With the successful implementation of the joint micro-credential "Understanding Europe", the University of Innsbruck and the University of Duisburg-Essen have reached an important milestone in the development of the European Education Area.
As a jointly designed and delivered micro-credential within the Aurora European Universities Alliance , the micro-credential represents not only an innovative educational offer, but also a fully operational "proof of concept" for collaborative European teaching, assessment, and certification.
Taught in English, the micro-credential comprises 10 ECTS credits and is open to Bachelor's students from all disciplines across the Aurora Alliance. It combines the courses "Perspectives on Europe in a Global Context", offered by the University of Innsbruck and "Challenges in Europe" delivered by the University of Duisburg-Essen. The courses are co-taught by academic staff from several Aurora partner universities. Thus, lecturers from Université Paris-Est Créteil (UPEC), Palacký University Olomouc (UPOL), Vrije Universiteit Amsterdam (VU), and Università degli Studi di Napoli Federico II (UNINA) are actively involved. This close cooperation among lecturers across the alliance provides a tangible example of European academic collaboration in practice.
The micro-credential follows a strongly competence-oriented and interdisciplinary approach, addressing key societal challenges facing Europe today, including sustainability, governance, global interdependence, intercultural competence, critical thinking, and problem-solving (see Aurora Competence Framework LOUIS ). By integrating diverse academic perspectives from multiple European higher education systems, students benefit from comparative insights, a broader intellectual horizon, and an enhanced understanding of Europe's diversity.
"Understanding Europe equips students with the analytical tools needed to critically reflect on different narratives, political structures, and global entanglements of Europe," explains Univ.-Prof. Dr. Silke Meyer, course director at the University of Innsbruck. "The joint teaching by lecturers from several Aurora universities clearly demonstrates to students how European cooperation in teaching works and the added value it creates for their learning experience."
In a time of profound social and political transformation, these competencies are essential for active and responsible participation in European societies.
Prof. Florian Freitag from the University of Duisburg-Essen highlights the collaborative dimension of the programme: "This micro-credential demonstrates how European universities can unite their academic expertise to offer students not only disciplinary knowledge, but also practical and transferable competences for addressing complex challenges such as sustainability, migration, and social cohesion." The integrated design of online teaching and short-term mobility enables students to experience European cooperation first-hand.
Beyond its academic content, Understanding Europe carries significant strategic importance. As a jointly offered Aurora micro-credential, it constitutes a concrete step toward the operational implementation of the European Education Area. Acting as the issuing institution, the University of Innsbruck awards the micro-credential certificate on behalf of all partners, ensuring transparent quality assurance and equal access for all Aurora students, regardless of their home university.
Janette Walde, Vice-Rector for Teaching and Students at the University of Innsbruck, emphasizes this broader impact: "This micro-credential shows how European University Alliances like Aurora can move from policy objectives to concrete practice. Joint teaching concepts, cooperation among lecturers across several universities, coordinated quality assurance, and open access for students across partner institutions are the key building blocks of a truly European Education Area."
With Understanding Europe, the participating universities demonstrate how cross-border cooperation in teaching can be successfully implemented not only at a conceptual level, but also in didactic, organisational, and institutional terms. The micro-credential thus serves as a reference model for future joint educational offers within the Aurora European Universities Alliance and contributes to a more connected, inclusive, and socially responsive European Higher Education landscape.
