About

Implementing the three pillars from the mission statement requires a deep institutional transformation that is at the heart of the SUSTAIN-LIFE proposal.

A Challenge-Driven European University of Life Sciences for Sustainability

EULS2 is an alliance of leading universities focused on Life Sciences for Sustainability from across Europe that will set up a stand-alone legal entity at its centre. The central entity will be a university on its own account, owned and governed by the member universities. Critically, EULS2 will grant credentials and degrees in the following forms:

• EULS2 will deliver degrees focused on critical sustainable agri-food challenges facing contemporary society. Provided they fulfill the requirements of the EULS2’s curriculum, students who graduate from member universities will receive both a traditional disciplinary degree from the member university in alignment with national requirements, and a sustainability-focused challenge-based European degree from EULS2.
• EULS2 will grant micro-credentials through a mix of competency-focused and challenge-focused learning delivered by member universities and targeted notably at Lifelong Learners. These micro-credentials will be stackable into challenge-driven EULS2 degrees promoting the global transition towards sustainable agri-food systems.

EULS2 will also have a powerful science strategy, focused on key challenges and built around its JSC. EULS2 will help its researchers and young scientists to connect with each other, provide access to a wide array of scientific facilities, and assist in securing resources and multi-sector and citizen partnerships in line with the European Commission standards for the Code of Conduct, Responsible Research and Innovation, and Gender Equality Plans.

EULS2 and its Joint Science Center (JSC) will also provide systematic support to help connect research to actors at the European Commission, in Governments, and industry and other organisations who need evidence to inform their real-world decision-making – both in terms of communicating research and helping ensure EULS2 research is relevant to the decision-makers. In sum, the JSC will provide a strong central platform to strengthen EULS2’s science, and to better translate scientific discoveries into tangible advancements in food security, sustainability, and rural economic opportunity.

EULS2 will have considerable autonomy to advance its mission, as well as to facilitate internal management and administrative activities. This central capacity will not only enhance its long-term durability; it will also enable it to centralise functions and generate efficiencies across the members.

A force for transformation of its member universities

EULS2 will strengthen its member universities across an array of areas.

EULS2 will strengthen the branding of its member universities as leaders in sustainability using a challenge-driven approach. The members envision the EULS2 brand gaining comparable importance to the member universities’ institutional brands over time, with the local brand being potentially of greater relevance locally or nationally, but the EULS2 brand taking on greater importance at the European and the international level. This progressive approach empowers members to align with the EULS2 brand, while fostering a dual sense of belonging within both national and European communities. The EULS2 brand will not merely enhance the academic prestige of member universities but enhance their ability to attract talents and sectoral partners and ultimately to contribute more powerfully to developing sustainable agri-food systems.

EULS2 will strengthen its research potential and capacity to translate research into real-world changes at the local, national, European, and global levels. The national and local positioning of member universities will improve as autonomous specialised universities’ global significance and worthiness of support become apparent, countering pressure for absorption into comprehensives.

EULS2 will help its member universities to better attract talented students and employees both from within and outside of Europe. It will assist its member universities to overcome unfavourable demographic trends and promote a positive vision of agricultural sciences – conveying not only the critical role of the agricultural sciences in addressing grave global challenges, but also showing that the agricultural sciences are at the cutting-edge of science and technological change. EULS2 will increase the internationalisation of the student body and staff and internationalise the student experience and working experience at member universities, fostering European and global identities.

EULS2 will establish ambitious goals for the European University and its member universities, as well as faculty and staff. Being a global leader in advancing the European and global transition towards sustainable agri-food systems will challenge the European University to engage in constant reflection, improvement, and co-creation with community-members and other external stakeholders (e.g., government, industry, civil society), with transformative potential across all areas of activity.

EULS2 will facilitate the exchange of ideas and knowledge across the member universities, and challenge institutions and the individuals within them to think differently and to strive to do the best that they can. This will result in part from the stronger international orientation of activities under the EULS2 university, which will necessarily introduce new perspectives and challenges. Alignment of policies and practices will be necessary to facilitate integration and mobility, and this will present opportunities for improvement by overcoming potential restrictions. The member universities will learn from the strongest practices in the group through ongoing exchanges and collaborations. Researchers will exchange ideas and work closely together on shared challenges. Even within institutions, the challenge orientation of EULS2 will encourage inter-disciplinary thinking and exchanges as well.

Finally, EULS2 will more closely connect its member universities and the actors within them to the real-world challenges for realising sustainable agri-food systems. This has been a historic strength of sustainable life sciences universities, but one EULS2 aim to build upon to further shape European and global policies, as well as industries’ strategic choices and practices. Challenge-driven approaches will provide impetus for innovations in research and teaching, as will closer connections to decision-makers in government, industry, and civil society. The necessity of a transition to sustainable agri-food systems will drive the way EULS2 and its member universities execute our education, research, and engagement activities.

Systemic Role

The European University of Life Sciences for Sustainability aims to bring about transformational change in the activities of its member universities, to become the lead academic actor in Europe in advancing the European and global transition towards sustainable agri-food systems. This ambition is credible for reasons underlined above; however, it comes with an important responsibility within the European higher education (HE) and research landscape as a whole, because it implies playing a systemic role to strengthen education, research, and innovation in the Life Sciences for Sustainability.

It is only by acting together that European universities can produce sufficient research, generate sufficient innovations, educate a critical mass of change-makers, and sufficiently guide decision-making to achieve EULS2’s vision of sustainable agri-food systems within Europe. Science rarely thrives in isolation, but instead through the exchange of ideas and joint problem-solving. It is only by coming together as a European University that the member universities of EULS2 have the potential to transform European and global HE.

Specific commitments to realise this Systemic Role are:

• To provide inspiration and support for HE institutions to identify and pursue societal challenges to establish sustainable agri-food systems
• To engage in joint learning and problem-solving with other HE actors seeking to improve HE system performance, including by serving as a test-case and role model for innovations
• To be open-by-default with regards to education, research, and innovation, sharing data and resources and ensuring the free circulation of researchers and knowledge to advance the global educational and scientific enterprise

EULS2 will exercise leadership in the Life Sciences for Sustainability. It will be a convener and collaborator with other Life Sciences for Sustainability institutions, as well as faculties, departments, and institutes. EULS2 will compete with other academic actors where competition raises the bar for science and helps better solutions for sustainable agri-food systems emerge, but its default will be to cooperate with others in support of its aspiration to play a systemic role.

Furthermore, EULS2 recognises the need for European solutions for the challenges facing HE and the development of sustainable agri-food systems. EULS2 is committed to European programmes and institutions of HE, science, and innovation, and will advance the European HE Area, the European Education Area, the European Research Area, the European Strategy for Universities, and the European Innovation Agenda, and policies and initiatives stemming from these European frameworks. On the sustainable agri-food side, EULS2 will advance the European Union’s Farm to Fork Strategy and the broader European Green Deal.

In effect, the Systemic role of EULS2 entails transmitting more broadly the many innovations and lessons learned through the enactment of EULS2’s Institutional Vision. EULS2’s monitoring, evaluation, and learning (MEL) approach (see Annex 7) and System Learning Strategy, which is prepared in a preliminary form in the MEL framework pending finalization of a strategy in consultation with key actors, will be the critical mechanism for this transmission. Implementation of the European University will represent a process of continuous learning amongst and within the member institutions, requiring strong gap-analyses to inform programme design and strong processes of ongoing reflection throughout implementation. EULS2 will engage external actors in this learning through its System Learning Strategy, both by inviting others to share their learning to inform EULS2 and by disseminating EULS2’s own learning externally. Engagement with networks of European Universities will be especially important – In this context, EULS2’s engagement of two associate partners who are part of other European Universities will be particularly valuable for facilitating this joint learning, along with the engagement of members in national networks focused on the European Universities initiative which is already taking place.

EULS2 aims to play a pivotal role in aligning its goals with those of the European Research and European Education Areas, as well as with other relevant policy objectives to strengthen education, research, and innovation in the field of Life Sciences for Sustainability.

Below we have linked EU actions and policies and highlighted the EULS2 complementarity.

European Pillar of Social Rights Action Plan

EULS2 primary objective:

• Ensure diversity, equity, and inclusion, as well as fair working conditions

Open Education Framework

EULS2 primary objective:

• Ensure the fulfillment of open education principles

European Strategy for Universities

EULS2 primary objectives:

• Strengthen the European dimension in higher education and research by establishing a diverse and inclusive European inter-university campus
• Support universities as lighthouses of our European way of life by promoting European values and uphold academic freedom while developing high-quality curricula to train the next generation of change-maker
• Empower universities as actors of change in the twin green and digital transitions by equip academic and non-academic staff, as well as learners, with essential competencies for the digital and green transition; Embedding the green transition and digitization into key strategies such as mobility and digital infrastructures
• Reinforce universities as drivers of the EU’s global role and leadership by collaborating with regional and national entities for informed decision-making

European Education Area

EULS2 primary objectives:

• Strengthen its position internationally and advance the EU's leadership in sustainable agri-food systems
• Create a Mobility Strategy and work on jointly implementing the European Student Card
• Support the European language initiatives by ensuring multilingualism across all member universities
• Ensure general development of staff by facilitating communities of practice for non-academic staff in key roles

Council Recommendation of 16 June 2022 on a European approach to micro-credentials for lifelong learning and employability

EULS2 primary objective:

• Improve the quality and equity in education and training by ensuring inclusive development of challenged-driven curricula, teaching and learning opportunities, providing innovative and alternative pathways for all learners

European skills agenda

EULS2 primary objective:

• Support the development of challenge-driven competencies

Digital Education Plan 2021-2027

EULS2 primary objectives

• Establish unique digital infrastructures to facilitate the seamless integration of information, education opportunities, and training programmes throughout the member universities, and promote blended learning approaches
• Develop digital competencies on sustainability
• Facilitate the use of generative AI to improve the teaching and learning experiences of students

European Research Area

EULS2 primary objectives:

• Strongly align its member’s  research policies and programmes by developing a Joint Science Strategy
• Create a Joint Science Centre that will work on cross-border cooperation to tackle current sustainability challenges
• Develop concept and structures to enable student engagement in research
• Acquire the HRS4R label to ensure streamlined and good practices for recruitment and attainment of researchers

European Innovation Agenda

EULS2 primary objectives:

• Strongly align its member research policies and programmes by developing a Joint Innovation and Transfer Knowledge Strategy
• Promote flexible and attractive academic careers by valuing entrepreneurship, management and leadership activities

EU’s open science policy

EULS2 primary objective:

• Develop a joint science infrastructure platform to enable open data and open science, as well as citizen science, and work towards aligning with CoARA (coalition for advancing research assessment) and facilitating data Sharing with the European Open Science Cloud

2030 Agenda for Sustainable Development

EULS2 primary objective:

• Addressing SDG2, alongside SDGs 6,13,14, and 15  goals through European as well as transatlantic collaboration with partners from around the globe

Common agricultural policy 2023-2027

EULS2 primary objective:

• Support regional and national governments in identifying needs and capacities for the ongoing development of national agriculture policies,  and  European bodies through collecting and sharing research and monitoring data

Farm to Fork Strategy and Food 2030 research and innovation policy

EULS2 primary objective:

• Make food systems equitable, healthful, and environmentally friendly—through education, research and innovation

Developing sustainable agri-food systems will require transnational approaches. Sustainable agri-food production depends on interaction between very local knowledge and application, with broad understanding and technological change. Scientific research must occur at both these levels. Universities of Life Sciences for Sustainability have a long history of navigating this dynamic, at times extremely well and at times less well – the Green Revolution being the iconic example with respect to both its dizzying successes and important failures or harms. EULS2 will help its member universities to be more effective through greater information sharing on the global level cutting edge of science and technology, as well as the processes of engaging responsibly and effectively with local ecosystems and stakeholders. The memberships’ location in so many different ecosystems across Europe, emphasized further elsewhere in this proposal, will be an asset in this endeavour. The networks created by the Joint Science Center, and the activities of the Joint Strategy for Innovation and Knowledge Translation, will be largely about facilitating transnational exchanges both in terms of scientific knowledge but also experiences from its application in different places. This Strategy may also produce collaborations among programme countries to advance the development of sustainable agri-food systems, for instance potentially piloting experiments in different locations to compare their outcomes.

To amplify our impact, EULS2 has already engaged over 60 organizations as associate partners, encompassing a diverse array of societal actors (see ‘SUSTAIN-LIFE international and non-academic partners’). These partners include research institutions, chambers of commerce, town halls, regional governments, student associations, relevant networks and nodes of private companies and farmer cooperatives (such as Coop de France which represents more than half of the farmers cooperatives in France), and public bodies (such as the Estonian Ministry of Regional Affairs and Agriculture, the Spanish Ministry of Science, Innovation and Universities, and the Baden-Württemberg Ministry of Food, Rural Areas, and Consumer Protection).

It is evident that the development of EULS2 is complementary to the wider activities of these partners because otherwise they would not have signed on as partners. Many aim to collaborate on the Joint Science Strategy to work together to develop stronger science addressing key challenges for developing sustainable agri-food systems. Many aim to work together on translating insights from the Life Sciences for Sustainability into new innovations or ventures, or to inform their decision-making in developing their businesses or creating public policies. Finally, many want to work with us on training the next generation of change-makers and scientists. Of course, these collaborations will also help EULS2 to develop itself. Students will benefit from greater experiential learning opportunities, and researchers from new research questions, additional resources, and the motivation that comes from seeing your scientific findings translate into real-world impacts.

Finally, EULS2 envisions creating a Joint Global Partnerships Strategy to help member universities to engage more effectively with the world outside Europe. The types of partnerships to be supported will emerge in time, but partnerships with countries are very likely, as EULS2 for instance seeks to support sustainable agri-food system development in Sub-Saharan Africa.

Hebrew University of Jerusalem, Robert H. Smith Faculty of Agriculture, Food and Environment

Lincoln University, New Zealand

Public bodies: Metropole de Montpellier, Angers Loire Métropole, Rennes Métropole, Dijon Métropole, Ministry of Regional Affairs and Agriculture Estonia, Tartu City Government, Department of Climate Action, Food and Rural Agenda of the generalitat de Catalunya, The Council of Lleida, Spanish Ministry of Science, Innovation and Universities, Ministerium for Ernahrung, Landlichen Raum und Verbraucherschutz, Ministry of Agriculture Italy, City of Prague, State Forest Management Centre RMK Estonia, The Rural Economy and Agricultural Society (REAS) Sweden, Swedish Forest Agency

Student associations: Chamber of Student Associations Wageningen, ESN International, ESN Tartu, University of Lleida Student Council, International Student Organisation UHOH, Uliopilaskonna Sihtasutus

Research Institutes: CIHEAM, IRD, CIRAD, INRAE, IFREMER, Czech Academy of Sciences, Czech Institute for Agri-Food Research and Innovation, Centre of Estonian Rural Research and Knowledge METK, Norwegian Institute of Bioeconomy Research NIBIO, Nofima, SLU Holding AB, Institute of Agrifood Research and Technology IRTA; Naturkunde Museum Stuttgart

Small and medium sized or large enterprises: Fruits de Ponent, Vall Companies Agrifood Group, Nestlé - Academic Alliances and Expertise Development, Federation of the Food and Drinks Industry of the Czech Republic, Agrone OÜ, Baltic Agro AS

Local chambres of commerce, industry of labour; business associations; institutions active in promoting entrepreneurship: la Coopération Agricole, Young Professionals for Agricultural Development, Association of Private Farming of the Czech Republic, Estonian society for nature conservation, Estonian Chamber of Agriculture and Commerce, ARD Innovation AS, Federation of Swedish Farmers, BonArea Agrupa, Cambra de Comerc de Lleida, Gründermotor Initiative Gmbh, IHK Region Stuttgart (Chamber of Industry and Commerce)

Networks: Association Francaise des Poles de Competitivité, RUFORUM, Network of Research Centres of Excellence of the Government of Catalonia, ICA – Association of Life Science Universities, Groenpact, Food Valley Scholennetwerk