Suche
Mein Konto
Thuringian University networks: Building for the future of Europe!
On September 4, 2025, the B4EU Regional Council was constituted at the Bauhaus University Weimar to promote regional innovations.
Thuringian University networks: Building for the future of Europe!
On September 4, 2025, the constituent meeting of the Thuringian “B4EU Regional Council” took place in the neudeli start-up workshop. The aim of this meeting is to connect the Bauhaus University Weimar with regional actors and to initiate joint projects. Present were, among others, representatives from the faculties of architecture and urban studies, construction and environment, and media, complemented by the university president Prof. Peter Benz. In various discussion rounds, regional innovation potential and the students' enthusiasm for these topics were discussed. Initial ideas for course offerings and research collaborations were recorded on a map of Thuringia.
The EU-funded BAUHAUS4EU project plays a central role in this. It is intended to promote the internationalization of the Bauhaus University Weimar and thus create opportunities for the Thuringia region. Dr. Tonia Schmitz, the project coordinator of the B4EU alliance, emphasized the importance of good expectation management between science and practice. She also presented some examples of successful collaborations, including a course on developing modular designs for transport stops. Regular meetings of the Regional Council are to take place in the future in order to translate the ideas gained into concrete teaching and research formats.
The BAUHAUS4EU alliance
The BAUHAUS4EU alliance includes a total of 10 member universities and 67 associated partners from all over Europe, benefiting a total of around 124,000 students and 10,000 employees. The alliance promotes transnational cooperation, the provision of joint educational programs and a European identity. The project also relies on presence in the region and an innovative design of university education by optimally preparing students for the challenges of the future job market.
At the official launch of the European University Alliance on March 12, 2025 at the Bauhaus University Weimar, Prof. Peter Benz emphasized the importance of intercultural competence and specialist knowledge in the area of sustainability. The kick-off event attracted over 100 participants, including representatives from ten European universities and regional partners. The implementation phase was initiated, which aims to promote innovations in the education sector and create a “BAUHAUS4EU Digital Campus” for joint education and research programs.
Support and funding
In this context, the Thuringian Minister for Education, Science and Culture, Christian Tischner, emphasized the promotion of European identity and Thuringia's role as a driver of innovation. Eleven working groups are currently working on various key areas, including sustainability, digitalization and innovation. The alliance will receive 14.4 million euros from EU funds in the current funding period, supplemented by the possibility of national co-financing via the German Academic Exchange Service (DAD).
This framework is supported by the EU Commission, which has made a record budget of 402.2 million euros available for the “European Universities” initiative to strengthen and network universities in Europe. As part of this initiative, a total of 50 alliances are active, enabling students to study and obtain a combined degree in different European countries and languages. High-quality networking opportunities within these alliances strengthen cooperation and exchange between educational institutions.
The establishment of these alliances and the associated promotion of interdisciplinary collaboration show how important it is to establish innovative teaching and learning formats in order to overcome increasingly complex social challenges. The BAUHAUS4EU alliance is a step in this direction and shows the commitment of those involved to help shape a sustainable future.