Important step for EURECA-PRO: alliance gains its own legal entity
The European university alliance EURECA-PRO, of which Hasselt University is a member, is establishing its own legal structure as an International Nonprofit Association (INPA). This marks EURECA-PRO's transition from a European project to a sustainable partnership between its member universities, with the ambition to continue building a single European University beyond the current project funding period. Hasselt University coordinated the preparation of this legal framework.
On 30 June, Rector Bernard Vanheusden signed the statutes on behalf of the rectors of all partner universities, officially establishing EURECA-PRO as a legal entity. The creation of the International Nonprofit Association marks an important next step for the alliance. "The establishment of this legal entity underlines the ambition of all partner universities to continue building EURECA-PRO together as a European University over the long term," says Rector Bernard Vanheusden. "It provides us with a stable governance structure that further strengthens our cooperation and enables us to develop joint initiatives even more effectively."
Sustainable cooperation
EURECA-PRO is part of the European Commission's European Universities Initiative. It brings together nine European universities around the theme of responsible consumption and production. Hasselt University joined the alliance in 2022. Since then, researchers, students and staff have been working together on joint educational programmes, research, knowledge exchange and international mobility.
Hasselt University coordinated the process
The preparation of the legal structure took approximately 1.5 years. Under the leadership of Hasselt University, legal experts, administrators and project staff from all partner universities worked together on the statutes and governance of the new organisation.
"This was an exceptionally complex process," says Rector Bernard Vanheusden. "Each partner university operates within its own national legal framework and governance culture. The fact that we succeeded in creating a single, broadly supported legal structure demonstrates the trust and commitment of all partners to continue working closely together in the future."
EURECA-PRO is part of the European Commission's European Universities Initiative and receives funding through the Erasmus+ programme.
In addition to Hasselt University, the alliance consists of:
Montanuniversität Leoben (Austria)
Université de Lorraine (France)
Technische Universität Bergakademie Freiberg (Germany)
Technical University of Crete (Greece)
University of León (Spain)
Silesian University of Technology (Poland)
University of Petroșani (Romania)
University of Applied Sciences Mittweida (Germany)
