of the EU's ‘European Universities’ initiative. In addition, the DAAD supports the participating German universities as part of the national with funding from the Federal Ministry of Research, Technology and Space (BMFTR). The DAAD supports the establishment and further development of these alliances and offers formats for networking and exchange.

E³UDRES²: nine regional universities are bundling their expertise

‘Our alliance was founded by St. Pölten University of Applied Sciences in 2020 and now comprises a network of seven European Universities of Applied Sciences and two universities in rural regions’, explains Ronja Pralle, Coordinator of . The alliance is prioritising four areas of research and activity: health, well-being and social inclusion; digital solutions and innovative technologies; a resilient economy and innovation; and a creative industry relating to regional identity. A joint research project is run by its Centre of Excellence ‘Business Modelling for Managing Sustainability in a Circular and Climate Neutral Economy: Creating Opportunities for Smart and Sustainable Regions’, which develops innovative business models that are intended to contribute to economic resilience in rural regions within Europe.

Regional companies and organisations also have the opportunity to take real issues and challenges to the E³UDRES² partner universities. Multilateral teams of students and researchers then work on conclusive solutions – with the objective of transferring the results directly into practice. ‘At UCLL University of Applied Sciences in Belgium, for example, we dealt with the simplification of everyday processes in a local hospital using digital solutions like AI-based voice commands to create more time for direct patient care“, says Pralle. ‘The project is designed in an interdisciplinary fashion and combines technical know-how with social insight.’

Various mobility formats are available for collaboration: the participants meet in person for hackathons or boot camps to develop creative solutions quickly. The so-called ‘I Living Labs’ mostly take place online and enable longer-term, interdisciplinary collaboration over the course of a number of weeks.

Mobility, exchange and internationalisation through stable partnerships

A further advantage of E³UDRES²: ‘Our alliance creates reliable networks which facilitate interaction and mobility among the partner universities’, says Pralle. ‘International collaborations are quicker to initiate, joint projects can be implemented more efficiently.’ The universities’ attractiveness for international students is simultaneously increased – and the German students also benefit: ‘Joint online courses, guest lectures and transnational projects lead to valuable intercultural experience, even if they can’t manage a longer stay abroad for personal reasons’, Pralle affirms.

NeurotechEU: an alliance for the future of brain research

Another example of how European university collaborations are enabling trendsetting education formats and interdisciplinary research, is the NeurotechEU alliance – The European University of Brain and Technology. Since 2020, it has combined eight European universities with the aim of creating an innovative educational environment in the realm of neurotechnologies and jointly training the next generation of experts at the cutting edge of medicine, technology and artificial intelligence. Here too the universities, lecturers and students benefit in equal measure from new forms of mobility, digital learning opportunities and practical projects with a social dimension.

‘An excellent education for the students is the focal point of our work’, explains Dr Sarah Monreal, . A core project of the alliance is the joint master’s degree in Neurotechnology planned to be launched from winter semester 2027/28. Students receive comprehensive training in various aspects of nuretechnology – from computer analysis to clinical application. A joint doctoral school that unites the academic and scientific expertise of all eight partners is also planned. Practical formats like the NTEU Internship Program, which enables students from the partner universities to undertake internships at the research labs in Bonn, have already been implemented since 2024.

Digital, interdisciplinary and European: NeurotechEU is setting new standards

‘The outstanding strength of our network is that the disciplines of the partner universities complement each other very well’, says Monreal. Clinical and empirical neuroscience, robotics, neuroinformatics, neurometaphysics as well as ethical and legal issues: 'A unique inter- and transdisciplinary structure originates in the course of our collaboration, which offers the students an excellent education environment.’ NeurotechEU is also focusing on the targeted consolidation of digital education formats: the new Campus+ platform serves as a virtual course catalogue, exchange forum and digital mobility solution – a step towards the European university of the future.

Bridge to society: NeurotechEU is networking academia and business

sees itself not only as an academic network, but also as a bridge to society. An important aspect is the close cooperation between universities and industry, which is sustainably embedded by means of the NEURICOO organisation structure. ‘Our network of student, administrative and academic representatives from all partner universities ensures the institutional involvement of associated partners from business and industry’, explains Monreal. An example of this collaboration between academia and business is the summer school ‘Trust me! Neural Networks, Manipulation, and Ethics’ planned for September 2025 in Bonn, which is based on the principle of challenge-based learning. The participants will address the opportunities and risks of manipulation using artificial intelligence and their impacts on individuals and society; an expert business jury will monitor and assess the results. A sign of the appeal and attractiveness of NeurotechEU: in the course of this year, Innsbruck Medical University will be a further prestigious university to be admitted to the alliance as its ninth partner. ‘A genuine gain for our alliance’, says Monreal.