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Ulysseus European University: a true role model creating a better future 

Ulysseus European University is one of the 41 European Universities alliances with the aim of changing the education landscape across Europe. We believe that Haaga-Helia is in one of the best alliances having the ambitious goals of an innovative, globally competitive and attractive European Education Area and European Research Area.

Authors:

Kitte Marttinen

project director
Haaga-Helia University of Applied Sciences

Johanna Koskinen

development officer, Ulysseus
Haaga-Helia ammattikorkeakoulu

Mirjam Gamrasni

international project officer
Haaga-Helia University of Applied Sciences

Published : 27.04.2022

The European Universities are changing the education landscape across Europe. Ulysseus European University is one of the 41 European Universities alliances that pilot diverse models of the concept of European Universities and examine the potential to transform higher education.

In Finland 11 universities are taking part in these alliances and only three are universities of applied sciences. We believe that Haaga-Helia is in one of the best alliances having the ambitious goals of an innovative, globally competitive and attractive European Education Area and European Research Area. 

International and open-to-the-world 

The open-to-the-world philosophy of Ulysseus European University is built on the centering idea that everyone in the world should be able to access high-quality education regardless of their education, nationality, background, age or financial state. Our educational offering will contribute to the openness, equality and inclusion of education. 

We will offer different types of open courses, such as open class, Massive Open Online Courses (MOOCs) and micro-credentials, as well as organize open events. All will be targeted to a very diverse group of learners ranging from typical higher education learners to life-long learners of all ages. This will provide new types of opportunities for connecting, networking and peer-to-peer learning.

Our educational offering provides learners with flexible and personalized learning opportunities tailored to their changing needs, as well as aligning education more strongly with the fast-changing labour market.  

Moreover, our six innovation hubs aligned with regional and local challenges, build one innovation ecosystem open to all citizens. This unique innovation ecosystem gives higher education, research and innovation a crucial role in supporting social cohesion, economic growth and global competitiveness of our cities and regions.

European citizens are asking higher education to respond in new ways and thus, the Ulysseus Innovation Ecosystem mixes the knowledge, infrastructure and talent needed to go beyond. 

European citizen of the future 

We actively promote European values and identity while revolutionizing the quality and competitiveness of European higher education. We will help in shaping the European citizens of the future characterized by their respect for human rights, social cohesion, equality and inclusiveness.

 We actively promote European citizenship through emphasizing common understanding of the European Union, its history and diversity. We also concentrate on developing key competences such as digitalisation, critical thinking and gender equality. 

Ulysseus European University will also develop physical spaces for open learning and knowledge exchange in collaboration with the cities and region of the partner universities. Students of the alliance have already started co-creation sessions where their needs and wishes for these open spaces are taken into account. 

The journey of excellence continues 

Our vision is set for the first 10 years (2020-2030) and then we will rethink it and continue our journey of excellence in collaboration with the existing and the new European Universities alliances. The aim is to strengthen the openness of the world through higher education reform. This requires smooth international collaboration, flexibility and openness to new challenges of the future. 

The Ulysseus community is highly committed to continue its journey of excellence in shaping Europe’s future.  

Ulysseus European University is led by the University of Seville, Spain together with the University of Genoa, Italy, Université Côte d’Azur, France, Technical University of Košice, Slovakia, MCI|The Entrepreneurial School®, Austria and Haaga-Helia University of Applied Sciences, Finland.
Ulysseus will allow students, researchers and graduates to move freely between universities, carry out internships in companies and start high-impact research projects.

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