The main goal for EPICUR is to create a unique teaching and interdisciplinary research environment in which future European citizens can get prepared to face societal challenges and become drivers of European innovation. The alliance gathers nine higher education and research institutions throughout Europe and is operated by the University of Strasbourg.
The EPICUR alliance is currently in its pilot phase, and is supported by the European Commission and the national research agency, as part of Erasmus + European projects "EPICUR Education" and Horizon 2020 "EPICUR Research".
The 9 partner universities
- Karlsruhe Institute of Technology, Germany;
- Adam-Mickiewicz University, Poznan, Poland;
- University of Amsterdam, The Netherlands;
- Aristotle University Of Thessaloniki, Greece;
- University of southern Denmark;
- Albert Ludwig University of Freiburg, Germany;
- University of Haute-Alsace, France;
- University of Natural Resources and Life Sciences, Vienna, Austria;
- University of Strasbourg, France.
Key axes of the EPICUR alliance
The EPICUR alliance operates different pilot actions to achieve the following goals:
- Promote multilingualism and inclusive governance;
- Set up innovative learning and teaching methods for future European citizens;
- Pave the way for an interuniversity campus through a student and staff centered approach;
- Reinforce and connect the regions through a European universit;
- Develop good practices that could subsequently be shared with other academic alliances;
- Promote open science, interdisciplinary and transdisciplinary research for young researchers, within societal fields regarding sustainability, mobility, migration, identity and transitioning public health.
The main goal for EPICUR is to promote mobility in its every form and for all. EPICUR offers a new type of education through innovative programs created thanks to its cooperation with not only partner universities but also with students and employees. Since its launch in 2019, 494 students have benefited from EPICUR mobility by following the different training programs of the alliance:
- "Liberal Arts and Sciences" interdisciplinary teaching (225 students);
- "Language and Culture", language and European culture courses (95 participants);
- "Language training for Mobility", courses developed for a greater integration of students into EPICUR campus life (77 students);
- "EPICUR Entrepreneurial Lab" (19 students);
- Internships in laboratories, start-ups and civil society organizations (12 participants).
Multilingualism and language learning form an important part of EPICUR’s philosophy. In addition to multiple language courses available on the EPICUR interuniversity campus, which is an online teaching platform, the alliance actively promotes tandem learning; it therefore created an interactive map, which allows participants to find a native speaker interlocutor in one of the partner universities. One of the key steps for promoting multilingualism was presenting the language policy model of EPICUR in September 2021.
Alongside the actions linked to teaching and learning, is the research component, which aims to support and promote young researchers. By enhancing interdisciplinary and transdisciplinary research, EPICUR focuses on sustainability, public health, migration and identity, following three steps:
- Organizing linking workshops for researchers: "EPICamps";
- Setting up incubators for research projects "EPICradles";
- Creating research residence of at least five young researchers.
Since its launch in 2020, EPICUR Research already gathered over 100 participants.
Learn more about the 9 partners
Adam-Mickiewicz University, Poznań - Poland
The Adam Mickiewicz University in Poznań, named after a prominent Polish poet, is one of the three leading Polish universities and can draw on 100 years of history. More than 40,000 students and 1,300 doctoral students take courses and conduct research in 15 faculties in total.
University of Amsterdam – The Netherlands
The University of Amsterdam, founded in 1632, enjoys a reputation for world-class excellence in research and training. This general university currently ranks among the top 20 European universities. It is, like the University of Strasbourg and the University of Freiburg, a member of the LERU (League of European Research Universities). More than 30,000 students take courses in its seven faculties and more than 3,000 doctoral students are conducting research.
Aristotle University of Thessaloniki - Greece
With its 74,000 students, Aristotle University of Thessaloniki is the largest Greek university. Founded in 1925, this general university is one of the scientific centres of attraction in South East Europe. More than 4,000 doctoral students and more than 2,000 researchers conduct research in its ten faculties.
University of Freiburg - Germany
Founded in 1457, the Albert Ludwig University of Freiburg im Breisgau welcomes some 25,000 students. It is characterised by a mix of traditional disciplines and modern technology. Its comprehensive training offer extends from information technology to the humanities and social sciences, through to natural sciences and medicine.
University of Haute-Alsace - France
The University of Haute-Alsace has 8,500 students, enrolled in 170 courses from DUT level, Bachelor degree, engineering degree, master degree, up to PhD level, taught in 4 faculties, 2 IUTs and 2 engineering schools in Mulhouse and Colmar, France. It also has 14 research laboratories carrying out fundamental to applied research. As a highly innovative multidisciplinary university, it is recognised for the quality of its vocational education (including more than 35 apprenticeship programmes) and cross-border training (with more than 10 bi- or tri-national) programmes.
Karlsruhe Institute of Technology - Germany
Being „The Research University in the Helmholtz Association“, KIT creates and imparts knowledge for the society and the environment. It is the objective to make significant contributions to the global challenges in the fields of energy, mobility and information. For this, about 9,300 employees cooperate in a broad range of disciplines in natural sciences, engineering sciences, economics, and the humanities and social sciences. KIT prepares its 25,100 students for responsible tasks in society, industry, and science by offering research-based study programs. Innovation efforts at KIT build a bridge between important scientific findings and their application for the benefit of society, economic prosperity, and the preservation of our natural basis of life.
University of Natural Resources and Life Sciences, Vienna - Austria
The University of Natural Resources and Life Sciences Vienna is a centre for training and research on renewable resources and sustainability and includes the natural sciences, technology and economics. About 12 500 students take courses in its 15 departments.
University of Strasbourg - France
The University of Strasbourg welcomes 51,000 students, of which 20% are international students covering 150 nationalities. With its 35 components, 78 laboratories and research units, it is distinguished by the multidisciplinary and interdisciplinary nature of its training offer. It conducts a research of excellence provided by nearly 2,800 lecturer-researchers, including four active Nobel Prize winners.
University of Southern Denmark - Denmark
The University of Southern Denmark will be the ninth member of the EPICUR at the end of 2022. It has 6 campuses located in Odense, Esbjerg, Kolding, Sonderborg, Slagelse and Copenhgen, and propose 115 study programmes within 5 faculties. Among 27,000 students that has chosen SDU, almost 20% are international students.
