Dr. Ursula Schlichter

Current position at the University of Mannheim:
One of two heads of the ENGAGE.EU office

Focus:
Strengthening the connection between all European partners

ENGAGE.EU team:
ENGAGE.EU office

What are your current areas of responsibility?
I have been a part of ENGAGE.EU from the very first idea until the creation of the alliance. I contributed to the proposal and helped setting up the infrastructure. At the office, I am now coordinating the activities of the partner universities in our network and I am in contact with other universities in Europe and the European commission. For Mannheim, I am also in charge of coordinating the areas “research and innovation” and “transfer to society”.

In your opinion, what are the most important goals of ENGAGE.EU?
With ENGAGE.EU, I want to contribute to creating an infrastructure to link universities in Europe with each other and with society. I am convinced that this is the only way that people can acquire the competences required to responsibly master the societal challenges of our times.

What motivates you?
I am involved in the ENGAGE.EU project, because I experienced myself how valuable is to exchange ideas across Europe. As a researcher, I was involved in EU projects in Germany and in Great Britain. It inspires me to exchange views across cultures, to implement ideas together and to live the European idea. With ENGAGE.EU, I am able to continue this type of international collaboration.

What does it mean for the University of Mannheim to be a part of ENGAGE.EU?
I am convinced that the close cooperation with six European partners offers exceptional possibilities for the University of Mannheim to develop new ideas in teaching, research and administration and to intensify the dialog with society. Actively exchanging views will allow the University of Mannheim, as one of the leading universities in the Economic and Social Sciences, to shape the educational landscape in Europe.