Check here the latest news and browse in our archive.
For news from our Presidency, please click here.
The 2024 Annual Meeting of the Danube Rectors' Conference takes place at the University for Continuing Education Krems, Austria, on 13–15 November 2024. The conference will be part of the official calendar of the Austrian Presidency of the European Union Strategy for the Danube Region (EUSDR). As always you can expect high level discussions, space for young academics as well as the Danubius Awards Ceremony.
Registration form for the Annual Conference as well as further information can be found here.
The Danube Rector's Conference met the DRC representatives of all its member universities for the DRC Annual Conference 2023, from 19 to 20 October 2023, at the West University of Timișoara in Romania. This year, the discussions of the conference focused on the current and future developments of higher education in the EU and especially in the Danube Region. The main topic was 'Forty years of overcoming academic divisions: importance of higher education for democracy and culture"' as the DRC celebrated its 40th anniversary. It was an opportunity for DRC members to celebrate and connect with experts and scholars from the Danube Region.
The 2023 Annual Meeting of the Danube Rectors' Conference was hosted at the West University of Timisoara, Romania, from October 19 to 20, 2023. Celebrating the 40th anniversary of the establishment of the Danube Rectors’ Conference in 1983, the DRC Permanent Secretariat presented the 40th DRC Anniversary Publication.
During the General Assembly 2023, the applications for membership for four more universities in the Danube Region were approved. Therefore, we are pleased to announce that the DRC network is welcoming four new member universities:
"Dunarea de Jos" University of Galati
Academy of Music, Dance and Visual Arts "Prof. Asen Diamandiev" - Plovdiv
University of Applied Sciences - Public Management and Finance Ludwigsburg
The DRC Permanent Secretariat wishes them a warm welcome to the network and is looking forward to our future cooperation!
On October 19, 2023, the IDM, together with the Austrian Federal Ministry of Education, Science and Research, awarded exceptional scientists, whose work contributed to the Danube Region.
The Danubius Awards 2023 Ceremony took place in a hybrid setting. You can find the recording of the ceremony on the IDM Youtube channel.
FORTY YEARS OF OVERCOMING ACADEMIC DIVISIONS: IMPORTANCE OF HIGHER EDUCATION FOR DEMOCRACY AND CULTURE
The Danube Rectors' Conference meets this year to discuss the current and future developments of higher education in EU and especially in the Danube Region. The speeches and debates with international experts and scholars will focus on the European cohesion through higher education, as well as its condition in times of war. Plans to foster research possibility for youth will be discussed with the recipients of the DRC Initiative Fund, and the participants will attend to the Ceremony for the Danubius Awards 2023.
More information on the Annual Meeting can be found here: 2023 Annual Conference of the Danube Rectors' Conference
We are delighted to announce the successful culmination of the 18th DRC Summer School, held in the picturesque city of Cluj-Napoca and hosted by three esteemed Romanian universities. This year's event saw the convergence of 13 young scientists, university students, and emerging researchers hailing from 10 countries across the Danube Region and Central Europe. The week-long 18th DRC Summer School, themed "Transformation of post-war Europe: Challenging universities and research in the Danube Region?," took place in Cluj-Napoca from 16 to 22 July 2023.
Babeș-Bolyai University, the Technical University of Cluj-Napoca, and the University of Agricultural Sciences and Veterinary Medicine hosted this year's edition. Amidst the charming backdrop of Cluj-Napoca, participants engaged not only in insightful dialogues with experts on the designated theme but also in the exchange of their expertise from diverse research domains.
The core theme of the Summer School was rigorously explored through four focal points, namely democracy, inclusivity, digitalization, and European strategies during periods of conflict. These topics provided an enriched platform for comprehensive discussions and intellectual exploration.
The Summer School involved cultural aspects, allowing participants to engage in local traditions through group activities. This created a friendly atmosphere, deepening connections among attendees and offering a taste of Transylvanian life and cuisine. Guided city and botanical garden tours, alongside traditional dinners, enriched the week. A highlight was a field trip to Salina Turda, highlighting Romania's natural beauty. The experience concluded with a meaningful final gathering.
Friedrich Faulhammer (*1963) studied law at the University of Vienna. He worked there from 1985 to 1990 at the Institute for Legal History as well as in the legal department of the University Directorate and moved to the Austrian Federal Ministry of Science and Research in 1990. In 2005, he became Section Head of the Higher Education Section in the Federal Ministry of Science and Research and served as its Secretary General from 2009. During his more than two decades as a civil servant of the Republic of Austria, Faulhammer has been instrumental in shaping Austrian and European higher education policy, including the implementation of the Universities Act 2002.
Following the elections of the new presidency during the DRC General Assembly on 11 November 2022, we gladly announce the new DRC Presidency for the period 2023-2024.
Beginning with 1 January 2023, Mag. Friedrich Faulhammer, Rector of the University for Continuing Education Krems, takes over the position of DRC President. The role of the new Vice-Presidents will be assumed by former DRC President Prof. Dr. Zdravko Kačič, Rector of the University of Maribor, and Prof. Dr. Daniel David, Rector of the Babeş-Bolyai University.
Following the decision of DRC General Assembly on 11 November 2022, the DRC is pleased to announce the election of former DRC President and Vice-President Ivanka Popović as DRC Acting Honorary President. We would like to thank Prof. Popović for all efforts and valuable contribution in her previous roles within DRC Presidency and look forward to continuing the successful cooperation in the upcoming years!
We are also glad to announce that Ivanka Popović has also been nominated for the position of EUA President. The DRC Presidency fully supports her nomination as it is convinced that her election as EUA president would not only strengthen the voice of universities from Central, Eastern and Southeastern Europe, but she would firmly represent and promote the interests of the EUA members.
With much esteem, we would like to thank Miroslav Vesković for his work and contribution during his term as Acting Honorary President. With a feeling of gratitude and appreciation, we look back on all his valuable insights and ideas that shaped the developments of DRC in the past years. On behalf of DRC Presidency, we wish Miroslav Vesković all the best in his future and a successful continuation of his dedicated support of higher education and research in the Danube Region and beyond!
The Russian invasion on Ukraine had devastating consequences for the higher education. The IDM together with the Danube Rectors’ Conference (DRC) decided to grant two Ukrainian students or early-career researchers a fellowship.
The fellowship gives the recipient the possibility to complete research on their MA or PhD thesis. If necessary, IDM/DRC supports the fellow in finding a supervisor. The fellowship holder also has the opportunity to gain insights into the work of IDM as a non-university research institute.
The IDM therefore provides a workplace and invites the student to participate in the activities of the Institute as well as to contribute to the work of IDM team members.
“From Fictional to Functioning Democracy Developing Concepts and Strategies for an Inclusive and Participatory Europe (FIFUDEM)”
Institute for the Danube Region and Central Europe (IDM) in cooperation with Danube Rectors’ Conference (DRC)
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.