New Chair of UAS4EUROPE: Finland takes over from the Netherlands
During our Croissant Event on 12 June 2024 in Brussels, Marjolijn Brussaard, Prof. Em. (Vereniging Hogescholen) passed over the presidency of UAS4EUROPE to Dr. Heidi Fagerholm (Arene). Together with Dr. Harald Mikkelsen (Danske Professionshøjskoler) as Vice-Chair, Dr. Fagerholm will lead the network until June 2026.
UAS4EUROPE looks forward to the next two years of strengthening the voice of Universities of Applied Sciences (UAS) in Europe with the Rectors’ Conference of Finnish Universities of Applied Sciences (Arene) and University Colleges Denmark (Danske Professionshøjskoler) as our two Nordic members at the helm of the network.
Important years ahead for European R&I
The Nordic presidency of UAS4EUROPE falls into the key phase of shaping the next Framework Programme for European R&I (FP10). With our position paper “Towards 2028”, we laid the groundwork for our advocacy work over the next years, which will be carried forward in the months to come.
Furthermore, as the next ERA Policy Agenda 2025-27 is taking shape, we will identify the most important ERA Actions to organize targeted contributions and make the European Research Area a single market for all types of European research and innovation. In addition, UAS4EUROPE focuses on supporting the competitiveness of European SMEs through multiplying practice-based research at UAS.
Finally, Arene wants to intensify the network’s efforts to engage experts at UAS in EU policy initiatives.
“The next two years will be marked by the shaping of the future of European R&I funding and by turning ERA into a reality for European research. We are committed to constructively engage in these discussions by providing a platform for our researchers and research managers to share their expertise for the benefit of the European research sector and thus our societies”, says Dr. Fagerholm.
