Since the 1^st of January 2023, Carinthia University of Applied Sciences is an Associated Partner to the ATHENA European University, an alliance stemming from the European Universities Initiative that aims to provide inclusive, innovative and high-quality education.

The European Universities Initiative is a flagship project of the European Commission in the field of higher education and research, dedicated to promoting the internationalisation of European universities and increasing their competitiveness and inclusiveness.

ATHENA stands for Advanced Technology Higher Education Network Alliance and its nine full-member institutions are middle-sized universities from France (University of Orleans), Germany (University of Siegen), Greece (Hellenic Mediterranean University), Italy (University Niccolò Cusano), Lithuania (Vilnius Tech), Poland (University Maria Curie-Skłodowska), Portugal (Polytechnic Institute of Porto), Slovenia (University of Maribor) and Spain (University of Vigo).

Focusing on innovative technologies, higher education, international exchange and the digital transformation of societies, ATHENA universities are jointly developing attractive, flexible and practice-oriented research and teaching programmes, while also leaning on their vast network of regional industry partners, in order to benefit not only the students and staff of the Alliance, but also the local communities and society as a whole.

“We aim to deliver inclusive, innovative, high-quality international education permanently aligned with global market needs”.

As an Associated Partner, CUAS intends to take an active part in all parts of the Alliance, joining and leading research projects, offering and taking part in mobility programmes (physical mobility, blended intensive programmes, virtual exchanges), both for students and staff, but also in giving ATHENA access to its own industry partners.

The ATHENA website provides an overview of all ATHENA-related news, events and opportunities.

_{Photo credit: ATHENA European University | athenauni.eu}