HVL joins European University Alliance

"We are proud of our new status as a European University. This strengthens us as an educational and research institution," says Rector Gunnar Yttri.

HVL is now one of 12 Norwegian research and educational institutions to hold this prestigious status. Yttri believes the distinction bolsters HVL and the new university.

"EUI is the foremost honor within European educational cooperation. We have the opportunity to strengthen our international orientation while increasing the impact of our education and research regionally and nationally," Yttri adds.

This week, it was announced that HVL and 130 other European institutions have had their applications approved to become part of a university alliance. In June, 14 new university alliances were established within European Universities, and HVL secured a place in one of them.

"It is truly an exciting time for HVL, our students and staff, and our many partners in both the private and public sectors in Western Norway. The designation solidifies HVL's university ambitions. A solid effort over time has yielded these good results," says HVL Rector Gunnar Yttri.

EU's flagship

The new university alliance that HVL is part of is named ARTEMIS: Alliance for Regional Transition, Equality, Mobility, Inclusion, and Sustainability.

"We congratulate Western Norway University of Applied Sciences and Inland Norway University of Applied Sciences for passing through this eye of the needle! The European Universities Initiative are the EU's flagship for quality and innovation in higher education, and now a total of twelve Norwegian universities and colleges participate in such alliances," says Director Sveinung Skule of the Directorate for Higher Education and Skills.

The goal of the alliance is to create closer cooperation in education, research, innovation activities, and interaction with regional working life in Europe. This will be achieved through the development of new study programs, continuing education, virtual collaboration in study programs, better opportunities for student and staff exchanges, the establishment of joint research labs, interdisciplinary research groups, and networks for startup centers.

Sustainable mobility will be a major focus area. The alliance emphasizes that the need for greener transport in the EU is urgent and that a green shift can and should happen quickly due to environmental, societal, and economic concerns.

In ARTEMIS, there are seven partners in addition to HVL:

- Université Clermont Auvergne (UCA), France
- University of Ioannina (UOI), Greece
- Ovidius University of Constanta (OUC), Romania
- VIVES University of Applied Sciences (VIVES), Belgium
- Ostbayerische Technische Hochschule (OTH), Germany
- Tallinn University of Applied Sciences (TTK), Estonia
- University of Perugia, Italy (UniPG)

Link to the alliance’s website: https://eu-artemis.eu/

Link to publication by the commission: https://education.ec.europa.eu/news/64-european-universities-alliances-now-active