European University With a Future

RWTH has been a founding member of the European University Alliance ENHANCE – European Universities of Technology Alliance since 2020. The Alliance pools the strengths and expertise of ten of Europe's leading universities of technology. Besides RWTH, the other Alliance members are TU Berlin, Chalmers University of Technology, ETH Zurich, TU Delft,  Norwegian University of Science and Technology Trondheim, Universitat Politècnica de València, Warsaw University of Technology, Gdańsk University of Technology, and Politecnico di Milano. In summer 2023, the European Commission announced that the Alliance will continue to receive funding of 14.4 million euros as ENHANCE+, thus further strengthening the successful collaborations that have ensued in recent years.

The ENHANCE Alliance aims to turn global challenges into opportunities by equipping people with knowledge and skills in science and technology to drive responsible change for the benefit of society. RWTH is particularly involved in the cross-sectional areas of learning mobility opportunities, IT infrastructure, diversity, impact, and dissemination.

Making Borderless Student Mobility an Experience for All: ENHANCE One Campus

Inspired by the vision of a common European campus, the Alliance promotes student mobility between partner universities at all levels and is committed to improving recognition processes. As part of ENHANCE+, RWTH supports the creation of innovative, attractive, and accessible mobility options as one of its core objectives. In addition to traditional semesters abroad on campus, there is an equally strong focus on virtual offerings and short-term stays (summer and winter schools). Unrestricted mobility and thus access to international experiences should – in the spirit of inclusion and participation for all – also be facilitated for previously underrepresented target groups in the future. All of this is implemented within the framework of ENHANCE+ through the establishment of European Education Pathways (EEPs).

Digitalizing Mobility Processes: IT Infrastructure & Services

Improvements to the IT infrastructure, among other things, should ensure that mobility within the EEPs is as accessible as possible. RWTH is leading the corresponding work package together with ETH Zurich and would like to use its existing expertise to create effective IT solutions to support the EEPs. Sustainable structures are to be established that explicitly take into account and incorporate existing initiatives and developments (such as the European Student Card Initiative). Furthermore, an IT knowledge hub is to be established within the work package with the aim of pooling resources and sharing expertise across Alliance boundaries.

Internationalization for All: Diversity, Impact & Dissemination

RWTH is leading the Diversity, Impact & Dissemination Work Package to make the Alliance's offerings tangible and accessible to everyone and to communicate the results of the collaboration beyond the Alliance's borders. The aim of the work package is to establish a culture of impact and diversity awareness and effective communication at the participating universities. A participatory approach comprehensively promotes European values, in particular equality and respecting human rights, including the rights of minority groups. The involvement of underrepresented groups is particularly encouraged. Furthermore, the work package is actively involved in developing an impact-oriented European university policy. ENHANCE seeks to be a role model in Europe with this approach. In the future, RWTH alums will be able to get involved in an international mentoring program in the Alliance, which is being set up as part of the project with partner institutions.

– Authors: The RWTH ENHANCE Team