UP University
UP University Network Signed a Five-Year Partnership Agreement in Oulu
The European UP University network has strengthened its cooperation by signing a five-year agreement on Friday, April 11, 2025, at Oulu University of Applied Sciences (Oamk). With this agreement, the network’s eleven partner institutions from Belgium, Germany, the Netherlands, Austria, Finland, Spain, Romania, Italy, Slovenia, Albania, and Ukraine commit to enhancing their academic, scientific, and professional relationships, as well as promoting educational and research collaboration and increasing international mobility for both staff and students.
“I am truly delighted that we have reached this point where we can sign a joint agreement. Previously, we have been building the foundations of our cooperation and focusing on preparing our funding applications. Now, we are entering a new phase where we turn our attention more purposefully toward the future. There is a great sense of excitement,” says Tomas Legrand, the retiring Rector of Artevelde University of Applied Sciences and initiator of the network collaboration, describing the signing day as a significant milestone for the network.
A two-day gathering in Oulu
The network’s rectors and Single Point of Contact (SPOC) representatives convened at Oulu University of Applied Sciences on April 10–11, 2025. The program was opened by Heidi Fagerholm, Rector of Oamk, and Griet Naeyaert, the network coordinator, followed by a presentation from Henna Määttä, Head of Development at the University of Oulu’s Strategy and Science Policy Unit, who shared her experiences on developing the UNIC university network. She highlighted, among other things, the importance of integrating network processes into each institution’s normal operations and involving both students and cities closely in development work.
During afternoon workshops, participants discussed both short- and long-term goals, continuing the work on the academic scorecard framework, which defines the network’s strategic objectives and related concrete measures. The framework focuses on HR, leadership, financing and infrastructure, as well as education and research.
The day concluded with a reception at Oulu’s renovated City Hall, where the delegation learned about the plans for Oulu2026 – the European Capital of Culture year. The City of Oulu was represented by Mayor Ari Alatossava and City Council Chair Jarmo Husso.
The agreement creates solid structure for the network
The two-day program culminated in a signing ceremony held on Friday, April 11. The new five-year agreement provides a clear structure for the network’s activities and enables even closer collaboration. The key themes of the cooperation include:
- Evolving into a European University Alliance
- Strengthening academic, scientific, and professional relations
- Enhancing education, research, knowledge transfer, and dissemination
- Promoting staff and student mobility
- Coordinating joint research and development projects
The agreement also reinforces the administrative structure of the UP University network. Activities are guided by a Governing Board composed of the rectors, while the Steering Committee is responsible for operational leadership and budget planning. Executive Committees focus on practical projects in teaching, research, and communication. Each institution also has a Regional Steering Committee, which implements the consortium’s policies and strategies at the regional level.
Additionally, the network has a coordinator who serves as the chair of the Steering Committee and secretary to the Governing Board, encouraging and facilitating cooperation among the UP members and ensuring that initiatives align with the network’s strategy.
A new chairperson for the Rectors’ Meeting
During Friday’s Rectors’ Meeting, a new chairperson and vice-chairperson were elected for a two-year term. Josep E Baños from the University of Vic – Central University of Catalonia will serve as the new chair, while Heidi Fagerholm from Oulu University of Applied Sciences will be vice-chair.
“From the very beginning, I have seen this network as an excellent initiative. European identity and expertise are strengthened through concrete cooperation,” says the newly elected Chair of the Rectors’ Council, Josep E Baños.
A parallel meeting for the SPOCs focused on clarifying the network’s objectives and practical measures. The discussions addressed goal-setting, BIP (Blended Intensive Programs) plans for staff, and the network’s core message on responsible living.
UP University advances toward concrete action
The new UP University agreement took effect immediately after its signing, and concrete initiatives are expected to begin as early as the next academic year. The next Rectors’ Meeting will be held online in June, followed by a broader live UP University gathering on October 9–10 in Novara, Italy, organized by UPO (Universita Del Piemonte Orientale). The main topic for that event will be research collaboration.
“We are very pleased to have hosted the meeting here in Oulu. This collaboration is an important part of our institution’s internationalization strategy and opens up entirely new opportunities for our staff and students in terms of exchanges, international cooperation, and course offerings,” emphasizes Rector and CEO Heidi Fagerholm of Oulu University of Applied Sciences.
Griet Naeyaert, UP University Coordinator, sums up the event: “This has been a very positive meeting and an important step toward our shared future. Naturally, much work was done in preparation before we met, but now we have been able to discuss how we will collaborate in practical terms moving forward. I also consider it vital that there is strong leadership support and commitment at all partner institutions. That commitment provides an excellent framework for tangible cooperation, such as the joint Master’s program in sustainability we are now set to plan.”
Project Consortium
- Artevelde University of Applied Sciences – Belgium
- FH Münster University of Applied Sciences – Germany
- HAN University of Applied Sciences – The Netherlands
- IMC University of Applied Sciences Krems – Austria
- Oulu University of Applied Sciences – Finland
- University of Vic-Central University of Catalonia – Spain
- Vasile Alecsandri University of Bacau – Romania
- University Del Piemonte Orientale – Italy
- DOBA Faculty of Applied Business and Social Studies – Slovenia
- UNIKO University of Korçé – Albania
- KROK University – Ukraine (Associated Partner)
This consortium arose in 2021, when AUAS and HAN explicitly expressed their mutual ambition of establishing a network of like-minded European HEIs in a strategic partnership agreement.
OUR ACTIVITIES
The consortium will jointly develop innovative education, aimed at futureproof skills and sustainability, offered in various formats for inclusive access.
Second, it will connect regional innovation hubs into a European ecosystem for research and innovation that will welcome staff, students and stakeholders to a co-creative process for developing applicable solutions to societal challenges, boosting science with and for society. We are awaiting the results of several jointly submitted project applications to the EU. Announcement of these will be this summer. But we are also busy making an inventory of what else can be set up jointly, sometimes bilaterally or trilaterally with an UP Label.
OUR IMPACT
The eleven UP consortium partners support over 125.000 learners per year, with numbers ranging from 3.000 to 30.000 across individual institutions. Together, we offer a full range of programmes from EQF level 5 up to 8 ensuring a complete academic trajectory for students. Despite our extensive offer in exact sciences, most students are enrolled in programmes relating to societal and behavioural sciences. The UP consortium’s wide range of study programmes is offered in 13 different languages in addition to English.
Contact
www.upuniversity.eu
Project lead HAN
Ivo Schrijer
☎ +31 6 31 77 71 41
✉ ivo.schrijer@han.nl
UP University coordinator
Griet Naeyaert
✉ upuniversity@arteveldehs.be