The roll-out phase of EELISA officially commenced on November 1st, marking a significant moment in the life of our Alliance. To commemorate this milestone, and in the context of the EELISA Days 2023 celebration, the EELISA 2.0 Kick-off Meeting was held on the 24th of November, bringing together over 170 participants, including representatives from the EELISA internal teams, students, teachers, staff, and collaborators.
This special session served as a platform to share the renewed ambition of EELISA for the next four years. Additionally, it provided an opportunity to introduce the new EELISA Local Offices’ Coordinators and EELISA Work Package leaders. The meeting also offered valuable insights into the obligations of the new funding (Lump sum) and provided updates on the EELISA Governance and operational structures.
Unveiling EELISA’s New Motto, Key Building Blocks and Structures.
The event began with a welcome speech by Mihnea Costoiu, Rector of the National University of Science and Technology POLITEHNICA Bucharest and Chair of the EELISA Governing Board. He emphasized the session’s significance as a continuum of collaboration, poised for further growth.
These welcoming words set the stage for EELISA President, Dale Martin, who dived into the essence of the new EELISA motto: “Building Bridges. Bridging Boundaries.” This motto, as explained by President Martin, not only pays tribute to the historical roots of member universities as alma maters of engineers and technicians building bridges for centuries but also signifies the ambition to connect diverse institutions, transcending geographical, disciplinary, and administrative boundaries.
Following this inspiring introduction, Sofia d’Aguiar, EELISA Executive Director, presented an insightful overview of the Alliance’s renewed ambition. An ambition that is solidified by eight fundamental building blocks: commitment, collaboration, innovation, disruption, impact, excellence, diversity, and openness. D’Aguiar also explained how this ambition is actively contributing to the European Education and Research Areas, and aligning with the European Universities initiative. She also connected EELISA’s vision to the strategic goals that will steer Alliance over the next four years.
This presentation laid the ground for Alberto Garrido, EELISA Project Coordinator, who provided a comprehensive overview of the upcoming ERASMUS+ EELISA 2.0. He detailed the new EELISA operational structure designed to meet the objectives of this ambitious call.
Meeting the faces and names behind the EELISA WPs and Hub and Spoke Model
An pivotal moment unfolded during the session as leaders of the new EELISA Work Packages (WPs) presented their leadership, vision, key goals, opportunities, and risks for the next four years. Terms such as co-creation, transversality, unprecedented mobility, and disruptive education were recurrent themes in the majority of the presentations setting an exiciting journey ahead.
After these presentations, the EELISA Executive Board Chair, Nagy Balázs Vince, shared details on the new EELISA’s governance and structure. He emphasized the introduction of the new EELISA Hub and Spoke model. Participants gained insights into the role of the EELISA Central Office and had the opportunity to read the names and see the faces of the teams involved in the new EELISA Local Offices at each institution.
Another highlight of the session was the presentation by Georgia Donin, the EC EELISA Project Officer, on the innovative new funding mechanism. This presentation also covered the expectations from the European Commission regarding this point.
Before the closure, an interactive Q&A session offered a platform for clarifications and additional insights from the participants. The meeting concluded with a sense of anticipation for the next steps and a recap of key points, setting the tone for an enthusiastic continuation of EELISA’s journey.