Goal

This EUTOPIA alliance work package focuses on leveraging Connected Communities (CCs) as inclusive and co-creative platforms to promote critical thinking, transferable skills, and interdisciplinary knowledge on global challenges. The aim is to provide the best possible environment for students and researchers while reinforcing thematic connections within the communities. By broadening and strengthening the thematic spine of the communities, EUTOPIA holistically supports innovative learning and research activities, providing dedicated European funding for cross-campus initiatives. This working group, led by Vrije Universiteit Brussel and co-led by CY Cergy Paris University, aims to provide support for the emergence and sustainability of CCs and their implementation on the student, educational, and research levels.

Empowering Knowledge

Empowering Knowledge

  • The project will focus on identifying thematic areas for communities that align with education and research priorities, and select areas based on existing research and teaching activities meeting the criteria of interdisciplinarity, global relevance, student-centered and applied research, and societal impact.

    Mature communities will be embedded into institutions through teaching and learning cross-campus activities and shared research projects. Successfully connected communities can become the spill of strategically chosen European Programs organized by EUTOPIA.

  • EUTOPIA Connected Communities are created to enhance students' learning experience across all levels of higher education. These communities offer workshops and exchanges with researchers, providing students with insights into various disciplines, research topics, and career paths.

    The communities are also testbeds for new forms of recognition of learning, such as micro-credentials. The expected impact of Connected Communities includes short-term resource sharing, medium-term development of connected learning activities, and long-term opening up of the curriculum and scaling innovative educational practices.

  • EUTOPIA aims to generate knowledge by creating bottom-up synergies among researchers and empowering them with leadership skills. They will develop bottom-up research-based communities and grant funding to explore, design, write and effectively submit R&I projects in areas of mutual interest.

    The EUTOPIA Young Leaders Academy (YLA) is launched to develop independent research leaders, who will act as EUTOPIA ambassadors. The expected impact includes extending networks, starting joint R&I projects, acquiring leadership skills, building scientific networks, and increasing visibility on the European ERA and EEA landscape.