UAS4EUROPE is working on promoting UAS at European level and expanding this model to other countries to address the skills gap, provide innovation cohesion and the twin green and digital transitions
UAS4EUROPE is the only European network of UAS institutions with a focus on applied research activities. The role of applied research for society is underrepresented at EU level, while at the same time almost half of the EU member states have a binary tertiary education system with UAS in some form. With a mandate for fostering regional economic development, UAS connect their researchers and students to regional authorities, private actors and citizens to react to local market needs and to train the skilled workforce of the future. By doing so, UAS tie together the binary tertiary education system of academic knowledge and vocational training.
Countries with comparable education systems include Germany, Austria, Sweden, Finland, France, Denmark, Estonia, Latvia, Lithuania, Ireland, Israel, Portugal, Belgium, Switzerland and the Netherlands.
The success of the UAS model is analysed in a study by Pfister et al. (2021), who investigate the impact of UAS on regional innovation activities in Switzerland since their creation in the 1990s. The results show that that the establishment of UAS led to a significant increase in both regional patenting activities and patent quality compared to regions without applied research institutions. Furthermore, Pfister et al. (ibid.) conclude that the establishment of UAS is worthwhile even in the presence of well-established traditional universities.
In light of the proven success of the UAS model in their respective regions, UAS4EUROPE is working on promoting UAS at European level and expanding this model to other countries to address the skills gap, provide innovation cohesion and the twin green and digital transitions.
In particular, we are promoting the UAS model on three levels:
