Young European Research Universities Network

Young European Research Universities Network
Abbreviation YERUN
Formation 2015
Type Education, Research, Innovation, Higher Education Institutions, Universities, Networks
Headquarters Rue du Trône 62, 1050 Brussels, Belgium
Secretary General
Silvia Gomez Récio
President
Prof. Dag Rune Olsen
Website yerun.eu

The Young European Research Universities Network (YERUN) founded in 2015 and based in Brussels, brings together excellence and value-driven young research universities. The network's objective is to strategically represent its members in the decision-making process at EU level, thus shaping their future and promoting their role in European societies. Further to its policy advocacy activity, the network also strengthens cooperation opportunities among its members in areas of mutual interest and raises their visibility via a dedicated communication strategy.

History

YERUN was founded in 2015 by: University of Antwerp (Belgium); University of Southern Denmark (Denmark); University of Eastern Finland (Finland); Université Paris Dauphine (France); University of Bremen, University of Konstanz, Universität Ulm (Germany); Dublin City University (Ireland); Tor Vergata University of Rome (Italy); Maastricht University (Netherlands); Nova University Lisbon (Portugal); Universidad Autónoma de Barcelona, Universidad Autónoma de Madrid, Universidad Carlos III de Madrid, Universitat Pompeu Fabra (Spain); Linköping University (Sweden); Brunel University London and University of Essex (UK). The organisation was officially established as an international non-profit organisation in Belgium  on 16 September 2019. Over the past years there have been changes in the membership of the network with some institutions leaving and new ones joining. YERUN welcomed new members in 2021: the university of Rijeka (Croatia); the University of Cyprus (Cyprus); UiT, the Arctic University of Norway (Norway) and the University of Limerick (Ireland), in 2022: the University of Klagenfurt (Austria), the University of Potsdam (Germany), the University of South-Eastern Norway (Norway) and the University of Stirling (United Kingdom); in 2023: Nicolaus Copernicus University in Toruń (Poland); and in 2024: Tallinn University. In 2024, the network counts 24 members from 17 European countries.

Organisation

The network is led by the assembly of Rectors, Vice-Chancellors and Presidents of its member universities. The assembly elects an executive board of 5 members that includes a President, a vice-president, a Treasurer and two board members. The current president is Prof. Dag Rune Olsen (Rector of UiT – The Arctic University of Norway). The network's activities are coordinated by the Secretariat based in Brussels.

YERUN member institutions

Country Institution(s)
Austria University of Klagenfurt
Belgium University of Antwerp
Croatia University of Rijeka
Cyprus University of Cyprus
Denmark Syddansk Universitet
Finland University of Eastern Finland
France Paris Dauphine University
Germany Ulm University
University of Bremen
University of Konstanz
University of Potsdam
Ireland University of Limerick
Italy University of Rome Tor Vergata
Netherlands Maastricht University
Norway University of South-Eastern Norway
University of Tromsø
Poland Nicolaus Copernicus University in Toruń
Portugal Universidade Nova de Lisboa
Spain Autonomous University of Madrid
Charles III University of Madrid
Estonia Tallinn University
United Kingdom Brunel University London
University of Essex
University of Stirling

Executive board

Name Position Institution Country
Prof. Dag Rune Olsen YEURN President UiT – The Arctic University of Norway Norway
Prof. João Amaro de Matos YERUN Vice President Universidade Nova de Lisboa Portugal
Prof. Neville Wylie YERUN Treasurer University of Stirling United Kingdom
Prof. Florian Schweigert YERUN Board Member University of Potsdam Germany
Prof. Hildegard Schneider YERUN Board Member Maastricht University Netherlands

YERUN Presidents

Date President Institution Country
2015 - 2019 Prof. Juan Romo Universidad Carlos III de Madrid Spain
2019 - 2021 Prof. Bernd Scholz-Reiter University of Bremen Germany
2021 - 2023 Prof. Snježana Prijić-Samaržija University of Rijeka Croatia
Current Prof. Dag Rune Olsen Rector of UiT – The Arctic University of Norway Norway