Seven Higher Education Institutions Join European University Association

The European University Association (EUA) has welcomed seven new members and three affiliates, the association has announced.

Universities that have joined EUA as full individual members include:

• University of Georgia (Georgia)
• University of Hohenheim (Germany)
• Panteion University of Social and Political Sciences (Greece)
• University of the Republic of San Marino (San Marino)
• Aston University (United Kingdom)
• University of Essex (United Kingdom)

In addition, EUA Council approved the application of the University of Nicosia in Cyprus to become an individual, full member. This university has earlier held individual associate membership.

The association has also welcomed the University of Mitrovica “Isa Boletini” located in Kosovo as an individual associate member.

Meanwhile, the three new affiliates that have joined EUA are:

• European Universities in Egypt (Egypt)
• Mediterranean College (Greece)
• Malta Further and Higher Education Authority (Malta)

EUA offers four membership categories and the possibility of the “affiliate” status, such as:

• Individual Full Members – universities that conduct research, offer degree programs in BA, MA, and doctorate, receive direct public funding or have been operating for five years uninterruptedly.
• Individual Associate Members – higher education institutions that award degrees at the first and second cycle level but do not fulfill the research criteria to become individual members.
• Collective Full Members – national rectors’ conferences that represent the universities of a country.
• Collective Associate Members – European networks of universities or other higher education institutions demonstrating “a sufficiently broad European representation.”
• Affiliates – organizations in Europe and others interested in European partnerships in higher education.

“Applicants should be located in one of the signatory countries of the European Cultural Convention of the Council of Europe. The “affiliate” status is open to organisations worldwide,” EUA notes in its website.

EUA has lately suspended the membership of 12 Russian universities, which showed support for Russia’s actions against Ukraine.

According to EUA, the Russian Union of Rectors (RUR), representing Russian universities, as opposed to the European values they have agreed to when deciding to join EUA.

RUR had issued a statement saying that it is important to support the Russian army and the President, who has made a necessary decision.

EUA has also urged leaders of its member universities and the National Rectors Conferences to continue collaborations only with organizations in Russia that commit to European values.

EUA is the largest association of European universities, representing more than 850 universities and 33 national rectors’ conferences in some 48 countries in Europe are part of EUA. The association helps its member universities to shape their future.