Örebro continues to lead the NEOLAiA alliance

In May, vice-chancellors, pro-vice-chancellors and project managers from NEOLAiA visited Örebro University for meetings and an introduction to the university’s unique campus. The purpose of the visit was to evaluate the alliance’s activities in light of feedback from the European Commission and to plan for the coming years.

NEOLAiA comprises nine European higher education institutions and aims to enhance cooperation among universities and strengthen competitiveness. Örebro University has been part of the alliance since 2020.

“There is a lot happening within the alliance at the moment. NEOLAiA has just undergone a comprehensive mid-term review by the European Commission as we prepare for the next application round. This has led to both exciting and challenging discussions about future directions,” says Rosita Ericsson, project manager for Örebro University’s NEOLAiA office.

At the meeting, Örebro University was re-elected to lead the alliance for a further two years. This means, among other things, that Vice-Chancellor Åke Ingerman will continue as chair of NEOLAiA’s highest decision-making body, the Governing Board, and that Dimitri Beeckman, pro-vice-chancellor for internationalisation, will continue to lead the alliance’s strategic work through the Steering Committee.

Strategic discussions and visits to three campuses

The gathering began at Campus USÖ with a tour and workshops. On the second day, the School of Music, Theatre and Art hosted a social gathering and an introduction, during which Vice-Chancellor Åke Ingerman spoke about the history of Örebro University. After lunch, the programme continued at the School of Hospitality, Culinary Arts and Meal Science in Grythyttan with further discussions, a tour and a joint dinner.

“These two days have been devoted to reflecting on what can be improved within the framework of the current project and on how we want to develop and deepen our collaboration going forward,” says Rosita Ericsson.

Joint master’s programme

During the meeting, a ceremony was also held to mark the signing of the agreement between Örebro University and the universities of Tours, France, and Suceava, Romania, for a joint master’s programme in AI and social robotics with applications in global health. The programme will start in autumn 2026 and will offer students the opportunity to study and graduate in several countries.