We are more than happy that after a two-year-break due to Covid, we managed to bring together 17 young scientists, university studens and early-stage researchers from all over Europe for our annual DRC Summer School. The 17th DRC Summer School on “Shaping Tomorrow’s Research: What Future for Academia in the Danube Region?” took place in Vienna from 10th to 16th July 2022.

Unfortunately, due to the senseless and unjustified Russian war on Ukraine, the Summer School could not take place as originally planned at the Uzhhorod National University in Ukraine. However, first-hand experiences of Ukrainian students about learning, volunteering, and mobility in the shadow of the war have been one of the focus topics. Other topics touched upon the role of research in policymaking, knowledge sharing as well as university autonomy and academic freedom. We are particularly honoured to have welcomed Shalini Randeria, President and Rector of the CEU, as our keynote speaker.

Alongside the lectures, the participants attended the FIFUDEM Final Conference, went on a field trip to the picturesque Wachau valley and ended two days with an amazing dinner at the typical Austrian Heuriger. Also, they connected with the participants of the DRC Strategic Foresight Project and gave feedback to their semi-final reports on the future scenarios developed.

DRC Vice-President and EUA board member Prof. Dr. Ivanka Popović, DRC Vice-President and Rector of the University of Continuing Education Krems (UWK) Mag. Friedrich Faulhammer and the DRC Secretary General and IDM Managing Director Mag. Sebastian Schäffer attended the Annual Conference of the European University Association (EUA) in Budapest.

On behalf of Uzhorod National University,  the Rector Professor Volodymyr Smolanka express his high appeciation for the DRC assistance towards Ukrainian universities. In particular, the University express gratitude for the support offered by the Danube Rectors' Conference in the form of the DRC Scholarship for Ukranian scholars and scientists.  

The Rector of Odesa I.I. Mechnikov National University,  Professor Vyacheslav Truba, welcomes the DRC support to Ukrainian universities and express his gratitude for the solidarity of our members regarding the current situation in Ukraine. 

Given the travel restrictions and other difficulties the universities are facing in relation to the Covid-19 pandemic, the DRC Presidency, after careful consideration and in consultation with the Uzhhorod National University as the host of this year's meeting, agreed to hold the DRC Annual Meeting on 10-12th of November 2021 in an online form via ZOOM. Apart of many fruitful discussions during the Annual Conference on 11th November organised by the Uzhhorod National University, the DRC General Assembly brought many announcements.

During the DRC General Assembly 2021 were discussed the remarkable achievements of the past year. Two new DRC initiatives - the DRC Initiative Found and the DRC Strategic Foresight - have been agreed upon, two new members were welcomed in the network: the University of Reutlingen and the J. Selye University of Komarno as well as the financial budget for 2022 was approved. A brief summary of many events that were organised or co-organised by the DRC in 2021 has been presented.

Further documents, including the minutes, are available on our DRC intranet. To get access as DRC member, please write an e-mail to info@drc-danube.org

We are more than happy that after a two-year-break due to Covid, we managed to bring together 17 young scientists, university studens and early-stage researchers from all over Europe for our annual DRC Summer School. The 17th DRC Summer School on “Shaping Tomorrow’s Research: What Future for Academia in the Danube Region?” took place in Vienna from 10th to 16th July 2022.

Unfortunately, due to the senseless and unjustified Russian war on Ukraine, the Summer School could not take place as originally planned at the Uzhhorod National University in Ukraine. However, first-hand experiences of Ukrainian students about learning, volunteering, and mobility in the shadow of the war have been one of the focus topics. Other topics touched upon the role of research in policymaking, knowledge sharing as well as university autonomy and academic freedom. We are particularly honoured to have welcomed Shalini Randeria, President and Rector of the CEU, as our keynote speaker.

Alongside the lectures, the participants attended the FIFUDEM Final Conference, went on a field trip to the picturesque Wachau valley and ended two days with an amazing dinner at the typical Austrian Heuriger. Also, they connected with the participants of the DRC Strategic Foresight Project and gave feedback to their semi-final reports on the future scenarios developed.

DRC Vice-President and EUA board member Prof. Dr. Ivanka Popović, DRC Vice-President and Rector of the University of Continuing Education Krems (UWK) Mag. Friedrich Faulhammer and the DRC Secretary General and IDM Managing Director Mag. Sebastian Schäffer attended the Annual Conference of the European University Association (EUA) in Budapest.

On behalf of Uzhorod National University,  the Rector Professor Volodymyr Smolanka express his high appeciation for the DRC assistance towards Ukrainian universities. In particular, the University express gratitude for the support offered by the Danube Rectors' Conference in the form of the DRC Scholarship for Ukranian scholars and scientists.  

The Rector of Odesa I.I. Mechnikov National University,  Professor Vyacheslav Truba, welcomes the DRC support to Ukrainian universities and express his gratitude for the solidarity of our members regarding the current situation in Ukraine. 

Given the travel restrictions and other difficulties the universities are facing in relation to the Covid-19 pandemic, the DRC Presidency, after careful consideration and in consultation with the Uzhhorod National University as the host of this year's meeting, agreed to hold the DRC Annual Meeting on 10-12th of November 2021 in an online form via ZOOM. Apart of many fruitful discussions during the Annual Conference on 11th November organised by the Uzhhorod National University, the DRC General Assembly brought many announcements.

During the DRC General Assembly 2021 were discussed the remarkable achievements of the past year. Two new DRC initiatives - the DRC Initiative Found and the DRC Strategic Foresight - have been agreed upon, two new members were welcomed in the network: the University of Reutlingen and the J. Selye University of Komarno as well as the financial budget for 2022 was approved. A brief summary of many events that were organised or co-organised by the DRC in 2021 has been presented.

Further documents, including the minutes, are available on our DRC intranet. To get access as DRC member, please write an e-mail to info@drc-danube.org