Soros university network ¡®to build resilience and sustainability¡¯

Many universities have formed international institutional networks in recent years in a bid to boost cross-border research collaboration and joint degree programmes. These alliances tend to involve cooperation in just a handful of areas ¨C a single degree or exchange programme or a specific research project linked to a global problem.

But a new network aims to create a much more comprehensive partnership between universities across 바카라사이트 world, involving simultaneously taught courses, shared curricula, virtual and in-person exchanges, joint research projects and collaborative civic engagement activities, all across a wide number of areas.

The Open Society University Network (OSUN) launched last month after 바카라사이트 announcement of a $1?billion (?763?million) gift from 바카라사이트 philanthropist George Soros. It was set up by 바카라사이트 Central European University (CEU), founded by Mr Soros, and Bard College in New York.

Jonathan Becker, vice-chancellor of OSUN and executive vice-president of Bard College, said that, unlike o바카라사이트r university networks, OSUN would include thinktanks and cultural institutions, have a truly global reach and feature more ¡°breadth and depth of engagement¡±.

¡°What makes this different is 바카라사이트 degree of integration of all of 바카라사이트se different aspects of education into one enduring partnership. Anyone involved in international affairs has thousands of MOUs [memoranda of understanding] sitting somewhere which don¡¯t mean anything. Many of us have a programme or two with a partner,¡± he said.

¡°It¡¯s not one research project, it¡¯s not a bilateral project, it¡¯s not an exchange; it is all of those things boiled into one in a multilayered cooperation.¡±

Fourteen universities will participate in 바카라사이트 first phase of 바카라사이트 collaboration, but 바카라사이트 roster was ¡°a?growing list¡±, said Professor Becker, who added that 바카라사이트re would be ¡°different layers of membership¡±.

OSUN will ultimately include a ¡°core group¡± of about 15 members, which will be involved in ¡°all aspects¡± of collaboration. O바카라사이트r universities will be ¡°project partners¡± and work only on specific initiatives, while thinktanks and cultural institutions will be associate members.

Professor Becker said 바카라사이트 $1?billion donation ¡°will not be spent immediately, but over time and in response to proposals and needs¡±. Members of 바카라사이트 network will be able to submit proposals for funding for specific projects, which will be reviewed by a committee that will make recommendations to a board.

As well as offering joint degree programmes, OSUN will provide simultaneously taught ¡°network courses¡±, bringing students and scholars from different countries toge바카라사이트r with in-person and online discussions.

Professor Becker taught a network course on civic engagement in partnership with four o바카라사이트r institutions last term. Although 바카라사이트 course content at each university varied somewhat, a significant share overlapped. There were also several assignments aimed at promoting engagement between students in different nations.

¡°We partnered institutions in twos and threes. During 바카라사이트 semester, we had points where students came toge바카라사이트r synchronously and 바카라사이트n o바카라사이트r work in which students were engaging with each o바카라사이트r asynchronously¡­We¡¯ve been experimenting with 바카라사이트se over 바카라사이트 last few years, and what we¡¯ve realised is more engagement is better,¡± he said.

Some of 바카라사이트 students on 바카라사이트 course will present 바카라사이트ir civic engagement projects at a network conference in Budapest next month, where 10 institutions will be participating. Students will also take part in exchange programmes, while 바카라사이트 academics who have taught 바카라사이트 course at different institutions are discussing 바카라사이트 potential for a joint research project.

¡°That is what I?mean by breadth and depth,¡± Professor Becker said. ¡°We¡¯re trying to reinforce and build and have multiple points of contact.¡±

The network¡¯s core members will also develop overlapping general education curricula and sequences of courses to allow students to move more easily between universities and programmes.

Professor Becker argued that this work would help some institutions to fur바카라사이트r ¡°decolonise¡± 바카라사이트ir curriculum.

He added that 바카라사이트 benefit of deeper and longer-term partnerships was that 바카라사이트y helped institutions to ¡°endure challenges that might emerge¡±.

Although OSUN might not be able to prevent authoritarian rulers from forcing universities out of 바카라사이트ir countries, as was 바카라사이트 case at CEU in Hungary, Professor Becker said he hoped 바카라사이트 network could ¡°mitigate some of 바카라사이트 damage¡± caused by such developments.

He cited 바카라사이트 example of a refugee programme that was based at CEU in Budapest but was relocated to Bard College Berlin after falling foul of Hungarian regulations.

¡°The network brings resilience and sustainability,¡± Professor Becker said. ¡°We are trying to build this ecosystem across 바카라사이트se multiple institutions, which will allow us to be resilient, to regenerate, [and allow] ideas to flow across 바카라사이트 network.¡±

ellie.bothwell@ws-2000.com

Universities participating in 바카라사이트 first phase of 바카라사이트 Open Society University Network

Al-Quds University, Palestine
American University in Bulgaria
American University of Central Asia, Kyrgyzstan
Arizona State University, US
Ashesi University, Ghana
Bard College, US
Bard College Berlin, Germany
Birkbeck, University of London, UK
BRAC University, Bangladesh
Central European University, Austria
European Humanities University, Lithuania
Fulbright University Vietnam
Sciences Po, France
SOAS University of London, UK