Scotland and Lower Saxony want to strengthen scientific cooperation

2020-11-19 On November 23 and 24, the "Lower Saxony - Scotland Joint Forum" will take place at the invitation of the European Centre for Advanced Studies (ECAS), a joint institution of the Leuphana University of Lüneburg and the University of Glasgow. The two-day online conference aims to stimulate and promote increased cooperation between Scottish and Lower Saxony scholars*. The interest in the event is great: More than 170 registrations from both countries have already been received. The Ministry of Science of Lower Saxony is providing financial support for the conference.

The first day of the event is dedicated to possible cooperation in the areas of research, study and transfer. The question of whether the corona pandemic can lead to permanent changes in the course of studies will also play a role. Among the speakers are Lower Saxony's Minister of Science Björn Thümler and the former Prime Minister of Lower Saxony and EU Parliamentarian David McAllister. On the second day, scientists from Lower Saxony and Scotland will exchange ideas in nine workshops on the possibilities of launching joint research projects and study programs.

Background
In September 2019, Universities Scotland (US) and the Lower Saxony Conference of Universities (LHK) signed a declaration of intent in Glasgow to further intensify the cooperation between the two institutions. The aim of the cooperation is to promote the internationalization of higher education and university exchanges. In order to achieve this goal, the partners intend to strengthen and further expand existing and future cooperation between universities and universities of applied sciences in Lower Saxony and Scotland. To this end, US and LHK have, among other things, planned the establishment of a so-called "Joint Forum".

Further information on the event can be found here: joint-forum.org

About ECAS
The European Centre for Advanced Studies (ECAS), founded in April 2019 by Leuphana and the University of Glasgow, is a research institution with which both universities share common interests in research and teaching in the fields of digital culture and media, business informatics, law, management, sustainability and psychology. Specifically, this involves joint research and study programs and the exchange of academics and students.

ECAS also aims to promote the formation of networks and strategic partnerships, for example through the formation of clusters (for example between industrial partners and research institutions), cooperation with other research institutions and universities, and with governments. It also aims to act as a liaison between research institutions in Scotland and Lower Saxony.