As a host, the university prepares a varied programme, which of course combines working meetings within individual project packages, but also a number of options for establishing new and deepening existing cooperation or a platform for presenting excellent science, the university's study possibilities and links with the region. "This is the first such large visit of all members of the U!REKA alliance to our country and also the first large event since obtaining funding for our U!REKA SHIFT project, so we would like to present those parts of our university that have a close connection to the activities of U!REKA. On Tuesday excursions to selected faculty and institute workplaces are planned. However, as part of the varied programme, Wednesday is a key day, which will be launched with the active participation of members of the university's management, the Ministry of Education, the House of Foreign Cooperation, the City of Ostrava or the MSIC. In addition to purely project activities, you will also find several platforms for the targeted establishment of cooperation between partner institutions in the field of education, science and research, but also for meetings of representatives of the participating cities. Last but not least, there are also opportunities to show the beauty of Ostrava in the form of a visit to our two highest dominant cities,” says Igor Ivan, vice-rector for strategy and cooperation and the main investigator of the project.
The U!REKA Shift Alliance is formed by a regionally diverse grouping of universities across Europe, from Helsinki, Amsterdam, Ghent, Frankfurt to Lisbon. Associated partners include other universities from Edinburgh, Bari, Vienna and Odessa, as well as the capitals or regional cities of the individual countries involved. In our region, members of the alliance are joined by the statutory city of Ostrava and the Moravian-Silesian Innovation Centre. “In the alliance, there are a number of cities that have committed themselves to achieving climate neutrality, from which Ostrava can be inspired by concrete steps taken. The regions connected in our alliance can thus not only be inspired but also systematically supported in their efforts,” adds Igor Ivan. The goal for VŠB – Technical University Ostrava is not only to expand cooperation between European institutions of higher education, but also to strengthen links with the city, the region and other partners.
Last summer, VŠB-TUO together with its partners from the consortium U!REKA (Urban Research and Knowledge Alliance) succeeded in the prestigious challenge of the European University Initiative. Thanks to the success of the U!REKA SHIFT project, there is an extraordinary space for the systematic development of cooperation across European universities and the fulfilment of ambitious goals in the field of teaching, research, support of entrepreneurial competences of students as well as the strengthening of the values of European belonging.