2.5 Internationalization
ENGAGE.EU
Tilburg University participates in the European University ENGAGE.EU: a transnational alliance of higher education institutions in the European Union that share a long-term strategy, promote European values and a European identity, and jointly educate on challenges we face globally. The network expanded in 2022 to include the Hanken School of Economics in Finland and Ramon Llull University in Spain.
The main spearheads, results and activities achieved are an increase in online mobility by offering 75 courses from all partners online, the development of a joint honors program on the theme of Digital Transformation, and the development of a Double Degree in the field of Sustainability & Climate Change. In addition, an Expedition Week was organized in Tilburg in July 2022, and research meetings took place in Mannheim and Sofia for the exchange of research initiatives and the stimulation of collaboration. Furthermore, during the summer of 2022, the first ENGAGE Summer School was organized in Rome and the Faculty Bridge Program was developed for professionals (lecturers, amongst others) who want to develop skills for lecturing in adult education. Finally, the 2nd anniversary of the alliance was celebrated with a conference in Tilburg.
Together with the other partners, Tilburg University is currently preparing a follow-up application for the European Universities call in early 2023, setting new goals for ENGAGE 2023–2027.
Ukraine
The war in Ukraine prompted the creation of a Ukraine working group led by the Secretary of the University, in which several Schools and Divisions are represented. In the first phase, on the initiative of a number of students of Ukrainian nationality, facilitated by the university, a fundraising campaign for Ukraine was set up. In addition, there was and is additional attention and concern for the well-being of the Ukrainian and Russian students and staff population and other stakeholders who have been directly or indirectly affected by the war. The university provided financial support whenever possible and necessary. All students of Ukrainian nationality received a discount on institutional fees to the level of statuary tuition fees in 2022–2023. Generous treatment was also given to applications of new students from Ukraine who, due to the crisis situation, were unable to provide a diploma or proof of their English language level in the normal way, and language tests and English language courses were offered free of charge.
For employees personally affected by the resulting situation, Tilburg University tried to eliminate as many stress factors as possible through personal contact and by setting up a special web page where employees could go for information on various topics. Opportunities were also created to support Ukrainian scientists who had fled. Specifically, the university was able to offer a workplace to three refugee Ukrainian scientists.
Ties with collaboration partner Ukrainian Catholic University (UCU) in Lviv have been further strengthened, leading, among other things, to the possibility for students to join Tilburg University's online range of courses offered. Following Minister Dijkgraaf's urgent appeal, formal and institutional collaborations with educational and knowledge institutions in the Russian Federation and Belarus were frozen shortly after the outbreak of war until now (until further notice).
