We promise to make more people involved in EU issues

We promise to increase knowledge and involvement in EU issues. The University of Gävle, Region Gävleborg, Ovanåker Municipality, Gävle Municipality and Minister of EU Affairs and Trade Ann Linde have now shaken hands on this resolve.

The EU-handshake, on the initiative of Minister of EU Affairs and Trade Ann Linde, encourages measures to increase knowledge and transparency and to strengthen opportunities for involvement in EU processes.

Up till now, 41 actors from different regions have shaken hands with the minister, and today it was Gävle’s turn to receive a visit from the minister.

“As a higher learning institution, we do not only have the responsibility to educate but also to spread learning,” says Nader Ahmadi, pro-vice-chancellor at the University of Gävle.

Nader admits that the University of Gävle hasn’t paid particular attention to EU issues, but he points to the University’s seminar series on how to create a sustainable democracy, which has attracted a great deal of attention.

The University of Gävle now commits to working for increasing knowledge and involvement in EU issues in the Gävleborg region. Nader Ahmadi also gives concrete examples on how the work is to be carried out.

• Representatives for the University management will go to Brussels in the spring for a study visit and to build networks. These representatives will later spread their knowledge among students and in the community.
• The University will select a number of partner universities for a deepened partnership to make it easier for exchange students. The focus will lie on increasing the number of Erasmus+ exchange students, which in turn will mean that more students will learn more about Europe.
• The University will arrange lectures on the EU open to the University’s members of staff, to employees in public authorities and to the public.
• The University aims to build up expertise on EU funding for research and innovation projects in 2018, and also encourage researchers to study key issues that are relevant to the EU.
• The University will conduct a comprehensive questionnaire survey on internationalisation with special focus on EU related issues to determine the level of knowledge among its member of staff and students. A second goal is to find ways to increase knowledge in the University.

“In short, I would like to increase the opportunities for contact between the University of Gävle and the EU,” Nader Ahmadi says.

For more information, please contact:
Nader Ahmadi, pro-vice-chancellor at the University of Gävle
Phone: 026-64 81 97, 070-428 39 65
Email: nader.ahmadi@hig.se

Text: Douglas Öhrbom
Foto: Jenny Nylund