Ressort Presse

• 18.05.2026

From 18 to 21 May, the Duisburg campus will become a hub for European collaboration as hundreds of guests from the partner universities of the European higher education alliance Aurora gather at the University of Duisburg-Essen. In this interview, long-standing Aurora pioneers at the University of Duisburg-Essen,  Petra Günther, Head of the International Office, and Prof Barbara Buchenau, together with Prof Karen Shire, PhD, Vice-Rector for University Culture, Diversity and International Affairs, explain why Aurora means far more to the University of Duisburg-Essen than a traditional exchange programme.

Aurora is a familiar name to many at the University of Duisburg-Essen – but what exactly is it?

Karen Shire
Aurora is a partnership of research-intensive European universities – stretching from Iceland to Italy – working together to shape a shared European campus through joint teaching initiatives, intensive research collaboration and shared digital infrastructures.

What began as an EU initiative has since evolved far beyond that framework. Today, researchers, students and professional staff are developing projects at both transnational and European level that extend well beyond traditional exchange programmes and bilateral partnerships. The added value lies in the broader perspectives and competencies gained, as well as in the greater societal impact of our teaching, research and knowledge transfer activities.

More than ten languages are represented within the alliance. How do you experience this collaboration?

Petra Günther
English is the working language – but, naturally, very different cultures and ways of working come together. That can sometimes make collaboration challenging, though it also makes it deeply human. I remember a conference in Austria where some participants thought they were attending a conventional meeting, only to find themselves standing together on a mountain during an excursion. Moments like that create genuine connections.

What kinds of developments are emerging through Aurora in research and teaching at UDE?

Barbara Buchenau
What is particularly impressive are the developments we see among students. Two students initially approached Aurora’s international formats rather cautiously. Within eighteen months, they had taken part in workshops, innovation projects and European working groups – and ultimately presented their own ideas on an international stage while also contributing as co-authors to a practical guide for municipal administrations across Europe.

Aurora brings together researchers who, within the routines of academic life, might otherwise have too few opportunities to collaborate across disciplines and national borders. Initial contacts develop into joint projects, international networks and major funding applications submitted to leading research funding organisations.

What can participating members of the university community expect from the conference in Duisburg?

Petra Günther
Above all, the conference has the character of a major European working meeting. At the same time, there will be many opportunities simply to drop in and get to know Aurora. One particular highlight for members of the university community will certainly be the lecture by Dr Mai Thi Nguyen-Kim on trust in science, taking place in Duisburg on 18 May.

How is Aurora funded?

Karen Shire
The alliance is funded primarily through the European Union’s “European Universities” initiative. During the current funding cycle from 2024 to 2027, the alliance as a whole is receiving several million euros, of which around €1.68 million has been allocated to the University of Duisburg-Essen. In Germany, this funding is complemented by national co-funding from the Federal Ministry of Research, Technology and Space. This provides a major advantage, as it enables us to establish long-term projects and support teams on a sustained basis.

Further Information
https://www.uni-due.de/aurora/
Discover the full programme