About LERU | LERU

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We develop and disseminate our views on research, innovation and higher education through policy papers, statements, meetings and events helping to shape policy at the EU level. </p> <p>The League is a valued interlocutor for the European institutions and other policy stakeholders. It acts as a strong, outspoken voice of European research-intensive universities on a wide range of topics related to EU policies and initiatives.</p> </div> </div> <div class="spacer spacer--sml"> <div class="inline inline--spaced"> <div class="inline__item"><a href="#mission" class="btn btn--sml btn--ext">Mission</a></div> <div class="inline__item"><a href="#members" class="btn btn--sml btn--ext">Members</a></div> <div class="inline__item"><a href="#impact" class="btn btn--sml btn--ext">Impact</a></div> <div class="inline__item"><a href="#leru-groups" class="btn btn--sml btn--ext">LERU Groups</a></div> <div class="inline__item"><a href="#governing-bodies" class="btn btn--sml btn--ext">Governing bodies</a></div> <div class="inline__item"><a href="#leru-office" class="btn btn--sml btn--ext">LERU Office</a></div> </div> </div> </div> </div> <div class="section section--default"> <div class="container"> <div class="grid "> <div class="grid__12 grid--bp-med__6"> <div class="embed-container"> <iframe src="https://www.youtube.com/embed/lHqCqKPbjFE" frameborder="0"></iframe> </div> </div> <div class="grid__12 grid--bp-med__6"> <div class="content-builder"> </div> </div> </div> </div> </div> <div class="section section--lrg section--light" id="mission"> <div class="container"> <div class="grid grid--reverse"> <div class="grid__12 grid--bp-med__6"> <img src="https://www.leru.org/files/_contentBuilder50/iStock_000003895646.jpg" alt="I Stock 000003895646"> </div> <div class="grid__12 grid--bp-med__6"> <div class="content-builder"> <h2>Mission</h2> <p>LERU is an association of leading European research-intensive universities that share the values of high-quality teaching within an environment of internationally competitive research. </p> <p>Founded in 2002, LERU advocates education through an awareness of the frontiers of human understanding; the creation of new knowledge through basic research, which is the ultimate source of innovation in society; and the promotion of research across a broad front in partnership with industry and society at large.</p> <div class="inline inline--spaced"> <div class="inline__item"><a href="https://www.leru.org/mission" class="btn btn--sml btn--ext btn--ghost">More info</a></div> </div> </div> </div> </div> </div> </div> <div class="section section--default" id="members"> <div class="container"> <div class="grid "> <div class="grid__12 grid--bp-med__6"> <img src="https://www.leru.org/files/_contentBuilder50/iStock-530934236.jpg" alt="I Stock 530934236"> </div> <div class="grid__12 grid--bp-med__6"> <div class="content-builder"> <h2>Members</h2> <p>LERU is a network of 24 leading research-intensive universities based in 12 countries around Europe.</p> <p>Through membership in our network, LERU universities can influence national agendas and improve their expertise through mutual learning and exchange of best practices. </p> <div class="inline inline--spaced"> <div class="inline__item"><a href="https://www.leru.org/members" class="btn btn--sml btn--ext btn--ghost">View our members</a></div> </div> </div> </div> </div> </div> </div> <div class="section section--lrg section--light" id="impact"> <div class="container"> <div class="grid grid--reverse"> <div class="grid__12 grid--bp-med__6"> <img src="https://www.leru.org/files/_contentBuilder50/iStock-509732736.jpg" alt="I Stock 509732736"> </div> <div class="grid__12 grid--bp-med__6"> <div class="content-builder"> <h2>Impact</h2> <p>Universities transform the lives of individuals and shape society in many ways, and they are a vital ingredient of a resilient economy. They are recognised throughout the world as powerhouses of economic growth. </p> <p>The growth of advanced economies has been associated with a growing role for universities, providing the intellectual and human capital required for a successful modern economy. There are also several wider benefits that are not directly economic, but that may have significant impacts at individual and societal levels, including social and cultural impacts.</p> <div class="inline inline--spaced"> <div class="inline__item"><a href="https://www.leru.org/impact" class="btn btn--sml btn--ext btn--ghost">More info</a></div> </div> </div> </div> </div> </div> </div> <div class="section section--lrg section--light" id="leru-groups"> <div class="container"> <div class="grid "> <div class="grid__12 grid--bp-med__6"> <img src="https://www.leru.org/files/_contentBuilder50/iStock-639198068-2.jpg" alt="I Stock 639198068 2"> </div> <div class="grid__12 grid--bp-med__6"> <div class="content-builder"> <h2>LERU Groups</h2> <p>In addition to the Rectors’ personal involvement, Vice-Rectors, Deans and senior management actively participate in more than 20 groups. </p> <p>Some of these groups are primarily policy-oriented, responsible for feeding into the development of high-level, agreed views and papers to influence policy making. Other groups are focused on mutual learning and good practice or focus on disciplinary policy topics. </p> <div class="inline inline--spaced"> <div class="inline__item"><a href="https://www.leru.org/leru-groups" class="btn btn--sml btn--ext btn--ghost">More Info</a></div> </div> </div> </div> </div> </div> </div> <div class="section section--default" id="governing-bodies"> <div class="container"> <div class="grid grid--reverse"> <div class="grid__12 grid--bp-med__6"> <img src="https://www.leru.org/files/_contentBuilder50/LERU_Rectors-Assembly_Helsinki.jpg" alt="LERU Rectors Assembly Helsinki"> <span class="image__caption">Veikko Somerpuro</span> </div> <div class="grid__12 grid--bp-med__6"> <div class="content-builder"> <h2>Governing bodies</h2> <p>Each member university is represented in LERU by its head of institution. The Rectors' Assembly is the highest decision-making body of the organisation. It meets twice a year at a different member institution. The Rectors’ Assembly appoints five of its members to serve as the Board of Directors (BoD).</p> <p>The LERU Directors are:<br /></p> <ul><li>Prof. Linda Doyle as Chair (Provost of Trinity College Dublin)</li><li>Prof. Sari Lindblom (Rector of the University of Helsinki)<br /></li><li>Prof. Sir Peter Mathieson (Vice-Chancellor and Principal of the University of Edinburgh)</li><li>Prof. Peter-Paul Verbeek (Rector-Magnificus of the University of Amsterdam)<br /></li><li>Prof. Henrik C. Wegener (Rector of the University of Copenhagen)</li></ul> <div class="inline inline--spaced"> <div class="inline__item"><a href="https://www.leru.org/governing-bodies" class="btn btn--sml btn--ext btn--ghost">More info</a></div> </div> </div> </div> </div> </div> </div> <div class="section section--default" id="leru-office"> <div class="container"> <div class="grid "> <div class="grid__12 grid--bp-med__6"> <img src="https://www.leru.org/files/About/_contentBuilder50/LERU-Office_Team_2024.jpeg" alt="LERU Office Team 2024"> </div> <div class="grid__12 grid--bp-med__6"> <div class="content-builder"> <h2>LERU Office</h2> <p>LERU's secretariat, known as the LERU Office, is based at the KU Leuven in Belgium. The Secretary-General, Prof. Kurt Deketelaere, is the head of the Office. He is responsible for the daily management of the organisation and is assisted by the LERU Office staff.</p> <div class="inline inline--spaced"> <div class="inline__item"><a href="https://www.leru.org/team" class="btn btn--sml btn--ext btn--ghost">More info</a></div> </div> </div> </div> </div> </div> </div> <div class="section section--default"> <div class="container"> <div class="grid"> <div class="grid__12"> <div class="content-builder"> <div class="grid grid--bp-med-2-col grid--bp-xlr-2-col"> </div> </div> </div> </div> </div> </div> </div> <footer class="page-footer" role="contentinfo"> <div class="section section--dark section--xlr section--doormat"> <div class="container"> <div class="section__content"> <div class="grid"> <div class="grid__12 grid--bp-med__6"> <a href="#" class="page-footer__logo"> <img src="/img/svg/logo.svg" alt="Logo LERU"> </a> <nav class="nav nav--doormat"> <ul> <li><a href="https://www.leru.org/about-leru" class="active">About</a></li> <li><a href="https://www.leru.org/activities" class="">Activities</a></li> <li><a href="https://www.leru.org/publications" class="">Publications</a></li> <li><a href="https://www.leru.org/news" class="">News</a></li> <li><a href="https://www.leru.org/calendar" class="">Calendar</a></li> <li><a href="https://www.leru.org/contact" class="">Contact</a></li> </ul> </nav> </div> <div class="grid__12 grid--bp-med__6"> <div class="block block--panel-lrg block--offset block--border-bottom"> <h2 class="heading--ext heading--ext-secondary">Sign up to our mailing list</h2> <p>Sign up to our mailing list to hear the latest news about our viewpoints, publications and events.</p> <style id="flx-styles"> .fm_body html{ background-color: #fff; 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About LERU | LERU