Despite uncertainties on the future of post-Brexit academic cooperation, YERUN members continue to promote research collaboration across the Channel. Between 30-31 January 2020, 11 early career and established researchers from the University of Essex have visited the University of Konstanz and explored new research opportunities.
“Research has always been a truly trans-boundary endeavour. YERUN provides a unique network of outstanding European universities. In a post-Brexit uncertainty it will be of vital importance to stay united.” These are the words of Prof. Dr. Michael Stürner, Vice Rector for Teaching and Curricular Affairs at the University of Konstanz.
The collaboration between the two institutions is long-established, with students and non-academic staff from both institutions benefitting every year from extensive study abroad and staff exchange opportunities under the Erasmus+ programme. The objective of the visit of the 11-strong Essex delegation to Konstanz was to foster (interdisciplinary) research collaboration between both universities and to enhance their strategic internationalisation efforts at the research level.
The collaboration between the two institutions is long-established, with students and non-academic staff from both institutions benefitting every year from extensive study abroad and staff exchange opportunities under the Erasmus+ programme. The objective of the visit of the 11-strong Essex delegation to Konstanz was to foster (interdisciplinary) research collaboration between both universities and to enhance their strategic internationalisation efforts at the research level.
The Essex delegation comprised researchers from the Faculty of Science and Health at various stages in their academic careers and representing the following disciplines: Computer Science and Electronic Engineering, Health and Social Care, Life Science, Mathematics, Psychology as well as Sports, Exercise and Rehabilitation Sciences. While in Konstanz, they gauged potential opportunities for future research projects and funding proposals by discussing ideas with their counterparts from the University of Konstanz’s Departments of Computer and Information Science, Biology, Psychology and Sport Science as well as the Cluster of Excellence Centre for the Advanced Study of Collective Behaviour, which has been funded in the Excellence Strategy of the German federal and state governments since 1 January 2019.
The programme was scheduled to include general information on the University of Konstanz’s recent successes in both funding lines of the German Excellence Strategy as well as its state-of-the-art support services (such as the Research Support unit) followed by group discussions and individual meetings. It was rounded out by visits to the University of Konstanz’s departments and the facilities of the Centre for the Advanced Study of Collective Behaviour as well as additional information sessions.
Contact: Dr Eva Dade, University of Konstanz, International Office, Coordination International University Networks (email: eva.dade@uni-konstanz.de, phone: +49 7531 88-5346).
