Research power along the Danube
Between its source in the Black Forest and its mouth on the Black Sea, the Danube traverses 2,872 kilometres and shares shores with ten countries. The Danube Rectors' Conference (DRC) is a strong network of almost 70 universities in this region. Our aim is to improve higher education in teaching and research, and the advancement of our member universities by establishing sustainable contacts.
The DRC is Affiliate member of the European University Association (EUA)
COVID-19 AND UNIVERSITIES
We are experiencing extraordinary and difficult times. All European countries and their institutions, including universities, are currently tackling with the spread of the COVID-19 disease.
How are the DRC member universities responding to the current challenging situation? They share with us their experience, know-how and good practices regarding distance learning and E-learning. Click here for more information on the measures introduced at the universities.
News from our network
See below the latest news and browse in our archive.
For news from our Presidency, please click here.
Danube Salon Europa - Forum Wachau 2021
The Danube Salon Europa-Forum Wachau is around the corner!
Since its launch in 1995, the Europa-Forum Wachau and its salons offer participants the opportunity to commit to the future of Europe and to shape it through discussions on current challenges in a common and united Europe. This year, the leading theme is the future of the EU and this edition of the Europa-Forum Wachau is entitled “Heading for New Horizons”. Further paths for the EU will thus be discussed in Göttweig Abbey (Krems district) by top politicians, entrepreneurs and experts.
The Europa-Forum Wachau will this year take place from June 10th to 12th, 2021. It also marks the 25th anniversary of the Forum, which means that 25 years of dedication to the future of the EU will then be celebrated.
In the framework of the Europa-Forum Wachau, the Online Danube Salon will be held on the Friday the 11th, at 6pm, at the Campus Krems. This will be an ideal opportunity to discuss in depth the intensive cooperation work in the Danube region.
The EU Strategy for the Danube Region (EUSDR) is mostly based on the promotion of the cross-border and transnational cooperation in the Danube Region. This framework of cooperation serves as a great plateform for the co-shaping the European future and has been implementing a macro-regional strategy focusing on the most international and most diverse river in the world for 10 years now. This salon will present the crucial elements to co-design a European future in matters of regional cooperation, science, youth and education.
The Salon will be moderated by Sebastian Schäffer, IDM Managing Director and DRC Secretary General.
The speakers will include:
- Martin Eichtinger, President of the Europa-Forum Wachau, Minister of Housing, Labour and International Relations in the Government of Lower Austria
- Vidosava Enderic, Assistant Provincial Secretary for Regional Development, Inter-Regional Cooperation and Local Self-Government of the Autonomous Province of Vojvodina, Serbia (ARGE Donauländer)
- Rudolf Schicker, Vice chairman of the board IDM, former Coordinator EU Strategy for the Danube Region, former Deputy Mayor City of Vienna
- Harald Stranzl, National Coordinator EU Strategy for the Danube Region (EUSDR), Federal Ministry for European and International Affairs
- Stefan-Razvan Rab, National Coordinator Romania EUSDR
- Verena Winiwarter, Univ.Prof. University of Natural Resources and Life Sciences Vienna and project coordinator for Danube:Future
- Zdravko Kačič, Rector of the University of Maribor and President of the Danube Rectors‘ Conference, Slovenia
- Katka Krejcova, International relations in the Department of Art and Culture in the Office of the Lower Austrian Government
- Robert Lichtner, Coordinator Danube Strategy Point Vienna
Participation is only possible online - there is no possibility to be present on site at the event but further information on the event and registration can be found here.
Join this inspiring online event and discussion at the Europa-Forum Wachau 2021!
OeAD Summer Universities Scholarships
The Green Building Solution - GBS Summer University is back online from July 17 to August 08, 2021, for its 11th edition! Here is an opportunity to get first-hand ecological knowledge and engineering expertise in a three-week program, hosted from the capital of energy-efficient building, Vienna.
Participants will earn 7 ECTS university credits while learning about sustainable buildings in an intercultural environment. They will also benefit from the insight of experts from various background. Those will share the latest developments from research and practice in ecological building. Especially during these challenging times, we must develop knowledge on sustainable buildings, passive houses and renewable energies to an ever expanding international audience of students and professionals.
Applications for the scholarships possible until July 1, 2021. Registration to the summer university can be done here.
OEAD is also hosting a unique online summer school on the economy of the future, the Alternative Economic and Monetary Systems summer school, from July 19, 2021 to August 6, 2021.
Do you want to explore different approaches and new ideas with regards to the current growth-based economy and unstable financial system? The AEMS will be back in an upgraded online version in 2021 to discuss alternative approaches! AEMS focuses on ways to restructure economic systems to embody sustainable use of resources and a more collaborative society overall.
With this summer school, you can get an official certificate worth 5 ECTS from BOKU University upon completion of the program. The summer school is organised by the BOKU University of Natural Resources and Life Sciences, Economy for the Common Good, and OeAD student housing.
Applications for the scholarships possible until July 1, 2021. Registration can be done here.
You can take advantage of an Empowerment Scholarships! Indeed, OEAD is offering outstanding and highly qualified applicants from low-income economies the chance to participate in a life changing online learning experience, entirely free of charge for the participant, all tuition costs and program fees will be covered by our new Empowerment Scholarship Program! 10 Empowerment Scholarships are now available to participate in either GBS or AEMS.
To find the eligibility conditions, just visit this webpage.
Additionally, OEAD has another offer: there are two free scholarship available for a Social Media Tutor for each program to support the summerschools via Instagram, Facebook and Twitter!
You will find all the information you need here.
The application deadlines for both, the “standard” scholarship programs, as well as the empowerment scholarship programs have been extended to 1st July, 2021! Would you like to join too?
And last but not least, OEAD is launching its next Expert Talk. It is taking place on 16th June, 2021 at 4pm and will deal with “Low Tech vs High Tech” with speakers Thomas Gamperl (Viessmann) and Edeltraud Haselsteiner (Urbanity). Both will talk about approaches for a lower carbon footprint of buildings. The discussion will be moderated by Doris Österreicher (BOKU University).
More information and registration to the free event here.
Here is the program:
16:00 Welcome address from organizers
16:10 “Low Tech – High Effect! Sustainable low-tech buildings - a concept for resilient cities of the future!”
16:30 “Ice Storage Systems - Heat pumps combined with solar energy and innovative exergetic storage”
16:50 Q&A Session with Public and Panelists
From 17:30 Open End Networking Session
This talk will help you understand low tech approaches and potentials of realized buildings and climate adaptive and sustainable architecture and urban planning with an emphasis on energy and resources.
The Sharing Future Scholarship
We are happy that - for the third time - we can support young artists from the Danube Region with our “Sharing Future” Artist in Residence Scholarship! With the Sharing Future Scholarship, financially supported by the Danube Rectors’ Conference (DRC), an artist has been granted the opportunity to spend one month in Ruse, Bulgaria!
This year's scholarship goes to Thomas Perle, the German-Romanian author and playwright, who will realize his multilingual project "donauwellen" in September and October. During his stay, he will work on a piece around the Danube, a river rich in history, and collect voices from people living near the Danube.
The scholarship is aimed at artists from all over Europe and promotes international dialogue, artistic exchange, and offers an insight into the artistic diversity of the European continent. Painters, photographers, writers, performance artists, translators, filmmakers, musicians, and other artists are welcomed to take part in the project. The guiding principle of the scholarship – Sharing Future – relates to participation in and cooperation for a common Europe and a common future.
The Sharing Future scholarship is foreseen for one month per year. During this time, the scholarship holder can work artistically undisturbed and use the historic Canetti House as a place of work with various possibilities for artistic expression. Thanks to this experience, the scholarship holder has the opportunity to get to know the local cultural scene in Ruse and Bulgaria and to use and artistically implement the resulting synergies. Following the residency period, the scholarship holder will present the fruits of their creativity as part of a cultural event in the Canetti House, in which the local public can participate.
More information on the "Sharing Future Scholarship" can be found here and here.
If you want to know more about Thomas Perle's work, please visit his webpage here.
The DRC congratulates Rector Ivanka Popović
The DRC wishes to congratulate Rector Ivanka Popović, who was elected as the new member of the European University Association board. The ceremony took place on the 30th of April 2021. Her term spreads over 2021-2025. She is also currently Vice-president of the Danube Rectors Conference.
The European University Association (EUA) is the representative organisation for universities in 48 European countries, bringing together more than 850 institutions. The EUA plays a major role in the Bologna Process and in the definition of the European Union's policies on higher education, research and innovation.
Since October 2018, Professor Ivanka Popović is Rector of the University of Belgrade. Currently, she is the President of the Serbian Rectors’ Conference and the Rectors’ Forum of Southeast Europe and the Western Balkans, Vice-President of the Danube Rectors' Conference, and now member of the board of the European University Association.
You can find more information on Rector Ivanka Popović here.
The DRC is glad that universities from Southeastern and Eastern Europe have now an opportunity to be better heard in the European University Association thanks to Rector Ivanka Popović's two roles as member of the European University Association board and as Vice-president of the Danube Rectors Conference.
Danubius Young Scientist Award 2021: EXTENSION OF THE DEADLINE FOR THE CALL FOR APPLICATIONS!
The award will be endowed with 1.350 EUR for each winner of the Danubius Young Scientist Award.
It is expected that the award ceremony will take place in October/November 2021. The details will be announced in due time.
Moreover, thanks to the ongoing kind support by the JRC, the awardees will be invited by the European Commission´s Joint Research Centre to visit the JRC in Ispra, Italy in 2022.
The new deadline for submitting nominations is 15th June 2021 at 23:59.
More information on the award criteria, submission of documents as well as selection process can be found in the official Call for
Applications below or on the IDM website.
Danubius Young Scientist Award 2021: CALL FOR APPLICATIONS!
The award will be endowed with 1.350 EUR for each winner of the Danubius Young Scientist Award.
It is expected that the award ceremony will take place in October/November 2021. The details will be announced in due time.
Moreover, thanks to the ongoing kind support by the JRC, the awardees will be invited by the European Commission´s Joint Research Centre to visit the JRC in Ispra, Italy in 2022.
The deadline for submitting nominations is Friday, 30th April 2021 at 23:59.
More information on the award criteria, submission of documents as well as selection process can be found in the official Call for
Applications below or on the IDM website.
