Enlargement of the EUTOPIA European university with three new institutions
Contra el genocidi i contra la violació dels drets humans, a Gaza i arreu del món
Peace comes when you talk to the person you most hate. And that’s where the courage of a leader comes.
Desmond Tutu (1931-2021), first recipient of an honorary doctorate from UPF
These words, spoken by Desmond Tutu, the first person ever to be awarded an honorary doctorate by UPF, are more applicable today than ever. The UPF condemns, and will always condemn, the use of violence to settle disputes. At UPF, we advocate approaching political or territorial conflicts based on dialogue and respect for all peoples and minorities.
As a university, we also want to show our support to the academic community in countries at war. Universities and scientific institutions are more necessary than ever in these regions. Access to education and the promotion of critical thinking, in the context of strong independent institutions, are the way to ensure the informed debate and reflection that can open the door to new avenues for finding solutions.
At UPF, we are aware of the university community’s concern for the human rights violations we are seeing in the conflicts around us. That is why on this website you will find information about campaigns and actions related to current conflicts, as well as opinion pieces and institutional statements. We also offer a dedicated e-mail address – [email protected] – to contact the university and let us know about your interests and concerns.
Enlargement of the EUTOPIA European university with three new institutions
The EUTOPIA European University announces its enlargement with three leading universities joining the consortium this September: Università Ca’Foscari Venezia (Italy), Technische Universität Dresden (Germany) and Universidade NOVA de Lisboa (Portugal). The enlargement ceremony on September 16, 2021, is hosted at the Italian Ambassador to the Kingdom of Belgium’s Residence in the presence of key European and local stakeholders.
This expansion reflects the desire of the EUTOPIA universities to broaden, widen, and deepen their efforts to strengthen their complementary capabilities and to offer their students, staff, and research communities a more comprehensive, connected range of international and intercultural opportunities.
The EUTOPIA universities are student-centred, working towards social cohesion by striving for excellence and inclusion, transcending national and educational boundaries to develop innovative pedagogical models, and advancing the movement of people and ideas. Furthermore, they are committed to our communities, building on our place-making strengths to foster urban and regional development, ultimately preparing our students, staff, and communities to be empowered European citizens in today’s disruptive world.
They share common values: integrity, academic freedom, knowledge sharing with society, and openness to the international community.
The three new universities brings complementary strengths that will reinforce and drive the alliance’s mission forward
Originally established as Italy’s first business school in 1868, CA’ FOSCARI UNIVERSITY OF VENICE is a multidisciplinary institution offering a wide range of study programmes in economics and management, modern languages, the humanities, and sciences. Today, the university is also exploring new areas of research by focusing on climate change, digital and public humanities, environmental humanities, digital transformation and social innovation and nanoscience.
TECHNISCHE UNIVERSITÄT DRESDEN (TUD) is one of the largest technical universities in Germany and one of the leading and most dynamic universities nationwide. As a comprehensive university with 17 faculties in five Schools, it offers a wide variety of 124-degree programs and covers a broad research spectrum. Its research foci are Health Sciences, Biomedicine & Bioengineering, Information Technology & Micro- and Nanoelectronics, Smart Materials & Structures, Energy, Mobility & Environment, and Culture & Societal Change.
NOVA UNIVERSITY LISBON was founded in 1973 endorsing the European values of democracy, respect for human right, freedom, tolerance, and more, as the European university that it is proud to be. Its main characteristics are the emphasis on sustainability, interdisciplinarity and innovation. Its areas of expertise range from Medicine to Economics, Engineering, Social Sciences and Humanities. NOVA is currently in the top 14 among young European universities effectively founded less than 50 years ago, leading prominently at national level (Times Higher Education World University Rankings - Young), and its motto is to be a global and civic university.
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The Red Cross also provides emergency humanitarian aid in regions in crisis.
Legal Clinic
The UPF Legal Clinic regularly holds talks and roundtables on the protection of human rights in crisis regions.
Libraries Without Borders
The Libraries Without Borders programme, sponsored by the Catalan Development Cooperation Agency (ACCD), offers Catalan public library patrons knowledge and insight into situations of human rights violations and provides resources to take action.
Council for At-Risk Academics
The Council for At-Risk Academics, in partnership with universities and higher education institutions, provides urgently-needed help to academics in immediate danger, those forced into exile, and many who choose to work on in their home countries despite serious risks.