Consortium led by Technical University of Munich submits EuroTech Engineer Network Proposal

Paradigm shift in European Engineering Education

Driven by the EuroTech Universities Alliance, the “EuroTech Engineer Network” consists of Technical University of Denmark, École Polytechnique, the Technion, Eindhoven University of Technology, Technical University of Munich, as well as Czech Technical University in Prague and Tallinn University of Technology.

The vision of this new network is to establish the first European curriculum for an engineering degree and become the leading European ecosystem for Education in Science and Technology. The ambition is to “future proof” study programmes in science and technology by anchoring the knowledge triangle in European values. Combining disciplinary expertise with competencies in social sciences and humanities will shape societally aware talent capable of taking adequate and sustainable decisions and accompanying and moderating technology-driven transformation processes. 

Paving the way towards a unique European engineering education

If funded, the EuroTech Engineer Pilot Project will be a first stepping-stone in turning this ambition into reality. “This proposal by the EuroTech Universities and its new partners is an ambitious step towards unique European engineering education”, says Wolfgang A. Herrmann, president of TUM and Co-Founder of the EuroTech Universities Alliance. “Human centered engineering, which includes societal aspects of innovation and design thinking lies at the center of future engineering. European students, employers and most importantly the society itself is looking for study programs that reflect this paradigm shift in mindset.”

EU program 'European Universities'

In December 2017, EU states and governments called to take measures ‘encouraging the emergence of 'European Universities', consisting in bottom-up networks of universities across the EU which will enable students to obtain a degree by combining studies in several EU countries and contribute to the international competitiveness of European universities'. In October 2018, the Commission launched a first pilot call under the Erasmus+ program with a view to test ambitious new cooperation models in European higher education. The first call is set to co-fund twelve “European universities” with €5million each over a period of three years.

Collaborative research projects

The alliance is further strengthened by collaborative research projects. Earlier this week, TUM’s International Graduate School of Science and Engineering (IGSSE) has opened its 14th call for proposals for collaborative research projects, which for the first time especially fosters partnerships of TUM with its partner universities in the EuroTech Universities Alliance.

More Information:

• The EuroTech Universities Alliance is a strategic partnership of leading European universities of science and technology committed to excellence in research and jointly developing solutions to the grand challenges of society. By promoting in-depth collaboration across research and education, as well as nurturing innovation and entrepreneurship, the Alliance combines the complementary strengths of its partner universities to jointly achieve multi-scale initiatives of high impact to society and to industry. The Alliance also openly engages with all societal actors to raise awareness on the opportunities offered by science and technology.