Strengthen our commitment to our European University Network Aurora

‘Combining academic excellence with social engagement and societal relevance’ is the guiding principle of the Aurora University Network. The University of Duisburg-Essen is one of the founding members of the European AURORA network, which was established in 2016 on the initiative of the Vrije Universiteit Amsterdam and now comprises a total of nine members from across Europe, as well as one North American member.

https://www.uni-due.de/aurora/en.php

Defining and identifying university-wide strategic partnerships

University-wide strategic partnerships are those that contribute to any of the following: the educational, research, transfer and service activities of UDE; institutionalising large-scale and long-term research collaborations of the faculties and Inter-Faculty Research Centers; achieving the goals and implementation of the University Development Strategy; the Research Alliance Ruhr Research Centers and College as well as the international activities of the UA Ruhr.

The responsibility for decisions about university-wide strategic partnerships lies with the Rectorate. Responsibility for activating cooperation with strategic partners lies with the Vice-Rector for University Culture, Diversity and International Relations, supported by the International Office.

Diversifying international cooperation partners

Going forward, global engagement will be promoted by diversifying strategic partnerships across activities and world regions. This goal aligns with the new internationalisation strategy of the German Standing Conference of the Ministers of Education and Cultural Affairs enacted in 2024, which also calls for the diversification of the international relations of universities. Diversification in partnerships will focus on building partnerships in Sub-Saharan Africa through the Ghana-NRW University Alliance established in 2023 and in Latin America through the UA Ruhr Liaison Office Latin America established in 2025 and coordinated for the UA Ruhr by UDE.

Activating strategic partnerships across educational, research and transfer activities

Activities in the context of University-wide strategic partnerships play an important role in the global engagement of faculties and Inter-Faculty Research Centers as part of the internationalisation of their educational and research activities. The goal is to activate strategic partnerships through better information resources and communication about existing partnerships, support and funding sources, and to use incentives and coaching to increase the numbers of funding applications. Activating strategic partnerships means consciously maintaining and developing activities at all levels of the University, from University leadership through to individual researchers at various qualification stages. Strategic partnerships will be activated by improving coordination and information-sharing between the ViceRector, International Office, faculties and Inter-Faculty Research Centers, with a coordinating and supporting role played by the International Office. In Europe, research and educational cooperation will be intensified within the Aurora network to develop innovative forms of educational exchange and research initiatives. Communication and coordination will be improved with the UA Ruhr liaison offices to better utilise this important resource for international recruitment, exchange and cooperation in research and education.

Raise awareness for research security

In the context of a changing geopolitical environment, cooperation partners may not always share our values and interests. The possible uses and misuse of research and educational cooperation is a growing concern, especially with partners in academic systems less committed to academic freedom and university autonomy, and where national and military interests intervene to direct the course and use of scientific cooperation. Political intervention into the course and use of science is also on the rise in some of the longest-standing democracies in the world. Promoting awareness about research security among researchers and faculties, and assessing reputational risks at the level of University leadership will be intensified alongside the already well-established administrative compliance procedures.

Engaging in Science diplomacy

Engaging in science diplomacy will advance our commitments to academic freedom and university autonomy around the world. Through its global engagement, UDE endeavours to support the freedom and autonomy of individual researchers at risk and to ensure, where relevant, that research findings contribute to democratic transformations, sustainable development and the protection of human rights. This goal aligns with the National Security Strategy published by the German government in 2023, which envisions a role for academics as civil societal actors in diplomacy in the service of freedom and democracy, and will be driven by utilising the science-based resources developed by the DAAD Centre for International Academic Cooperation (KIWi).

Vice-Rectorate for University Culture, Diversity and International Affairs (PR UDI), International Office, ZIM, DTAC

• Expand the coaching and mentoring role of the International Office to facilitate international cooperation and exchange
• Establish a central database with all relevant data on existing international cooperations, mobility opportunities, funding calls and programmes for easy intranet access (using MoveOn as the basis)

Rectorate, coordinated by PR UDI, Inter-Faculty Research Centers , International Office, SSC

• Set up delegation visits with the participation of University leadership
• Participate in DWIH activities and report on them regularly
• Establish contact between researchers at UDE, the Ghana-NRW University Alliance and the UA Ruhr Latin America Office as well as strategic partner universities
• Organise a UDE International Day with international partners; focus on achievements in international collaboration with UDE, exchange ideas (best practices) and gather input for improvement
• Establish a UDE International Research Week focussing on global challenges

Marketing Office, International Office, UA Ruhr liaison offices

• Include international Alumni in the creation of the central Alumni network InfinitUDE
• Increase visibility of international Alumni
• Activate international alumni as ambassadors
• Hold regular regional alumni meetings (connected to delegation visits)

PR UDI,Faculties, ZWEs, International Office

• Inclusion of engagement in international funding calls in decentral goal agreements (ZLV)

PR UDI, International Office, Research Funding Department

• Improve support for faculties and Inter- Faculty Research Centers
• Establish a binding monitoring process of UDE’s cooperation with critical partners and/or partners who lack academic freedom
• Participate regularly in German support networks for research security (HRK, DAAD, KIWi); members of UDE leadership and faculties should attend