In conversation with Institutional Coordinator Dr Dorothea Jecht

Ms Jecht, what exactly does it mean to be a U!REKA European University? 

Firstly, it is a special honour and a great success for our university that our alliance has been named a European University. This recognition stands for the trusting cooperation within the U!REKA network that has grown over the years. Only a few German universities of applied sciences are represented in such an alliance - this shows how important and unique our work in this network is. Being a European University is therefore much more than just a title: it is an opportunity to anchor the European idea deeply in all areas of activity at our university. The task now is to spread the U!REKA spirit throughout the university and in all dimensions of performance! 

What will U!REKA change for staff and lecturers at Frankfurt UAS? 

University activities are currently being prioritised towards the partner regions and universities in the U!REKA network. In the future, all university members will encounter U!REKA everywhere at the university, be it on the home screen of their laptops, as a logo in their email signature, as part of the target agreements for professors, or in dialogue with students and U!REKA partners. Our strategy papers will now incorporate important milestones for the U!REKA European University. And U!REKA will be an important point of reference for most courses and research projects. Thematically, U!REKA will focus on climate-neutral cities and societies, a goal that we already have on the agenda in many areas. The U!REKA dimension will be added in many places where we are already working. This focus will contribute to greater visibility and external appeal.  

In which areas of research, teaching and transfer do you see the greatest opportunities for cooperation with the partner universities within U!REKA? 

U!REKA offers lecturers and researchers the opportunity to tackle interesting new challenges in a stable teaching and research network with European universities - professors and staff at our university are already working closely with our U!REKA partners on joint projects. There are also plans to develop three so-called Centres of Expertise, one of which is at Frankfurt UAS, to which all those interested in research are cordially invited. Joint HORIZON applications are already being planned at various points in the network, an important opportunity for the European research network. 

New online formats and e-learning areas will supplement face-to-face teaching at the university. Study opportunities will be expanded through international modules, and familiarisation with new perspectives can offer a different view of teaching realities. Various transfer formats will also be created as part of U!REKA, such as U!REKA Hackathons, which will feed challenges from our external stakeholders directly into our university. 

What advantages does international cooperation within the framework of U!REKA bring for the personal and professional development of university members? 

With U!REKA, all university members can sharpen their own intercultural skills in a European context, expand their language skills and benefit from new professional perspectives and, if applicable, extended career opportunities - the advantages are manifold and vary depending on individual requirements. For teaching, research and studies, the network offers numerous innovative opportunities through online and blended learning formats, research methods and additional sharpened skills acquisition during studies. The Change Drivers' Program is also developing further training opportunities for all employees in green, digital and transversal skills. These will enable us to (further) develop all our skills in sustainability, digitalization and transversal topics. 

How can you ensure that the objectives of U!REKA are integrated into everyday university life and also offer added value in the long term? 

In many areas, U!REKA builds on what our university has already been doing successfully for years. The trick is to systematically and strategically link the various activities of the stakeholders at the university. Our education, which is already characterized by practical relevance, is further strengthened by transfer formats, for example. And our international student body is enriched by students from the European Higher Education Area. In short: U!REKA is well on the way to becoming part of our university's DNA.

Thank you very much for the interview!