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The Question!

What does it mean to you to be part of the SUNRISE alliance?

The European university alliance SUNRISE, led by TU Ilmenau, brings together nine universities from across Europe. Through close collaboration in teaching, research, and knowledge transfer, the partners aim to promote the sustainable development of their respective regions. Joint study programs and interdisciplinary projects create new pathways for students and researchers within a European campus. At the kickoff event of SUNRISE at TU Ilmenau, we asked university representatives from partner institutions how they benefit from SUNRISE.

Portrait of Ana Vale Eleonora Hamburg

Ana Vale Vice President of the Polytechnic University of Viana do Castelo, Portugal

SUNRISE is a great opportunity for students, professors, and researchers to exchange knowledge, foster collaboration, and drive sustainable development in our regions, empowering local communities through innovation and research. I believe that together we are stronger. As universities in non-metropolitan regions facing similar challenges, we can achieve more and build something unique together.
We are already engaged in collaboration in multiple areas, such as nursing sciences with the University of Cyprus, design and tourism and engineering with the Universities of Bolzano, De La March and Ilmenau. Our focus is also on developing double degree programs and joint PhD programs. For smaller universities, SUNRISE offers a great opportunity to connect, collaborate, and grow together.

Portrait Vinzenco Bisconti TU Ilmenau/Eleonora Hamburg

Vincenzo Bisconti Student at Università Politecnica delle Marche, Italy

Having participated in the Erasmus program three times, I know how enriching such experiences can be. It’s not just about the academic aspect but also about personal growth. When you go to another country, you encounter a different culture, new habits, and a different education system. These differences help you grow beyond yourself. International experiences in education are a great opportunity, and I think everyone should take advantage of them if they have the chance.

Portrait Joanna Daaboul TU Ilmenau/Eleonora Hamburg

Joanna Daaboul Director of International Relations & Assistant Professor at Université de Technologie de Compiègne, France

Being part of this alliance means more to me than just participating in a project. We are part of a vision, something bigger that goes beyond all of us. It’s about how a university should be and how it should work. Being a member of this alliance also means admitting that we are not the greatest, we don’t know everything, and we are not the best at everything. Through this alliance, we can learn from each other, leverage our strengths, and overcome our weaknesses. It’s also an opportunity to rethink our mindset and our vision of how universities can be real agents of change in society.

Portrait Denis Music TU Ilmenau/Eleonora Hamburg

Denis Mušić Professor at Džemal Bijedić University of Mostar, Bosnia and Herzegovina

My role within the alliance is to strengthen cooperation with companies, the public sector, and other stakeholders. I believe that any collaboration based on a solid foundation always yields positive results. We hope that this alliance will influence each participating university and region by fostering innovation, creating new collaborations, and strengthening connections. By exchanging knowledge and experiences between universities, we expect more transfer in the form of student exchanges, knowledge sharing, and joint projects.