The Faculty of Science and Health at the Technological University of the Shannon (TUS) will host the Regional University Network – European University (RUN-EU) Group Exploratory Missions in Sport and Health Sciences, and Life and Physical Sciences. The event will take place at the Athlone Campus on the 8th and 9th of June. It will see more than 30 participants from across seven European Universities come together to explore possibilities for joint and double European Degrees, the creation of Short Advanced Programmes and providing more opportunities for the students of TUS and their European counterparts. The participants of these GEMS will explore ways to increase mobility programmes for both staff and students and increase research collaborative activities that will benefit regions locally and internationally. RUN-EU has partnered with associates ranging from regional and national authorities, chambers of commerce, higher education institutions, research centres, international policy units, non-governmental organisations and businesses to further increase the positive impact on society.
Jane Burns Director of RUN-EU at TUS said “The Group Exploratory Missions allow colleagues and students from across the RUN-EU network to meet in person to connect with education and research and to spark new ideas and innovations for our students, our Universities and our Regions”
Dr Liam Brown, Vice President for Research, Development and Innovation explained “The education landscape across Europe is changing and RUN-EU as a strategic alliance of TUS, our partner Universities and associate partners across Europe both contributes to the European Education Area and supports regional development through education and research. Face to Face Group Exploratory Missions (GEMs) are critical in helping to develop joint and double degrees along with collaborative research projects. Given the importance of the domains of Physical and Life Sciences and Health and Sport Science, I am particularly pleased to see this week’s two Athlone GEMs so well supported. I am delighted to see our students involved and contributing to these GEMs, given our ethos of inclusion and having students at the centre along with the student advisory board as a central pillar of RUN-EU.”
The Regional University Network – European University (RUN-EU) is an alliance of seven like-minded higher education institutions drawn from all regions of Europe and established in 2020 under the European Universities Initiative. It works collaboratively across languages and national frontiers to secure the sustainable economic, social, cultural, and environmental progress of our regions and stakeholders through education.
The seven higher education institutions that compose the alliance are the Polytechnic of Leiria (Portugal), the Technological University of the Shannon: Midlands Midwest (Ireland), Polytechnic of Cávado and Ave (Portugal), the Häme University of Applied Sciences HAMK (Finland), University of Győr – Széchenyi István University (Hungary), NHL Stenden University of Applied Sciences (The Netherlands), and Vorarlberg University of Applied Sciences (Austria). Overall, RUN-EU comprises a student population of more than 76,500 students and 97 research centres and groups spread across Europe.
RUN-EU’s mission is to deliver future and advanced skills that will help students, researchers, academics and partners successfully meet the challenges of the future, engage in societal transformation, and promote active citizenship, thereby leading to the creation of a new type of multinational interregional alliance, a European Zone for Interregional Development.