Studying, teaching and conducting research internationally – that is the idea behind UNINOVIS. As part of this European university alliance, eight universities from across Europe are working closely together to develop joint degree programmes, research projects and new forms of student mobility. The Technical University of Applied Sciences Würzburg-Schweinfurt (THWS) is one of them.
Published on 09 June 2026
An international network of eight European universities working together to promote joint degree programmes, research projects and mobility schemes: that is what UNINOVIS is all about. "We can be very proud to be part of this network," emphasises Wouter de Regt, Local Coordinator at THWS. UNINOVIS takes a multi-pronged approach: alongside traditional mobility schemes such as semesters abroad or summer schools, the focus is also on new, more flexible formats. These include the Blended Intensive Programmes (BIP). These combine a stay at one of the partner universities with online teaching. In addition, so-called micro-credentials – compact learning modules worth a small number of ECTS credits – are being developed, and research collaborations are being established. Joint degree programmes are even being considered for the future.
The entire alliance is coordinated by the Université Sorbonne Paris Nord. Alexandra Oliveira works there as a project manager. She describes the project as follows: "A springboard for opportunities to improve skills, teaching and academic performance." UNINOVIS opens up numerous opportunities to gain international experience. However, there is one hurdle. "The biggest challenge is familiarising students with UNINOVIS," explains Oliveira, adding with a laugh: "But we’re working on it."
Data literacy as a shared goal
UNINOVIS focuses on data science and digital transformation. This focus is already enshrined in the name 'UNINOVIS – Data for L.I.F.E.'. The acronym L.I.F.E. stands for Lifelong learning in data, Integrating innovation ecosystems, Fostering green and digital transition, and European Excellence in Data Science. The aim is to promote skills across all stages of education, to exchange knowledge and innovations in the field of data science, and to make an active contribution to the green and digital transition. At the same time, the initiative aims to expand the expertise of European universities in these areas and strengthen their international profile. In this way, the alliance contributes to building a data-literate and sustainable Europe.
Within UNINOVIS, there are clearly defined work packages distributed amongst the universities. Each partner coordinates one such package, with THWS being responsible for the 'Lifelong Learning' area. The four-member UNINOVIS core team at THWS is supported by numerous other staff members from various departments within THWS. "Without this broad support within THWS, a project of this scale would not be feasible," emphasises de Regt, referring to the "UNINOVIS family".
Teamwork at all levels
Close collaboration is also crucial for the Excellence Hubs. Here, researchers, lecturers and students pool their expertise to work together on key issues for the future. UNINOVIS's focus on data sciences is also reflected in the 'Artificial Intelligence and Robotics' Excellence Hub. Here, THWS contributes its strengths through the Center for Artificial Intelligence and the Center for Robotics.
Competition for places in European university alliances is fierce. "THWS finds itself in a select, very elite circle here," says Wouter de Regt. There are only 65 such alliances across Europe. THWS has applied on several occasions: in 2019, 2022 and 2023 – without success on each occasion, but receiving valuable feedback on the applications. The current project is therefore the result of an intensive learning process and, at the same time, a mark of quality for successful international work.
Learning from one another across Europe
The project is scheduled to run for four years, having started in 2025 and continuing until 2028. During this period, the aim is to establish structures, develop programmes and build sustainable cooperation between the partner universities. The first year was entirely devoted to getting to know one another. A key aspect of this is mutual understanding: what are the partners' academic priorities? How are their structures organised? And what makes the respective universities tick? The aim is to identify where and how student exchanges, joint teaching formats or research collaborations can be usefully implemented.
For Alexandra Oliveira, the spirit of community is at the heart of UNINOVIS: "The idea is to create a community." The aim is to bring together people from different countries, disciplines and higher education systems: "We all learn from one another; we come together and are therefore better off than we would be on our own." The different working cultures within the alliance complement one another. Oliveira describes the collaboration with the German partners in positive terms: "Germany is very efficient, very direct – which is great." At the same time, international collaboration requires a high degree of coordination, as de Regt emphasises: "There's never a perfect solution, which is why open and transparent dialogue is so important. A project is almost always built on compromises; it simply wouldn't work without them."
A project with great potential
Wouter de Regt has already worked on numerous international projects, but UNINOVIS is his biggest to date. It is the number of partners involved, as well as the wide range of planned activities and objectives, that make it so exceptional. He finds the intensive exchange with the partner universities particularly exciting. He also appreciates that such projects enable existing expertise to be highlighted, pooled and deployed in a targeted manner. "I firmly believe that UNINOVIS is a huge opportunity for our University. It has a great deal of potential, but capitalising on it is, of course, a major challenge."
The aim is to develop long-term strategies and concepts for research and teaching and to significantly expand cooperation between the partners. "What we want to achieve is to see and regard ourselves as a European university," summarises de Regt. This also involves ensuring that the mobility of students, teaching staff and researchers runs smoothly. The next step is now to establish various events, research projects and programmes. "We want to give everyone interested in the alliance the opportunity to play an active part," explains de Regt, who is hoping for a high level of participation.
These eight higher education institutions are part of UNINOVIS:
France: University Sorbonne Paris Nord (USPN)
Germany: Technical University of Applied Sciences Würzburg-Schweinfurt (THWS)
Italy: University of Campania Luigi Vanvitelli (UDCLV)
Finland: Tampere University of Applied Sciences (TAMK)
Lithuania: Kauno kolegija Higher Education Institution (KK)
Spain: University of Málaga (UMA)
Albania: University of Tirana (UT)
Netherlands: The Hague University of Applied Sciences (THUAS)
