ENLIGHT is a network of nine universities in Europe that has received funding for increased cooperation in education within the framework of the EU’s European University initiative. The network has identified five global societal challenges to be prioritised.
“The first task for these Regional Academies is to identify the local problems that are of the highest priority in the five flagship areas of ENLIGHT,” says Jonathan Schalk, coordinator of ENLIGHT at the Division for Internationalisation. “These challenges can then be channelled via ENLIGHT to students, teaching staff and researchers at all nine universities and in turn be developed into different challenge-based teaching formats, as well as opportunities for placements and degree projects. The challenges will also be used as themes within the framework for the European conferences which will bring together representatives from the cities participating in ENLIGHT.”
Similar challenges
Uppsala’s Regional Academy includes Uppsala Municipality, Region Uppsala and Region Gotland as permanent members, but it is also possible to invite other actors to participate, depending on what is going to be discussed.
“The cities and communities participating in ENLIGHT seem to be facing similar challenges,” says Christian Dahlman, Head of Unit at Uppsala Municipality’s Executive Office. “We look forward to commencing discussions with the other ENLIGHT cities on how we can share experiences and assist each other in finding sustainable solutions for our future cities in Europe.”