A new partner for EUniWell and the University of Nantes

A new partner for prosperity

on November 15, 2022 The University of Konstanz officially joins the European Welfare University after signing a membership agreement with existing EUniWell partners.

In addition to sharing core values, EUniWell member universities – now including the University of Konstanz – are united by the long-term goal of promoting well-being for all, in line with the United Nations’ global Sustainable Development Goals (SDGs). research, training and social responsibility.

“We deliberately think about ‘well-being’ from different perspectives and in an interdisciplinary way, because well-being is never a function of a single parameter, but always the result of a complex interaction of individual factors, social and environmental factors.” Professor Beatrix Busse, Director of Development at EUniWell, explains. “Therefore, the University of Konstanz, with its interdisciplinary focus, is a key asset for our Alliance.”

Both at the research, teaching and institutional level, the University of Konstanz is already strongly aligned with the United Nations Sustainable Development Goals (SDGs). “We are delighted to be invited to join this attractive alliance, which is a great fit for our university. Our membership of EUniWell will enable us to strengthen our work in areas of the United Nations Sustainable Development Goals, such as research on inequalities, environmental sustainability, teacher training and health, as well as to expand and develop these activities. Together with strong international partners,” says Professor Katharina Holzinger, Chancellor of the University of Konstanz.

Significant synergy on key themes

Prof. Axel Freymuth, rector of the University of Cologne, which is the coordinating institution of EUniWell, emphasizes: “The long-term goals of the alliance are to seek and implement the following conditions. to sustainably promote well-being and quality of life at individual, institutional and community levels. In general, there is a synergy between the main focus areas of EUniWell and the business area of ​​the University of Konstanz. For example, the University of Konstanz is strongly committed to the Sustainable Development Goals of the United Nations. In the current Times Higher Education Impact ranking, Constance’s social impact in the areas of sustainability linked to the six SDGs is rated above average. In addition, it is ranked 15th in the world^e In relation to SDG 16, the university has strengths in two other SDGs (5 and 10) that are closely related to the main areas of the EUniWell initiative.

In addition, the University of Konstanz has long-term cooperation with several partner universities of EUniWell. “By joining EUniWell, we are not starting with completely new partners, we build on existing partnerships and strong collaborations and productive already in place. Our membership of EUniWell will help to strengthen and further develop these relations”, says Professor Dorothea Debus, Vice Chancellor for International Relations, Equal Opportunities and Diversity at the University of Konstanz.

University of Konstanz

Since its founding in 1966, the University of Konstanz has been distinguished by its high level of research, teaching excellence, international presence and interdisciplinary communication. The University of Konstanz is currently one of eleven German universities awarded the status of “University of Excellence” in the German “Strategy of Excellence” program.

The University of Konstanz consists of thirteen departments grouped into three faculties: the Faculty of Natural Sciences, the Faculty of Humanities and the Faculty of Politics, Law and Economics. Internationally, the University of Konstanz establishes long-term partnerships with more than 70 research-oriented universities to promote scientific cooperation and student mobility.

Context: European Welfare University

EUniWell was launched in the second pilot phase of the European Universities Initiative in 2020. The Alliance implements a holistic, knowledge-based and action-oriented approach to well-being in response to the Council of the European Union’s call to Member States to promote a “welfare economy”. virtuous circle between society, economy and environment, leading to greater prosperity in these dimensions. EUniWell’s core mission is to understand, improve, measure and rebalance the well-being of individuals, our community and society as a whole, based on shared values ​​of inclusion, democracy, diversity, research in the service of society, interdisciplinarity, entrepreneurship. and communication with our territories.

As the tenth member of the European Welfare University, the University of Konstanz joins the universities of Birmingham, Cologne, Florence and Murcia, Leiden University, Linnaeus University, Nantes University, Semmelweis University and Taras Shevchenko National University of Kyiv.