Groundbreaking European University alliance HEROES has been launched
European Universities alliance HEROES has been launched at Thomas More University’s campus in Geel, Belgium. The partnership brings together the strengths of nine practice-oriented higher education institutions including Seinäjoki University of Applied Sciences. Together, they focus on smart and digital innovation to make regions more resilient. The network is impressive: 120,000 students and 14,000 staff members, spread across 22 campuses in nine countries.
In a world where change is the only constant and some regions are at risk of falling behind, we need heroes. Real heroes, grounded in practice. Heroes who find local solutions to global challenges. This is precisely why nine leading higher education institutions are joining forces in HEROES. HEROES stands for ‘Higher Education for Resilience-Oriented and Empowered Societies’ and was approved by the European Commission in July 2024. The partnership officially kicked off with the new year. Ir. Sofie Mols, President of HEROES and Director of Innovation and Internationalisation at Thomas More:
“Together with our European partners, we are ready to tackle the challenges of tomorrow. HEROES is not just a network: it is a movement that drives innovation. Climate change, digital healthcare innovation, sustainable agriculture… no matter the challenge, we lift up the needs and expertise of regions. I couldn’t be prouder.”
A Unique Hero
HEROES sets itself apart from other alliances as one of the only networks in the world that is made up of practice-oriented universities of applied sciences making a difference. The alliance will pool expertise from professional higher education institutions, translate their knowledge into action, and deliver immediate results; examples include smart agricultural techniques that make crops thrive in challenging climates or digital tools that make nurses’ lives easier.
“By smartly combining education, research and practice, HEROES is a true innovation gamechanger. It also makes us unique,” explains Mols.
Local Roots, European Wings
From 21 to 23 January, more than 100 staff members from all partner institutions have gathered at Thomas More’s campus in Geel to shape the concrete implementation of this ambitious project. In addition to SeAMK, the network includes Thomas More University of Applied Sciences (Belgium, coordinator), Fontys University of Applied Sciences (Netherlands), Deggendorf Institute of Technology (Germany), Halmstad University (Sweden), Mendel University (Czech Republic), Polytechnic University of Beja (Portugal), University College Northern Denmark (Denmark), and Vilniaus Kolegija (Lithuania). With the slogan ‘Knowledge is power. Resilience and innovation are superpowers,’ the nine institutions aim to focus on education, research, and lifelong learning in the coming years.
Borderless
HEROES launches three ambitious programmes today that offer international opportunities for students, teachers, researchers, and professionals. EDUCATION4HEROES will form the core of joint educational programmes. Through HEROES4REGIONS, international and multidisciplinary teams – students, teachers, and local partners – will tackle concrete challenges together. And HEROES4EVER will provide targeted retraining for professionals in digital skills.
Once put to practice, the strength of this borderless collaboration will be apparent. For example, someone from the Healthcare sector in Lithuania can use HEROES’ continuous education offerings to enhance their knowledge of digital technologies in healthcare. Or a Belgian bachelor’s student in Agriculture can work with students in Electronics and Business Administration from Portugal and Denmark to help a local farm regulate plant growth using AI through heat and light. From healthcare innovation to extended reality for local businesses and smart technology for water management, HEROES will shape the driven professionals of tomorrow.