The U!REKA European University Alliance is entering the next stage of its development. After several years of intensive cooperation, it is clear that it is not just a network of partner universities, but a functioning European community that delivers concrete results in education, research, and innovation. For VSB – Technical University of Ostrava, membership in the alliance represents a significant opportunity to strengthen international cooperation while actively co-shaping the future of European higher education.
An important milestone was the positive interim evaluation of the U!REKA project by the Euro pean Commission, which praised the quality of cooperation among the partner universities and the fulfillment of the European Universities initiative‘s goals. The evaluation confirmed that the alliance is heading in the right direction and building a solid foundation for long-term cooper ation across Europe. “I believe that the future of universities will not rely solely on what they can achieve on their own, but on how well they can cooperate across Europe and the world. U!REKA allows us to connect the talent of our students, the experience of academics, and the research potential of partner universities. Thanks to this, we can create an environment where new ideas, technologies, and solutions for society are born. Our ambition is not only to respond to changes, but to actively co-shape them and be part of a modern European university,“ Igor Ivan, Rector of VSB-TUO.
A STRONG FOUNDATION OF JOINT ACTIVITIES
Behind this success is primarily a multitude of joint activities connecting students, academics, and researchers. While the initial goal was to build a functional partnership between universities, today the alliance delivers concrete opportuni ties – ranging from joint educational programs and international research projects to intensive cooperation with cities, regions, and industrial partners.
The alliance is also taking cooperation to a higher level through joint study programs. One of the most significant projects is the upcoming international Master‘s program Business Man agement of Sustainable Technologies (BuMaST), which combines management, economics, and modern sustainable technologies. Developed in cooperation with alliance universities, the program prepares graduates to manage innova tion, technological change, and the transition to a sustainable economy. Furthermore, the project received the prestigious U!REKA Co-creation Award 2026, which highlights examples of excep tionally successful international cooperation. “Today, the U!REKA Alliance offers our stu dents, academics, and researchers much more than just the opportunity to travel abroad. Together, we are creating new study programs, developing international research projects, shar ing experience in innovation, sustainability, and well-being support, and preparing an environ ment where international cooperation is a nat ural part of the university‘s daily life,“ Tereza Benešová, Chancellor and U!REKA Institutional Coordinator at VSB-TUO.
EXPANDING SKILLS AND FUTURE OUTLOOK
Currently, more than 50 courses are available, fo cusing on the development of competencies cru cial for future employability while responding to current societal challenges, particularly the green and digital transformation of European cities.
“The courses are thematically divided into sev eral areas—ranging from digital skills, such as dig ital literacy and data work, to green skills focused on sustainability, to courses developing creativity, adaptability, or entrepreneurship,“ says Monika Maňáková, who prepares online courses within U!REKA.
In the coming years, the alliance aims to further expand its offer of joint study programs, micro-credentials, and flexible forms of education, strengthen international research teams, and cre ate new opportunities for students and staff. A significant step in strengthening research cooperation within the alliance will also be the organization of the international confer ence U!REKA Research Days 2026, hosted by VSB – Technical University of Ostrava from Novem ber 24–26, 2026. Researchers, academics, and part ners from universities affiliated with the U!REKA alliance will gather in Ostrava to share experiences, establish new partnerships, and discuss current topics in research, innovation, sustainability, and the development of resilient cities.
Text: Tereza Benešová, Monika Maňáková
Photo: archive VSB-TUO