Date: November 23 to 25, 2010
Venue: Universitat Politècnica de Catalunya (UPC), Barcelona
Online application: http://www.investsciencesee.info/reg
Deadline for Applications: November 3, 2010
Selection of participants and notification: by November 8, 2010

It is common place that in building the knowledge base for sustainable development in any modern society, universities play a central role. Less known is the role of universities regarding the “innovation” edge of the knowledge triangle research-innovation-education and the role of universities in promoting the step from understanding to action. With many internationalization/globalization processes and EU integration processes (like e.g. European Innovation Agenda, European Research and Higher Education Area etc.) going on in the Higher education sector of Southeast Europe simultaneously, there is a need for capacity building, mutual learning and integration into existing networks of higher education experts like e.g. the Global University Network for Innovation (GUNI) and COPERNICUS Alliance, European Network on Higher Education for Sustainable Development.

The Austrian Science and Research Liaison office Ljubljana is therefore partnering with Global University Network for Innovation (GUNI) and with prof. Friedrich Zimmermann of the Regional Center of Expertise in Education for Sustainable Development - Graz University  who is currently president of the COPERNICUS Alliance to facilitate capacity building among higher education experts from Southeast Europe and their networking with international peers by facilitating their participation at the 5th International Barcelona Conference on Higher Education “Higher Education's Commitment to Sustainability: from Understanding to Action” which will be held from November 23 to 25 2010 in Barcelona.

Programme

Global University Network for Innovation (GUNI) joins the work on the contribution of higher education to sustainability currently being carried out by international agencies, special programmes of the United Nations, networks and institutions of higher education in the world with the conviction that the greatest challenge of higher education in next decades consists in putting the knowledge at the service of social transformation, a process which at present means moving toward sustainability.

The Conference offers a collective work and active participation. It will include working sessions to analyze how the world regions are advancing on the issue, using examples and good practices. It also will be a work space where participants will discuss and propose specific ways of action to move forward application.

Further information about the programme: www.guni-rmies.net/conference2010/

In addition to the main conference workshops and sessions Austrian Science and Research Liaison Office (ASO) Ljubljanaand Regional Center of Expertise in Education for Sustainable Development - Graz University will organize in the afternoon of Thursday, 25 November a special networking meeting of WBC/SEE participants under the title „The Role of Universities in Innovation and Education for Sustainable Development in Southeast Europe“ in order to enhance cooperation and networking in SEE region (and Austria and Slovenia) and to present some leading European projects and initiatives in the field of S&T cooperation with the region (like e.g. the Western Balkan Countries INCO-NET enhanced, which focuses its work since autumn 2010 on integration of “Innovation” in the SEE-EU S&T policy dialogue, Steering Platform on Research for Western Balkan countries etc.).

Who can apply

Higher education experts, from both governmental and academic levels, from the following countries: Albania, Bosnia and Herzegovina, Croatia, Kosovo, FYR of Macedonia, Montenegro, Serbia.

Language: English

Organisational and contact details:

Austrian Science and Research Liaison Office (ASO) Ljubljana will cover the registration fee, travel expenses (limited travel grant by economic class public transport up to 450 € per person) and local accommodation for the 10 selected participants.

We kindly ask you to fill in the online application form at: http://www.investsciencesee.info/reg until November 3,2010.  The organisers will inform you about the outcome of the selection procedure by November 8, 2010.

For information regarding this call please contact: Dr. Miroslav Polzer, Director ASO Ljubljana or. Mr. Gorazd Weiss tel. 00 386-1-568 41 68

This initiative is organized with financial support of:

- Federal Ministry of Science and Research of Republic of Austria
- Ministry of Higher Education, Science and Technology of Republic of Slovenia

Source: ASO Ljubljana.