Five Years of E³UDRES²

In the photo: (from left to right) Michael Kögl, Deputy Mayor of St. Pölten, Johann Haag, Executive Director of USTP – University of Applied Sciences St. Pölten, Gabriele Permoser, Managing Director of E³UDRES², Jiri Nantl, Deputy Minister of Education of the Czech Republic, Governor Johanna Mikl-Leitner, Evelin-Melinda Macho, Head of Department at the Federal Ministry for Women, Science and Research, and Hannes Raffaseder, Executive Director of USTP – University of Applied Sciences St. Pölten, and President of the E³UDRES² alliance.
(Photo: NLK Filzwieser)

Under the leadership of USTP – St. Pölten University of Applied Sciences, the European University Alliance E³UDRES² has, over the past five years, become a recognised best-practice example of successful European higher education cooperation. At the anniversary celebration, congratulations were extended by political leaders including Jiri Nantl, Deputy Minister of Education of the Czech Republic; Austrian Federal Minister Eva-Maria Holzleitner; Provincial Governor Johanna Mikl-Leitner; and Mayor Matthias Stadler.

Founded in 2020, the European University Alliance E³UDRES² aims to strengthen smart and sustainable regions across Europe through innovative academic collaborations. USTP is the only university of applied sciences to lead such a European university alliance.
Since its foundation, the alliance has grown steadily. A major milestone was reached in 2022 with the establishment of its own legal entity, ensuring long-term stability and professional coordination. Today, E³UDRES² brings together nine universities, more than 10,000 staff members and 100,000 students.

New Initiatives and Opportunities – Regionally and across Europe

“The success story of E³UDRES² demonstrates the powerful impact of regionally rooted universities when they connect across Europe. Through close collaboration in areas such as digitalisation, artificial intelligence, health, social inclusion, resilient economies and the creative industries, new opportunities emerge for students, staff and regional partners from business, public administration, politics and society. It is this combination of strong local ties and European cooperation that makes sustainable impact possible in the first place”, says Hannes Raffaseder, Executive Director of USTP and President of the E³UDRES² alliance.

“By working with E³UDRES², regional partners from business and society gain easy access to a network of over 100,000 talents and numerous experts across Europe. Joint initiatives such as I Living Labs, hackathons, bootcamps and joint master’s degree programmes actively foster innovation and excellence in education and training,” adds Gabriele Permoser, Managing Director of E³UDRES².

High-Profile Anniversary Celebration

Federal Minister Eva-Maria Holzleitner addressed the guests at the USTP anniversary celebration via video message: “USTP – University of Applied Sciences St. Pölten set an impressive example through E³UDRES² to demonstrate what European collaboration can achieve: It connects people, ideas and regions – creating tangible opportunities for social inclusion, quality education and sustainable progress. This alliance represents science that works close to people, develops solutions for everyday life and makes Europe fairer, more digital and more ecological.”

Lower Austria’s Governor Johanna Mikl-Leitner emphasised the increasingly tough international competition in which Europe must hold its own against China, India and the USA: “We can only succeed through close European cooperation and a clear focus on excellence – in short, through everything E³UDRES² stands for. E³UDRES² is firmly rooted in the regions, promotes young talent and strengthens innovation and entrepreneurial thinking. As the Province of Lower Austria, we support this path with our ‘Mission Nobel Prize’, the best possible conditions for researchers and our call for the right to award PhDs at universities of applied sciences – institutions that do not conduct research in ivory towers but solve real-world problems. Thank you to everyone contributing to this effort.”

Mayor Matthias Stadler, represented by Deputy Mayor Michael Kögler, stated: “Five years of E³UDRES² clearly show the power of European cooperation. By leading this university alliance, USTP assumes a true pioneering role – actively shaping the European education landscape and connecting curious and talented people across borders. E³UDRES² strengthens teaching, research and innovation, creating new initiatives for the intelligent and sustainable development of European regions. The alliance is not only a driver of new ideas but also an important force for the future of our city. With its international reach, forward-looking study programmes and practice-oriented research, USTP demonstrates how education can succeed in keeping pace with the times.”

Milestone: Development of Joint Master’s Programmes

In collaboration with several European partner universities within the E³UDRES² alliance, USTP – University of Applied Sciences St. Pölten has developed two joint master’s programmes in the fields of digital technologies, health and media. From autumn 2026, students will be able to study at three universities in three countries and graduate with a joint degree:

• Citizen-Centered Digital Health and Social Care: This joint master’s programme equips students with the skills that will be crucial in the healthcare sector of tomorrow.
• Gamified Reality Applications for Real-world Challenges and Experiences (GRACE): This programme explores how gamification and virtual realities can be harnessed to address real-world challenges.

In the photo (from left) Federal Minister Eva-Maria Holzleitner, Hannes Raffaseder and Johann Haag, Executive Directors of USTP – University of Applied Sciences St. Pölten, OeAD Managing Director Jakob Calice (Photo:  OeAD/APA-Fotoservice/Hetfleisch)

For the development of the joint master’s programme Gamified Reality Applications for Real-world Challenges and Experiences (GRACE), USTP was recently awarded third place in the Internationalisation Award by OeAD – Austria’s Agency for Education and Internationalisation, in the category “Measures for Internationalisation of the Curriculum – Internationalisation of Study and Teaching”.

Vision: Creating Fully-Fledged European Universities

E³UDRES² will continue to be strengthened and expanded in the coming years to fully unlock the alliance’s potential. “The European Commission has clearly expressed its support for further strengthening European University Alliances,” says Raffaseder. “Our vision goes even further: we aim to create fully-fledged European universities that, through close strategic cooperation and numerous joint activities in teaching, research, innovation and science communication, go far beyond the usual exchange of experience in international networks. E³UDRES² is already taking important steps in this direction – with a jointly developed strategy by the nine universities, the establishment of shared research centres, interdisciplinary activities with students and regional partners, and the development of innovative joint master’s programmes.”

More information:

• Joint Master’s Programmes at USTP: Studying in Three Countries
• E³UDRES²: Engaged and Entrepreneurial European University as Driver for European Smart and Sustainable Regions | E³UDRES²