University of Regensburg establishes a Strategic Partnership with the University of Clermont Auvergne
Agreement to intensify the cooperation in the future
20 June 2023
As a transnational and transcultural hub, the University of Regensburg maintains a diverse network of international contacts with more than 300 universities worldwide. This network is an important enabler of cooperation in research, teaching and outreach and illustrates the international attractiveness of the UR. Those many successful international collaborations, which have been implemented primarily at the individual and faculty level, will henceforth be accompanied by Strategic Partnerships.
These partnerships are long-term and sustainable cooperations of the University of Regensburg with carefully selected international universities on the basis of jointly formulated strategic goals of university-wide importance. Organizationally and strategically, they are directly linked to the presidential level, and joint projects are to be funded by both partners.
On Monday, June 19, 2023, the agreement for the first Strategic Partnership was signed by President Prof. Dr. Udo Hebel and President Prof. Dr. Mathias Bernard from the University of Clermont Auvergne (UCA) in the Senate Hall of the University of Regensburg.
UCA President Prof. Dr. Mathias Bernard and UR President Prof. Dr. Udo Hebel sign the Strategic Partnership Agreement. © Julia Dragan/University of Regensburg
The UR has been linked with the University of Clermont Auvergne situated in Regensburg's twin city Clermont-Ferrand by cooperation agreements since 1990 and has research collaborations especially in French studies, German studies and biology. Particularly visible and important are also the very attractive joint study programs, such as the joint Bachelor’s program 'German-French Studies' and the Master’s program 'Inter-cultural European Studies', which were essentially initiated by Prof. Dr. Jochen Mecke. As a consequence, the UCA is also among the most important home universities for international exchange students at the UR.
President Prof. Dr. Udo Hebel on the goals of the strategic partnership with the UCA:
"Our cooperation with the University of Clermont Auvergne is already characterized by numerous valuable academic encounters and scientific projects, which in many cases are now also based on friendly ties. We want to ensure this strength for the long term within the framework of the strategic partnership and, based on this, exploit new cooperation potential in research, teaching and third mission, but also in administration and campus culture together with the UCA."
During the signing ceremony, UCA President Prof. Dr. Mathias Bernard also emphasized the long and strong cooperation and friendship between the two universities and highlighted the importance of the strategic partnership to intensify this cooperation.
In the future, the partnership is to be made particularly visible on campus by special events and information services.
In his speech, President Hebel thanked all those who have contributed to the successful cooperation between the UCA and the UR and invited members of both universities to jointly shape the new strategic partnership in the future.
Information/Contact
Prof.in Dr. Ursula Regener
Vice President for Internationalization and Diversity
Tel.: +49 (0)941 943-3453
Email: ursula.regener@ur.de
