ENLIGHT University Alliance

The UPV-EHU and Euskampus Fundazioa have fostered the ENLIGHT university alliance, European University Network to Promote Equitable Quality of Life, Sustainability and Global Engagement through Higher Education Transformation, along with the University of Bordeaux, the University of Ghent (Belgium), which acts as coordinator, the University of Gottingen (Germany), the University of Groningen (Netherlands), the University of Uppsala (Sweden), the University of Tartu (Estonia), the University Comenius of Bratislava (Slovakia) and the National University of Ireland Galway (Ireland).

In addition to the ENLIGHT European University project, the Basque Country also participates in the European Universities of Post-Industrial Cities (UNIC) alliance, of which Deusto University is a member, hence placing itself at the forefront of higher education in Europe. 

In total, ENLIGHT embraces a community of 312,500 students in 12 cities from all across Europe (north-south-east-west, coastal areas and mainland). This geographical, cultural and linguistic diversity, with more than 11 official languages, is one of the biggest assets of ENLIGHT.

The nine universities share an agenda related to education, research and innovation focusing on five emblematic challenges, which are considered to be key for social well-being and future sustainability and influence at least 10 of the United Nation’s 17 Sustainable Development Goals . These five challenges address issues in the fields of health and well-being, the digital revolution and the impact of digitalisation, climate change, use of energy and the circular economy and equality.