Press release: Exceptional funding for exceptional projects
No. 106 - 06.07.2021
DAAD and BMBF support European University ENLIGHT: nearly €500,000 for international collaboration
The German Academic Exchange Service (DAAD) and the Federal Ministry of Education and Research (BMBF) have funded Göttingen University's activities in the European Network ENLIGHT with a further €488,000. The funding supports Göttingen University staff and students to collaborate with ENLIGHT partners in research and teaching projects. The Network, which the European Union has funded as a “European University” with five million euros, includes nine renowned European universities: the Universities of Göttingen, Ghent, Groningen, Uppsala and Tartu, as well as the University of Bordeaux, the University of the Basque Country, Comenius University in Bratislava and the National University of Ireland, Galway.
"We are delighted about this extraordinary additional funding support from the DAAD and the BMBF," says Professor Hiltraud Casper-Hehne, Internationalisation Officer at the University of Göttingen, and Göttingen project leader of ENLIGHT. "The funding really underlines the success of the projects in research and teaching implemented by our Network and confirms its outstanding reputation both nationally and internationally."
Almost half a million additional euros are now moving to Göttingen to further develop digital research-oriented teaching formats and virtual mobility. The funds are also awarded to promote short-term visits at the partner universities, as soon as these are possible again. In addition, the development of joint scientific research projects of the Network will be specially promoted. "Thanks to the additional funding, all researchers and teachers at the University can apply for research and teaching projects that they want to implement with partners in the ENLIGHT Network this year," says Casper-Hehne.
The central idea of the ENLIGHT Network is to reshape higher education to promote sustainability, global engagement and equitable distribution of resources worldwide. The nine ENLIGHT universities will provide their students with the knowledge and skills in joint structures and innovative teaching programmes that will enable them to find answers to the major, complex questions of the 21st century as citizens and professionals after their studies are behind them. Five current global challenges are at the forefront: climate change, health and well-being, social inequality, the digital revolution, and energy use. Further information can be found at https://enlight-eu.org/ .