New university group unveiled

A new network of leading European universities is set to launch this year in a bid to enhance the research capacity of institutions on the continent, writes Ellie Bothwell for Times Higher Education.

The Guild of European Research Intensive Universities will bring together institutions that have demonstrable excellence in teaching, research and policy formation with the aim of collaborating on "innovative solutions to some of Europe’s most intractable scientific and social challenges".

The network was founded by a group of universities in Brussels on 1 June and is set to formally launch in the city on 21 November. Nine member institutions have been announced so far. Jan Palmowski, pro vice-chancellor (postgraduate and transnational education) at the University of Warwick in the UK and secretary general of the guild’s board, told Times Higher Education that the network will be “distinctive in a number of ways” from other European university alliances, such as the League of European Research Universities. Its focus on enhancing universities’ research capacity, innovation, knowledge and education will make it “complementary” to existing networks, he said.
Full report on the Times Higher Education site