Beyond Jena

The University of Jena is part of the European Campus of City Universities (EC2U).
University staff member Nick Ludwig shares his experiences.

A vaulted cellar, a babble of voices, and seven languages at once. At the reception for the EC2U Forum in October 2024 in Linz, the room was too small to accommodate all the researchers, faculty and administrative staff from the then-eight, now-nine partner universities. And yet it all worked out: It wasn’t just about research, but about exchange—of experiences, personnel, structures and resources. English provided a common
language, while the diversity remained audible.

The goal of the EC2U Alliance is to bring European universities closer together, for example through joint study programmes or staff exchanges. I myself am working on the accompanying FECT (»Foster European Competences and Talents«) project to help make better use of the alliance’s organizational and human resources.

Surprising—that’s how I would describe the character of the EC2U meetings: less like a committee meeting, more like a school trip—approachable, open and on equal terms. At the same time, the exchange is complex. Different motivations and communication styles come into play. However, coming from a background in intercultural communication research,
this is part of my everyday work. In Salamanca, for example, I spoke with University Vice President Raúl Sánchez Prieto about resistance to a Horizon proposal—and learned a lot about national research
systems, motivation and commitment.

As a result, I’m already looking forward to the next meeting in Turku, Finland, as EC2U combines strategic development with collegial interaction—perhaps once again in rooms that are too small and yet, for that very reason, feel just right.