NEWS
RUN-EU PLUS: a Three-Year Journey Fostering Excellence in Higher Education and Innovation Across Europe
16 October 2024
RUN-EU PLUS, which developed Professional Degree Programmes for Business and Society, was a collaborative project undertaken for the RUN-European University by the Technological University of the Shannon (TUS), Ireland, the Vorarlberg University of Applied Sciences (FHV), Austria, the Häme University of Applied Sciences (HAMK), Finland, the Polytechnic University of Leiria (IPLeiria) and the Polytechnic University of Cávado and Ave (IPCA), Portugal, the NHL Stenden University of Applied Sciences (NHL Stenden), the Netherlands, and the Széchenyi István University (SZE), Hungary.
The project ran from September 2021 to September 2024 and made significant strides in advancing higher education and fostering research collaboration across this European Universities alliance.
Funded by the Horizon 2020 Science with and for Society programme, the project played a key role in developing professional, practice-based research degree programmes within the RUN European University alliance. With a focus on bridging the gap between science and society, RUN-EU PLUS successfully combined scientific excellence with social responsibility, equipping researchers and students with the skills required for societal transformation and regional competitiveness.
The project specifically focused on strengthening research and innovation ecosystems within its partner universities, promoting collaboration, and aligning professional research programmes with the needs of business and society. This initiative focused on developing future skills that will drive sustainable transformation and foster innovation, with key contributions to regional competitiveness and societal transformation.
Highlighted Achievements of RUN-EU PLUS
Over the past three years, RUN-EU PLUS has accomplished its goals by developing a comprehensive Research and Innovation agenda and creating meaningful collaborations between academia, business, and society. Among its standout achievements are:
- Co-supervised Research Projects: Over 60 research master’s and doctoral projects have been created which are co- supervised across the RUN-EU alliance, establishing strong networks of academic collaboration.
- Joint PhD Programmes: The development of collaborative PhD programmes has been a hallmark of RUN-EU PLUS. Notably, a new joint PhD programme in Digitalisation Engineering was launched, involving three RUN-EU partners, while additional PhD programmes were created in fields such as Sustainable Tourism, Biotechnology, Innovation and Entrepreneurship, Social Sciences, Sustainable Design, and Sustainable Polymers.
- Cloud of Knowledge Portal: RUN-EU PLUS introduced a Cloud of Knowledge Portal, providing a comprehensive repository for research training and resources, fostering knowledge sharing and collaboration across Europe.
- Researcher Career Evaluation Tool: A dedicated evaluation system was developed to guide and support researchers’ career progression within RUN-EU. This tool played a key role in assessing and advancing researchers’ career development. Complementing this, the comprehensive Researcher Career Development Programme offered over 40 workshops, equipping RUN-EU researchers with valuable skills in areas such as Open Science, Entrepreneurship, and Supervision.
- Researcher Career Evaluation Tool: A dedicated evaluation system was developed to guide and support researchers’ career progression within RUN-EU. This tool played a key role in assessing and advancing researchers’ career development. Complementing this, the comprehensive Researcher Career Development Programme offered over 40 workshops, equipping RUN-EU researchers with valuable skills in areas such as Open Science, Entrepreneurship, and Supervision.
- ICARUS Conferences: Three annual International Conferences on Applied Research with Business and Society (ICARUS) were held, drawing over 600 participants and further strengthening connections between academia and industry.
- Ambassador Networks and Innovation Showcase: RUN-EU PLUS has also been a leader in promoting diversity and inclusion, establishing three ambassador networks focused on Gender and Diversity, Open Science, and Research and Innovation.
- Innovation Showcase: A collection of over 50 innovations, technologies, and patents from across the RUN-EU PLUS network. The aim was to gather a diverse range of innovations, representing all partner institutions and covering all thematic research areas within the project. Emphasis was placed on the potential benefits each innovation could bring to research collaborations, including contributions to Professional Practice-based Research Degrees, fostering inter-institutional partnerships, and creating positive impacts on the regions involved.
Long-Term Vision for Regional Impact
The achievements of the RUN-EU PLUS project align with the broader mission of the RUN European University, which aims to secure sustainable economic, social, cultural, and environmental progress for its regions. By fostering future-ready skills and enhancing research engagement with business and society, RUN-EU PLUS is contributing to the societal transformation needed to address today’s challenges and ensure a prosperous, sustainable future.
As the project concludes, its legacy is already visible in the collaborative PhD programmes, a growing body of research, and a network of trained supervisors who are poised to continue driving innovation.
RUN-EU PLUS has established a strong foundation for long-term impact, supporting the next generation of researchers and ensuring that the regions within the RUN-EU alliance are well-prepared to face future challenges. This groundwork will be further advanced through the project’s future direction, particularly as it merges with RUN-EU 2.0.