The Consortium
Based on the core values summarised above, the KreativEU Alliance (Polytechnic University of Tomar (IPT, Portugal) (Lead Partner); D. A. Tsenov Academy of Economics (TAE, Bulgaria); University of South Bohemia in České Budějovice (USB, Czech Republic); University of Camerino (UNICAM, Italy); University of Greifswald (UG, Germany); Breda University of Applied Sciences (Buas, Netherlands); Opole University of Technology (OUTech, Poland); Valahia University of Targoviste (VUT, Romania); Trnava University (TUT, Slovakia); Södertörn University (SH, Sweden); and Adana Alparslan Türkeş Science and Technology University (ATU, Turkey)) developed their joint long-term institutional, structural and strategic cooperation, as to have a fully operational KreativEU European University by 2034.
Between 2025 and 2028 a pilot phase will be implemented in close collaboration with students, academics and researchers’ body, in order to promote the inclusion, access and participation of under-represented groups and minorities and in order to balance gender equality. A four‐years evaluation cycle will be accomplished for the monitoring of the full operation of the European University as to account for the next phase. By 2029 and until 2034 an implementation phase will take the fore, based on the established joint structures, joint curricula, joint research groups and other joint activities.
A collective effort began in 2021 with the first brainstorming meetings between founder Universities.
The journey toward consortium formalization witnessed pivotal moments during a series of meetings, with Tomar, Portugal, acting as a focal point in both September 2022 and October 2023 meetings. These gatherings set the groundwork for the consortium’s evolution and strengthened its resolve to advance shared goals. As the consortium evolved, subsequent meetings in Montpellier, Adana, České Budějovice, Svishtov, Trnava, Targoviste, and Camerino solidified its framework, with seven founding members, which led by the Polytechnic University of Tomar, secured 81 points and a Seal of Excellence in the 2023 Erasmus+ European Universities call. After the October 2023 meeting in Tomar, the consortium expanded to eleven HEIs.
The KreativEU consortium was established based on:
1. The willingness of the eleven members to develop a unique alliance of HEIs across Europe, linking and connecting differing tangible and intangible cultural identities to a common European value;
2. The complementarity and interdisciplinarity offered among the consortium, especially in research and education;
3. The small size but high-ranking profile of the eleven HEIs. With a total number of 74558 students almost all institutions have under 10000 students, but they are ranked high among small HEIs, especially in relation to their pioneering and interdisciplinary approach to cultural heritage preservation, enhancement and valorisation;
4. Prior cooperation especially within Erasmus projects and mobility agreements, with several researchers already collaborating across the several institutions;
5. The wide geographical coverage. Partners were chosen based on their differing cultural traditions and identities and on their potential of representativeness in the European level. This is of the utmost importance to foster outstanding deliverables and a high impact.
6. All partner institutions are based on historical cities.
During the pilot phase, many tasks will require to expand this network and actively engage associated partners and stakeholders. More than 100 associated partners have already been involved, according to their own specific expertises.
The KreativEU will create a unique educational and research approach that places creativity in the core of its transversal activities, being an open and innovative space for mobility, with internal and external actors benefiting from shared knowledge, training and research.