SLU becomes a European University
The Swedish University of Agricultural Sciences (SLU) has become a European University through the ELLS Alliance. The European Commission has awarded the alliance funding under the European Universities Initiative.
The decision will provide SLU's students, researchers and staff with greater opportunities to study, work and collaborate with partner universities across Europe.
The Euroleague of Life Sciences Universities (ELLS) builds on a long-standing collaboration through which European universities with strong expertise in life sciences, sustainable food systems, agriculture, forestry, the environment and natural resources have worked together for more than 25 years.
– This is extremely welcome news. SLU becoming a European University will create even more opportunities for our students, researchers and staff to collaborate across national borders. Our partnership with some of Europe's leading universities will now be significantly strengthened, providing a strong foundation for innovative solutions to some of the vital challenges facing Europe, says SLU Vice-Chancellor Maria Knutson Wedel.
The European Universities Initiative is the European Union's flagship programme for creating long-term alliances between higher education institutions across Europe. Its aim is to strengthen the European Education Area through increased mobility, joint degree programmes, innovative learning environments and closer cooperation between universities.
For SLU's students, membership of the alliance will create more opportunities to study at partner universities, take part in joint courses and build international networks. For researchers, teachers and other staff, it will open up new opportunities for professional development, the exchange of knowledge and experience, and collaboration in education, research and innovation.
The ELLS Alliance brings together universities committed to supporting the transition towards sustainable food systems, the sustainable management of natural resources, enhanced biodiversity and thriving rural communities. The alliance includes universities from Sweden, the Netherlands, France, Germany, Norway, the Czech Republic, Estonia, Spain, Italy, Poland and Austria.
About the European Universities Initiative
The European Universities Initiative is the European Union's flagship initiative for higher education. Through long-term alliances between universities, it enables students, teachers, researchers and professional staff to collaborate more closely and move more freely between higher education institutions across Europe. Its objective is to strengthen the quality of education and research while contributing to Europe's competitiveness and sustainable development.