Joint ENLIGHT Rectors' Message (27 May 2020)
Dear ENLIGHT community, dear ENLIGHT partners,
We hereby express our strong commitment to jointly addressing the major global challenges that the COVID-19 pandemic is generating.
The causes and consequences of the pandemic relate to the five global challenges that ENLIGHT has engaged to address. Our health and well-being is being affected or jeopardized in an unprecedented way. Artificial intelligence and digital solutions play a key role in the crisis response. The disruption of the global economy resulting from the pandemic may increase polarization in our societies. Finally, the pandemic is not without impact on environmental emergencies such as climate change or energy use and circularity, and lessons learned from the economic shutdown give opportunities for reflection.
Shutdown and travel restrictions, while requiring a very sudden adaptation, may also serve as an opportunity to accelerate the educational transformation we are undertaking towards more inclusive internationalization, through reinforced online collaborations. Through an ENLIGHT virtual educational seminar (May 27th) we have shared experience on the impact of the crisis on international programs and student mobility and brainstormed on revisiting international education in a post-COVID world.
International research collaboration and sharing of research and data is of paramount importance to find solutions for the public health challenge we are facing. ENLIGHT strives to foster mission-oriented research cooperation. We are launching a bimonthly ENLIGHT lecture series "shedding light on COVID-19" where experts from our universities and partner institutions will present their work and exchange viewpoints with a global perspective.
Please be assured of our full support and commitment.
Sincerely,
Rector Prof. Nekane Balluerka [UNIVERSITY OF THE BASQUE COUNTRY]
President Prof. Manuel Tunon de Lara [UNIVERSITY OF BORDEAUX]
Rector Prof. Marek Števček [COMENIUS UNIVERSITY IN BRATISLAVA]
President Prof. Ciarán Ó hÓgartaigh [NATIONAL UNIVERSITY OF IRELAND GALWAY]
Rector Prof. Rik Van de Walle [GHENT UNIVERSITY]
President Prof. Reinhard Jahn [UNIVERSITY OF GÖTTINGEN]
Rector Prof. Cisca Wijmenga [UNIVERSITY OF GRONINGEN]
Rector Prof. Toomas Asser [UNIVERSITY OF TARTU]
Vice-Chancellor Prof. Eva Åkesson [UPPSALA UNIVERSITY]