Bridging education and research

WP3: 4EU+ Flagships: research-based education

Julie Hubeňáková

WP3 coordinator

With over 10 years of experience in academia, Julie serves as the Head of the European Centre at the rectorate of Charles University. The European Centre, a division of the Research Support Office, provides grant support for research and higher education through EU funding programs such as Horizon Europe and Erasmus+. It also facilitates networking activities within Charles University's extensive partnerships. The European Centre is crucial in coordinating the university's participation in the 4EU+ Alliance, where Julie focuses on coordinating educational activities, fostering synergy between education and research. She brings together colleagues to create exciting and innovative educational opportunities for the 4EU+ community.

Research-based education is one of the key pillars of the 4EU+ objective to enhance the quality of learning and teaching. 1CORE WP3 focuses on developing new educational activities across the 4EU+ Alliance, from individual modules to comprehensive study programmes. These programmes aim to transform existing offerings and align them with the Alliance’s Flagships, addressing major societal challenges at the global, European, and local levels.

The work within WP3 revolves around four key tasks that integrate research into education, fostering interdisciplinary collaboration and innovation across the Alliance.

Defining components for new flexible individual pathways

The aim of the task 3.1 activities is to enhance collaboration and innovation in education that meet the diverse needs of students across the 4EU+ Alliance by developing and deploying joint educational initiatives across member institutions. The goal is to coordinate and support the development of joint activities, such as courses, seminars, and modules, that integrate existing programmes with new initiatives under the 4EU+ framework. These educational activities offer flexibility, allowing students to pursue their academic interests while addressing modern job market demands.

The task includes coordinating workshops to introduce new methods and expand study offerings, ensuring relevance to societal challenges. Collaboration with industry and academic partners ensures students gain the skills needed for the evolving employment landscape.

Towards 4EU+ joint study programmes

Task 3.2 facilitates the launch of joint study programmes within the 4EU+ Alliance by providing targeted support for their design and pilot implementation. This includes developing tailored resources and tools for both academic and administrative staff, and organising tutorials to guide participants through the process, ensuring compliance with legal and administrative requirements across institutions. The principal aim of this task is therefore to gather and comprehensively present information specific to the peculiar nature of transnational studies, taking into account the newest policy developments at the national and regional levels, as well as at the broader level of EHEA policy making (e.g. European Degree initiative).

Creating 4EU+ environment for PhD candidates

Task 3.3 task aims to establish a cooperative environment for PhD candidates across the 4EU+ Alliance, promoting dialogue with senior researchers and facilitating joint thesis supervision. It supports mobility opportunities, including exchanges, internships, and traineeships, while fostering collaboration through workshops and seminars on research methods. By creating a supportive network, this task provides PhD candidates with the tools and opportunities to advance their academic careers within the Alliance.

Challenge-based approaches to support Flagships’ development and excellence

Task 3.4 implements research-based challenges within the 4EU+ Flagships by engaging university research teams, associated partners, and institutional ecosystems to collaboratively address societal challenges through specific educational activities. Initiatives such as case challenges and competitions enhance the integration of key competencies and skills within the educational framework. The task also promotes mobility opportunities for early-career academic staff, allowing them to participate in international research and teaching exchanges across the Alliance.