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Based on an article originally published on the UNITE! website on 5 November.

A year ago, UNITE! was selected as one of the 17 European University Alliances to pilot an entirely new concept of the European Commission towards the European Education Area of the future. Born as an Erasmus+ project and later receiving additional funding by the H2020 framework programme, these pilot projects are laying the foundations of a solid structure that will enable the full potential of UNITE! as a European University Alliance.

Since the kick-off in Darmstadt at the beginning of November last year, decisive foundations have been laid, but above all, various initiatives and projects have been launched from which students, graduates and teachers have already benefited directly.

UNITE! enables the partners to contribute their respective strengths to the alliance and can rely on many years of cooperation within the . Above all, UNITE! serves to stimulate new cooperation at different levels. Creating structures is intended to facilitate any cooperation among the partners and to enable university members of all status groups of the partners to take the initiative in establishing new links with the UNITE! partners, exchanging ideas and initiating projects.

"We are committed and enthusiastic pioneers. We are willing to find solutions and pilot activities that address the challenges of implementing the idea of European Universities. We are convinced that UNITE!, and the other university alliances, are a first step in a long-term transformation of higher education in Europe", says Tanja Brühl, UNITE!’s president and Technical University of Darmstadt’s rector.

Aalto's internal UNITE!-mailing list shares information and news about UNITE! and its events, staff trainings and ongoing activities that are open to Aalto staff and students to join and are hosted by different UNITE! universities. Please contact johanna.kaila@aalto.fi to be added to this mailing list and stay updated about UNITE! activities.