Wirtschaftsuniversität Wien

ENGAGE.EU: the European University Engaged in Societal Change

ENGAGE.EU is an alliance of leading European universities in business, economics, and social sciences with rich experience in analysing societal change.

Ziele

ENGAGE.EU is an alliance of leading European universities in business, economics, and social sciences with rich experience in analysing societal change. The ENGAGE.EU universities are the strongest partners in their regional ecosystems and aim to become THE European University Initiative in business and economics fostering economic capability and societal development in Europe. Our ambition is to enable our learners to act as socially engaged European citizens and to contribute to society at large as experts in the fields of business, economics and the social sciences. To do so, we initiate new ways to educate, research, innovate and reach out. We want to become an incubator for building knowledge on future business needs, driving economic capability and societal development based on academic excellence and collaboration with society.

Hintergrund

The regional distribution of our universities allows for an innovative "think local, act global" approach: combining knowledge of the specificities of regional ecosystems and linking them at the European level will offer multidimensional and sustainable solutions. The starting points are the major challenges facing Europe: • Sustainable economies (e.g. climate change and the energy transition) • Change and stability (e.g. economic deglobalisation and shifting geopolitical order) • Digitalisation of society (e.g. artificial intelligence and disruption of classical business) • Well-being and human prosperity (e.g. ageing societies and migration) These themes are to be seen as priority areas of activity with the aim to provide focus, not as a limiting set of constraints. Building on our strong background in business, economics and social sciences, we seek a comprehensive approach through three interlinked pathways: Engaged Learning, Engaged Research and Innovation, and Engaged Society. With nine universities and one associated academic partner, the consortium spans ten European countries: • University of Mannheim, Germany • Tilburg University, Netherlands • Vienna University of Economics and Business, Austria • Luiss Guido Carli University, Italy • University of National and World Economy, Bulgaria • Toulouse Capitole University, France • Norwegian School of Economics, Norway • Hanken University, Finland • Ramon Lull University, Spain • University of Sankt Gallen, Switzerland (Associated Academic Partner) The consortium is supported by 29 partner organisations from business and society including companies Capgemini, Lenovo and SAP, 15 local authorities and government initiatives (including Smart City Wien), five foundations (including ERSTE Foundation) and four NGOs (including Caritas Austria, Teach for Austria).

(Durchgeführte) Aktivitäten

In a nutshell: 9 partner universities, 20 Initiatives, 600 courses, 14,000 staff; 125,000 learners Opportunities for Students: • Expedition Weeks • Summer Schools • Joint Programme in Digital Transformation • Online Exchange Initiative • Shared Modules • Signature Courses • X-Labs Opportunities for Academics and Researchers: • Conferences • Workshops • Think Tanks • Research Community Platform • Publication Platform • Grant Desk Opportunities for Learners: • Work Integrated Learning • Short Courses Opportunities for University Staff: • Job Shadowing • Staff development courses • Communities

Ergebnisse

ENGAGE.EU will increase the collaboration within the alliance and will lead it to the creation of a European University with a focus on Business, Economics and Social Sciences. This will be based on the experience, competences and networks of the nine partner universities. ENGAGE.EU will become a leading institution for learners and researchers working within and especially across these disciplines, as well as a well-known source of information and collaboration for policy makers looking for sustainable, evidence-based solutions for the pressing challenges of the European society. The alliance will not only provide expert knowledge, but also viable solutions for those challenges by engaging stakeholders in co-designing and co-creation processes. ENGAGE.EU will be recognised as a European incubator for societal change, fostering social cohesion and European values and identity.

Lessons learned

- WU benefits from cooperation with research universities of a similar range of disciplines - With research on grand societal challenges, it’s good to get momentum from more than one university - A European approach is beneficial as perspectives often vary from country to country - European Universities offer an additional opportunity to cooperate internationally, but does not jeopardize other networks.

Weiterführende Links