Are you thinking about the next step in your career? This 2-day online Spring School in Transferable Skills will focus on developing skills in grant and CV writing and how to get a faculty position. The school will provide the participants with an overview of the breadth of interviews that can be expected on your interview journey and will provide a space to practise interview questions. Also, topics such as team management, public engagement, gender equality and communication in academia and research will be discussed.

The Spring School is free and will be held online on Zoom on the 4^th and 5^th of May 2022. The School is open to all Aurora universities’ undergraduate, master and PhD students from the STEM (science, technology, engineering, and mathematics) area.

To register, please email internationalfarmacia@unina.it by the 1st of May. A link to the event will be sent to all participants.

For more information, please download the School flyer.

Practical training in the use of geospatial technologies in hazard research and response 

This Aurora-supported intensive graduate-level field course is offered by of the Department of Geography and Tourism Studies of the University of Iceland, in collaboration with colleagues from the UI Science Institute and Palacký University Olomouc, Czech Republic.
Graduate students from Aurora universities are encouraged to apply, especially those with a background in human or physical geography, geology, environmental sciences or environmental engineering. Applicants are expected to have some basic knowledge of geographic information systems.

The course provides students a first-hand experience with state-of-the-art geospatial technologies that are becoming important for both basic research and practical response planning in locations exposed to natural hazards. The focus is on two methodological innovations, understanding physical processes that contribute to landslide hazards and enabling meaningful participation of local publics in hazard research and response.

The course gives students the chance to explore Icelandic nature, gain a practical experience in the field, and to work on projects in international teams.

Download the flyer for more information!

Intensive Field Course in Iceland

Brussels, 5 April 2022

European Research organisations, libraries, repositories and university networks call for the exclusion of not-for-profit repositories, digital archives and libraries from the obligations of the Digital Services Act (DSA).

Not-for-profit scientific and educational repositories, digital archives, and libraries that allow for the upload of content by students, researchers, and third parties, are likely to fall in the scope of the current version of the Digital Services Act. This is in spite of the fact that the legislation is devised for and targeted at commercial platforms. As a result, not-for-profit educational and scientific digital infrastructures would incur additional administrative and financial costs.

In addition, the signatories consider that the inclusion of not-for-profit scientific and educational repositories, digital archives, and libraries in the DSA scope would create inconsistency in EU legislation. ‘Not-for-profit educational and scientific repositories’ are already excluded from the scope of the Directive on Copyright in the Digital Single Market (Article 2(6)). The signatories consider that legal coherence between the DSA and Digital Single Market Directive should be ensured to avoid confusion within our institutions.

The negotiation position adopted by the European Parliament provides a procedure to exempt not-for-profit repositories from the obligations imposed on online platforms. However, it is overly long and complex and will result in administrative and financial burdens that not-for-profit scientific and educational repositories, digital archives, and libraries will not be able to meet.

For these reasons, the undersigned organisations, including AURORA,  which represent most universities, research performing organisations, research funding organisations, research libraries and repositories in Europe, call for the exclusion of not-for-profit repositories, digital archives, and libraries from the obligations of the Digital Services Act.

20220404_Statement_DSA_Final

The Aurora Student Council stands with Ukraine in the face of the devastating and appalling invasion of Russia. This invasion is in direct violation of international law and benefits no one. We condemn the inhumane attack of the Russian government on the people of Ukraine and Ukrainian democracy.

Aurora is working with our Ukrainian associate partners at Karazin Kharkiv National University to identify areas of need and offer the necessary support. Our respective universities are working on supporting the Ukrainian Universities Association and are exploring how they can best offer support.

Our thoughts are with all students in Ukraine whose lives have been severely disrupted by the war. We urge our own respective governments to take action and support those seeking refuge from the war as quickly and in as direct a manner as possible.

Despite current events, we urge you to remember that we should not equate the actions of governments with their respective citizens. Our solidarity goes out to all Russians who bravely protest their own government and condemn their government’s action as much as we do. War is not a game in which we cheer for either side.

This is not the only ongoing humanitarian crisis in the world. We appreciate the efforts of Aurora and our institutions towards aiding in the crisis in Ukraine. Still, it is important to remember that students are experiencing conflict in various areas that have not been given the same amount of attention. We hope that in the future Aurora and our individual institutions will do better when it comes to recognising the aid that students in other war-torn regions require and providing the support needed.

As Aurora Student Council, we call for peace everywhere!

With love and solidarity,

Aurora Student Council

In this incredibly sad time for Ukraine and its people, I, on behalf of Aurora, want to send a message of solidarity, hope and strength to the people of Ukraine to endure.

We are shocked and appalled by the actions taken by the Russian government and condemn this unconscionable and unjustified assault on Ukraine´s democracy and sovereignty.

We have reached out to our partners and friends at the Karazin Kharkiv National University to offer our support in any way we can. We highly appreciate the collaboration with our Ukrainian partners and continue to admire their strength and determination to promote strategic partnerships between European universities despite the dire circumstances that unfortunately as of now continue to escalate.

We hope to continue this work with you and to support your efforts in promoting democracy, freedom and friendly relationships in the context of the European Universities initiative. We stand strongly in solidarity with you in these extremely difficult times.

Sincerely

Prof. Jon Atli Benediktsson

Aurora President

Rector of the University of Iceland

A range of leading European university associations have joined forces through an ‘ERA University associations group’ coordinated by the European University Association (EUA) to help advance the ERA in the context of the ERA Forum. The following associations in alphabetical order are currently involved in this open, inclusive and informal group:

• AURORA
• CESAER
• Coimbra Group
• ECIU
• EUA
• Eurotech Universities
• The Guild
• UAS4EUROPE
• UNICA
• YERUN

The joining of forces amongst our associations aims at coordinating the advice from the European university sector following the publication of the Commission communication A new ERA for Research and Innovation from 30 September 2020, the Council recommendation ‘Pact for research and innovation in Europe’ and conclusions on ‘Future governance of the European Research Area’ from 26 November 2021. It also serves the purpose of ensuring the coordinated representation of the European university sector in the new ERA governance.

In the conclusions, the Council defined twenty ‘ERA Actions’ in an ‘ERA Policy Agenda 2022-2024’ and introduced the ‘ERA Forum’ as:

“The body, established by the Commission, responsible for enhancing coordination towards the effective implementation of the ERA Policy Agenda, supporting the Commission and the Member States in the delivery of the ERA Actions”.

The Council further defined that the ERA Forum should:

“Ensure representative involvement at its relevant meetings of EU-level umbrella organisations or other appropriate representative organisations relevant at EU level of the following seven types of stakeholders: universities and other higher education institutions, research and technology performing organisations, R&I-intensive businesses, including SMEs, individual researchers and innovators, including at early- and middle stages of their carriers, research infrastructures, R&I-funding organisations and academies of sciences”.

The discussions with the Council and the Commission clarified that one individual from each of the seven types of stakeholders identified may be present at the meetings of the ERA Forum. Aurora is involved in the pre-ERA Forum meetings to provide its input.

The first meeting of the ERA Forum is taking place on 25 February. Stephane Berghmans (EUA) or Silvia Gomez Recio (YERUN) will represent the European university sector.

This spring and summer, all Aurora students are invited to have a look at what courses are on offer for them at other Aurora universities. From Fintech and Emerging Financing Models, Big Data Management and Analysis, to Psychology in Sports, there’s a variety of subjects to suit everyone in each study level.

Click the button below to access more information on 98 courses at 8 different Aurora universities. Use the ‘Sort & Filter’ option in the spreadsheet in order to check prices, ECTS credits*, dates, and deadlines**. Some application windows are already open, find out how to apply on the respective course websites:

Each Aurora university has an allocation of Aurora funding to support outward mobility, and this may be available for your selected courses. Please check with your home university’s study abroad office for details on how to access relevant funding.

We hope you will be able to take the opportunity to study abroad at another Aurora university during your degree!

So what are you waiting for? Sign up for a course to acquire new knowledge or learn a new skill!

*Admission to a course does not guarantee that the achieved learning outcomes or grades will be recognized at your home institution for your respective study programme. It is recommended to discuss recognition issues with the respective office/person at your home institution (e.g. Dean of Studies) as soon as possible.

**Please note that some dates are to be confirmed, and delivery modes may change due to unforeseen circumstances. Please get in touch directly with the hosting university for final details.

Universität Innsbruck has opened 5 Aurora courses on a Bachelor, Master and PhD level. In addition, through Aurora, students have the opportunity to participate in classes organized by other Aurora universities. We welcome all students to sign up and participate in this spring’s courses.

The courses are as follows:

• 800.860 Environment & Care: Canadian Perspectives (Bachelor Level, online, lecture, 3 ECTS Credits)
• 800.870 Social Entrepreneurship & Innovation focusing on Sustainability & Climate Change (Master Level, blended format/short term mobility, course, 5 ECTS Credits)
• 800.871 Educational Inequality (Master Level, online, lecture, 5 ECTS Credits)
• 800.872 Climate Protection (Master Level, online, lecture, 2,5 ECTS Credits)
• 645.900 Doctoral Seminar: “Borders and Places” (PhD Level, short term mobility, seminar 5 ECTS Credits)

The deadline for registration for the Bachelor’s and Master’s level courses is expected to last until January 30 (or until the maximum number of participants has been reached). The registration period for the system on PhD Level is expected to start on March 1.

Take a look at the brochure for a complete overview of available courses, as well as practical information on enrolling. Take a look at the UIBK Aurora Course Offerings on how to register for the courses.