Posted on 10 May 2019
The European University Institute (EUI) and the University of Lucerne step up their cooperation in research and education. On 4 May in Florence, the Presidents of the two academic institutions signed a memorandum of understanding (MoU) including initial implementation steps.
The EUI and the University of Lucerne’s Department of Political Science already cooperate in the field of political science. This MoU sets the framework for future research and teaching collaboration in other areas of common interest. The MoU highlights potential activities, including the promotion of visiting professors and exchange programmes for researchers, collaborators and students; reciprocal support for the improvement of academic assistants’ qualifications; research collaboration; joint proposals to funding bodies or the organisation of symposia, conferences and workshops.
From left: Alexander Trechsel (Vice-Rector for Research, University of Lucerne), Bruno Staffelbach (President of the University of Lucerne) and Renaud Dehousse (President of the EUI)
Promising opportunities for Ph.D. and Post-Doctoral students
The two institutions have agreed upon concrete steps for the exchange of Ph.D. and Post-Doctoral students, as well as for a teaching partnership. Both parties will send more Ph.D. and Post-Doctoral students to their counterpart institution. The University of Lucerne offers Ph.D. students the opportunity to teach in Lucerne in order to acquire necessary professional experience. “As the EUI does not have Bachelor’s or Master’s degree courses, we are very glad to give this opportunity of teaching practice to our Ph.D. students”, says Prof. Renaud Dehousse, President of the EUI. “The University of Lucerne is an outstanding partner in this respect”, continues Dehousse.
This partnership also offers many benefits to the University of Lucerne. “A stronger international network and the expansion of support to post-graduates are important matters for our university”, says Bruno Staffelbach, President of the University of Lucerne. “The cooperation with the EUI opens up promising opportunities for us”.
Existing collaboration in Political Sciences
In the framework of the already existing cooperation with the Department of Political Science, many EUI members have held lectures and taught classes in Lucerne. In terms of research, both institutions are involved in joint working projects on democracy and Europe, such as the voting advice application euandi and a project on cross-border elections.