The University of Babeș-Bolyai in Cluj-Napoca joins EUTOPIA
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.
The University of Babeș-Bolyai in Cluj-Napoca joins EUTOPIA
The alliance is proud to announce that the enlargement process launched in September shall be achieved in Barcelona next 23rd of November. The University of Babeș-Bolyai will officially sign the institution as the tenth partner of EUTOPIA.
The EUTOPIA European University alliance is proud to announce that the enlargement process launched in September shall be achieved in Barcelona next 23rd of November. The University of Babeș-Bolyai (UBB) in Cluj-Napoca (Romania), represented by its rector professor Daniel David, will officially sign the institution as the tenth partner of EUTOPIA. The ceremony is one of the many events and meetings scheduled during the semestrial EUTOPIA Week, hosted and organised by the Pompeu-Fabra University.
After a first enlargement wave in mid-September 2021, that brought to the consortium the Ca’Foscari University of Venice, NOVA University Lisbon and the Technische University Dresden, EUTOPIA reinforces its scale of exchanges, collaborations, mobility and shared projects with the arrival of one of the oldest and most prestigious higher education institutions in Eastern Europe.
Since its foundation in 1581, the UBB has been part of the gallery of referential universities in Romania. With over 55,000 students and staff members in 15 cities and 11 provinces, the UBB occupies top positions at the national level in the global rankings and rankings on fields. In 2021 the BBU was confirmed by QS STAR as the first “world-class” (QS*****) university in Romania.
A remarkable aspect of the BBU is its teaching concurrently in four languages —Romanian, Hungarian, German and English— revealing thus a pluricultural legacy at the heart of its identity.
Concerning its integration in EUTOPIA, the BBU rector, Prof. Daniel David, declared:
“As a global university, renowned for its performance, size, and tradition, BBU is an innovator within the national and international academic area. As such, BBU is already engaged in top international research and double/multiple degree educational programmes, working with major international consortia, establishing innovative ties with society (with national and international actors), and engaging in policy-making in international science (i.e. through renowned organisations, such as the GUILD etc.) The new statute as a member of the EUTOPIA European University Alliance comes to consolidate BBU’s role and our mission to contribute to further redefining the European university area than BBU’s already existing mechanisms. I was pleased to receive the invitation to join EUTOPIA and we gladly accepted it; BBU had already been invited to join similar European alliances, but the strength of the members of EUTOPIA and their vision, strategy, and programmes convinced us that we want to be part of this alliance, and that we can bring an important academic value to it”.
At the EUTOPIA Week, all the teams working on the project —academics, staff and students will have for the first time the opportunity to meet in person since the pandemic. Like all the universities of EUTOPIA, the UBB is sending a significant delegation of vice-rectors to Barcelona.
The EUTOPIA alliance
EUTOPIA is an ambitious alliance of 10 like-minded universities ready to reinvent themselves: the University of Babeș-Bolyai in Cluj-Napoca (Romania), the Vrije Universiteit Brussels (Belgium), CY Cergy Paris Université (France), Ca’Foscari University-Venice (Italy), the Technische Universität Dresden (Germany), the University of Gothenburg (Sweden), the University of Ljubljana (Slovenia), NOVA University Lisbon (Portugal), the Pompeu Fabra University-Barcelona (Spain) and The University of Warwick (United Kingdom). Together, these ten pioneers join forces to build the university of the future.
Each university holds several campuses deeply related to their territories. They have built solid ties with their communities, the institutional structures and the local companies. The mission of EUTOPIA is to shape a unique and daring alliance of transformative and engaged institutions in the long term. EUTOPIA students, researchers and staff work together to build a new academic model, reflecting an open and united Europe, respectful of the citizens and the environment.
In June 2019, EUTOPIA was chosen as one of the initial 17 winning projects of the new European Universities Initiative competitive call launched by the European Commission to build a European Higher Education Area.
Multimedia
SDG - Sustainable Development Goals:
Contact
Related Assets
Catalan government
Catalan development cooperation aims to help prevent and respond to emergency situations. This page explains how you can collaborate on the provision of foreign aid both in general and to specific regions.
European Commission
Through cooperation and assistance programmes, the European Commission offers humanitarian aid and coordinates efforts with other international actors to promote peace and stability in war-torn regions.
Oxfam Intermón
Oxfam Intermón works in 90 countries. They have launched a fundraising campaign, which is more necessary than ever, given the magnitude of today’s wars. The NGO is also sponsoring a campaign to collect signatures to call for a ceasefire in Gaza.
Doctors Without Borders (MSF) is a medical-humanitarian action organization that provides assistance in 70 countries to people threatened by armed conflicts, violence, epidemics or neglected diseases, natural disasters and exclusion from medical care. They have also promoted a campaign to collect signatures to ask for a ceasefire in Gaza.
Red Cross
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.