Do university networks matter? 

Dorota Maciejowska

University networks in a nutshell

The year 1985, date of formal establishment of the Coimbra Group network, marked the beginning of a rise in European university networks. Shortly afterwards it was followed by the emergence of similar, bottom-up initiatives organized in the framework of formalized network structures, to mention only a few of those, such as EUA, EUNIS, Utrecht Network, EUROPEAUM, The Guild or LERU. A large number of university networks which have been established differ depending on the type of activity and scope, dimension (national, regional, European or international), density, geographical coverage, longevity or other typological criteria. In general, those networks have various priorities but they share one common aim: providing the best educational and research opportunities for their students and their staff. That aspiration is realized through partnership collaboration, new contacts, share of knowledge and expertise or joint initiatives, but it may also be revealed through mutual support.

At present university networking has reached a higher level. For four years now we have been witnessing the creation of a new type of networks being a result of top-down initiative of the European Commission, named European Universities Initiative (EUI). Their aim is to enhance the quality, attractiveness and competitiveness of European higher education institutions and to contribute significantly to united and strong Europe. This Initiative impacts strongly university internationalization strategies as well as stimulates discussions on the transformation of the role of networks in university cooperation and outreach.

Jagiellonian University in networks

Jagiellonian University is an excellent example of an institution participating in networks since its very beginnings. It has joined both, the oldest European Coimbra Group network as well as the youngest European Universities Initiative within the framework of Una Europa alliance. The university has assisted the evolution of networks, especially over the last ten years. JU representatives have been also gradually joining or co-creating various networks evolving step by step in order to form deeper partnerships, such as The Guild of European Research-Intensive Universities; Utrecht Network; Europaeum; Magna Charta; EUA; EUNIS, AUCSO, Scholars at Risk; Baltic University Programme; IREG Observatory; CELSA; South East Europe and the Western Balkans Rectors’ Forum; Agence Universitaire de la Francophonie, and finally Una Europa – a true seed of a transnational comprehensive university, not “just” a network. In result, those activities allow the university to implement more effectively principles of the university's strategy.  Central coordination of JU participation in networks with a designated authority as well as administrative coordinator makes it easier to manage and harmonize all wide range of activities and thematic areas offered by the networks.  It also helps finding and exploiting synergies between the networks.

In the light of the above, the Jagiellonian University authorities were asked: Why do university networks matter nowadays?

The role of university networks nowadays

Prof. Dorota Malec, Vice-Rector for internationalization

For over thirty years, Jagiellonian University has been actively engaged in university networks and associations. As a representative of Jagiellonian University actively involved in the affairs of the Coimbra Group and The Guild of European Research-Intensive Universities, I have observed the development of international cooperation in this field for many years.

The dynamics of networks are diverse; currently, there is a kind of division between "traditional" networks initiated by universities as bottom-up undertaking financed through member contributions, and alliances of universities established since 2018 under the European Commission's scheme: European Universities Initiative. The emergence of this new collaboration formula prompted reflection among "traditional" networks on their current role, effectiveness, and impact in light of European Universities Initiative. "Traditional" networks rightly try to emphasize their distinctiveness and complementarity to this new form of collaboration. Jagiellonian University makes every effort to collaborate with European partner universities in implementing current and future European policies and initiatives influencing higher education and scientific research. Participation in networks, such as Coimbra Group or The Guild, provides an opportunity to influence European decision-making processes significant not only for JU but also for other Polish universities. It is worth noting that The Guild's role is advisory and influencing the shaping of European higher education policy, with JU being the only Polish university as a member and co-founder of this network.

However, considering that university participation in numerous networks and associations involves not only the time of staff but also financial resources, I believe that network activities should be subject to periodic evaluation within institutions. At Jagiellonian University, we strive to regularly monitor the participation and activity of representatives in network working groups. Their opinions and engagement serve as the basis for the continuation of JU's collaboration within a given network. In the face of the currently extensive opportunities for collaboration with foreign partners through various national and international programs, only the most efficient and active networks that truly influence the shaping of higher education will endure. For example, Coimbra Group will celebrate its 40th anniversary in 2025 as one of the first European organizations of its kind. This serves as a doubly compelling reason to strengthen and define its role in actively and effectively shaping European higher education.

Learning from each other

Prof. Armen Edigarian, Vice-Rector for educational affairs

Participation in networks provides the opportunity for mutual learning, particularly from experts and more experienced individuals. It offers a chance to understand how other universities address issues and cope with contemporary challenges. The European Universities Initiative, more than other previously established university networks, serves as a platform for exchanging experiences and know-how among institutions, focused on solving specific problems. This occurs at all levels of the university structure, from university authorities to administrative staff. Personally, I am a representative and chair of the Una Europa Teaching & Learning Strategy Group, bringing together vice-rectors for educational affairs from partner universities, and I witness tangible benefits from this multidirectional exchange of experiences.

The primary goal of the European Universities Initiative is to make our universities more collaborative and integrated. The greater the number of partners, the more challenging integration and collaboration become. Hence, actions taken within networks, such as EUA or other organizations that bring together many even dozens or hundreds of institutions, are less effective at the operational level. They operate in the realm of theory and concepts. Within Una Europa, we collaborate with eleven universities, which already poses a significant challenge, but provides space for the actual implementation of shared ideas and initiatives. Our challenges are roughly the same. During the COVID times, when Jagiellonian University sought to develop regulations for exams and the implementation of the teaching process, we explored how other universities across Europe were addressing these issues. Thanks to Una Europa working groups, we could share good ideas and learn from each other on how to navigate such circumstances. Other notable examples requiring collaboration and mutual learning from best practices include issues, such as Micro credentials, artificial intelligence, and educational mobility. Meetings of the Teaching & Learning Group serve as an excellent forum for exchanging information on what to do in this area.

Universities play a crucial role in addressing contemporary societal problems. Solving these problems individually would be less effective and often involve reinventing the wheel already opened by our colleagues from other institutions. I believe that university networks, especially the European Universities Initiative or thematic networks like EUNIS, can play a significant role in shaping the future of Europe.

Let’s network!

Prof. Stanisław Kistryn, Rectors’ Proxy for cooperation within Una Europa

Contemporary comprehensive, research-oriented university is by virtue an international institution. Science is global and almost every research field requires from its followers to apply a broad perspective. Therefore international partnerships emerge as a result of bottom-up initiatives, acquiring more formal shapes and opening possibilities for wider set of participants than originally involved. But at a modern university strategic goals are also defined in a top-down strategic considerations, where international partners are selected as potential valuable knowledge and experience pools to be exploited in a process of developing the institution to best realize all pillars of its mission.

University networks create environment for many-faceted cooperation between institutions of different histories, organization schemes, every-day procedures and social cultures. Participating institutions thus offer to their communities possibilities to draw from various pools experiences to enhance their individual, team or institutional procedures. Moreover, working in an international environment poses additional challenges (formal, legal, cultural) which can be considered as stimulation for extended creativity in defining and solving problems.  Networks are like a set of mirrors in which an institution can inspect itself from many perspectives. But they offer much more than only opportunities for reflection in confrontation with others. Networks are magic mirrors from which one can grab well worked-out items and adopt them to best suit particular problem. Moreover, they are responsive – any partner can ask for help in attacking particular problems and a collective help will meet the request much easier than just a single mind. Networks allow their collective community to gain in tolerance for differences, inclusivity and openness for changes, abilities much needed in the society as a whole.

Effective exploitation of network advantages needs engagement. Within all the challenges of the present times university sometimes finds it difficult to engage in still more cooperation threads. Therefore the networks evolve, defining different goals for themselves, what allows a partner to several of them to still profit form such wide scopes of activities. A (relatively) new concept of keeping deep and intensive involvement of cooperating institutions are European University Alliances. They imply efforts to deepen institutional cooperation to an unprecedented level, eventually reaching a status of a real transnational university. Such deep connection of partners requires activities extending the scope of traditional networks, reaching national legislation levels and influencing wider social circles. The Alliances benefit also from “traditional” networks as extensions and interfaces, exploiting particular goals defined within them, but simultaneously also inducing their changes – an obvious win-win situation. Jagiellonian University has been wise enough to join the European Universities initiative at the vey beginning. Complementing this opportunity with our activities in other networks is going to lead us towards a strategic turnover – a true university of the future.

Future of University networks

Żaneta Kubic, PhD, JU ambassador of Una Europa

University networks are a very important element of cooperation between universities in Europe. Nowadays, when international competition, but also commercial competition, exert an increasing influence on the demands placed on universities by the labor market, there is an urgent need to create uniform platforms across Europe, enabling universities to share resources and knowledge. University networks have the potential to become a bridge between different educational institutions, supporting innovative solutions and responding to the needs of different stakeholder groups. The value of sharing experiences, diversity of approaches and viewpoints plays a key role here, and I would stress that in today's world, practical, well-planned implementation of common goals, seems to be crucial.

In the future, university networks can, if they do their job well, play an even more important role. Above all, they should continue to strive for uniform European solutions, integrating universities from different countries into a unified research environment. Common infrastructure and study programs should allow students easiest access to mobility, as well as to access a variety of resources.

In addition, university networks should focus on solving global, but also our, European, problems, accumulating the intellectual potential of our scientists. Collaboration between universities can accelerate the development of innovative technologies that will help confront the challenges of today, such as climate change, fast development of new technologies and growing social inequality. These networks can also play a key role in shaping future leaders and experts who will be ready to work for the good of society on a global and European scale.