# EU4DUAL – Savonia is part of an alliance that develops higher education model of the future

> Savonia University of Applied Sciences is part of the new European University Alliance in Dual Education (EU4DUAL), which received funding from the European Universities Initiative.

## Overview of the EU4DUAL Alliance
Savonia University of Applied Sciences is part of the new European University Alliance in Dual Education (EU4DUAL), which received funding from the European Universities Initiative. This year, the European Commission targeted the funding specifically at strengthening existing alliances. Only four new networks were funded in the whole of Europe, one of which was EU4DUAL. The purpose of the European University Alliances is to build the higher education of the future and promote mobility, as well as develop in-depth cooperation between the alliance.

## Strategic Goals and Vision
The European Commission has set ambitious goals for European University Alliances. The alliances should find new ways of long-term structural, sustainable, and systemic cooperation on education, research, and innovation. The goal is to offer student-centred curricula jointly delivered across inter-university campuses, on which students, staff, and researchers from all parts of Europe can enjoy seamless mobility. 

EU4DUAL’s vision is to be a European pioneer and an example of higher education that produces expertise for the future needs of working life and solves global challenges in cooperation with students and working life. Unlike earlier alliances typically led by research universities, EU4DUAL is the first alliance of universities that are all working life oriented.

## The Dual Education Model
The EU4DUAL alliance includes nine European universities, all of which are strongly committed to the business environments located in their regions. The aim of the alliance is to use dual education to help Europe address its various global challenges including climate change, decarbonisation, digitalisation, and healthy ageing. Dual education refers to the education in which students combine periods of practical learning in companies and organisations with periods of academic learning.

## Partner Universities
The EU4DUAL Alliance is composed of nine leading European universities in dual education:
* Mondragon University (Spain)
* Duale Hochschule Baden-Württemberg (Germany)
* FH JOANNEUM UAS (Austria)
* Savonia UAS (Finland)
* ESTIA Institute of Technology (France)
* John von Neumann University (Hungary)
* PAR University College (Croatia)
* Malta College of Arts, Science and Technology (Malta)
* Koszalin University of Technology (Poland)

The long-term aim is to launch the world’s largest integrated dual education institution, where academic and business levels are seamlessly integrated.

## Impact on Savonia
In Savonia’s study fields, the collaboration within the alliance can include versatile mobility activities or developing new courses and micro-credentials together with partners. The alliance will work to strengthen cooperation between universities, industry partners, and students to meet the skill demand of employers. In the longer term, new double and joint degrees will be developed between alliance partners.

Savonia will be leading one significant work package of the alliance: **Academic Coordination of Grand Innovation Challenges**. In this work package, the alliance will apply studies, research, and innovation to pressing problems in collaboration with academia, industry, and students. The grand challenges addressed are:
* Future of Work
* Green Economy
* Healthy Living

## RDI and Future Opportunities
In RDI activities, Savonia may have access to international RDI funding programs like Horizon Europe through EU4DUAL partners. The collaboration provides opportunities for Savonia’s staff, students, and work-life partners. The kick-off meeting of EU4DUAL will take place in Kuopio in week 8, 2023.

*Virpi Laukkanen, Director of Internationality*