Avenue Spring 2021

UofG joins European University alliance

The University of Glasgow is a new associate member of CIVIS, a European Civic University.

The University has become an associate member of CIVIS, an alliance of leading research higher education institutions across Europe.

CIVIS brings together research-led and civically engaged universities across Europe and connects over 430,000 students and 63,000 members of staff (including 33,400 academics and researchers).

Among other shared objectives, CIVIS member universities aim to work together to boost international student exchanges, contribute to European civil society and increase cooperation with institutions in Africa.

The alliance looks to tackle the big social challenges of the 21st century, to carry out relevant research and to work responsibly and sustainably with an eye to the future. It focuses specifically on five thematic areas:

• health
• cities, territories and mobilities
• climate, environment and energy
• digital and technological transformation
• society, cultures and heritage.

“Like the CIVIS alliance, the University of Glasgow is a collaboration-oriented civic university with its roots in our local community, but with global ambitions and impact,” says UofG Principal Professor Sir Anton Muscatelli. “We are an institution which has always been, and will always remain, proudly European. We celebrate our international outlook, while committing to social transformation and civic engagement at a local level.”

Rachel Sandison, Vice-Principal for External Relations believes that being part of CIVIS will provide opportunities to grow international collaborations and partnerships in Europe. “In this post-Brexit landscape, Glasgow continues to consider itself a proudly European institution with much to contribute to, and many benefits to be had from, collaboration with European partners.”