The Åland University of Applied Sciences (AUAS), which joined the Network of Universities of Small Countries and Territories on 10 May, 2023, subscribed to the NUSCT Multilateral Student, Faculty and Staff Exchange Agreements on 1 June, 2023, thus expanding and enriching the exchange opportunities for NUSCT members’ students, faculty and staff, and promoting their understanding and appreciation of the uniqueness of small countries and territories.
At the 5th Rectors’ Annual meeting of the Network of Universities of Small Countries and Territories (NUSCT) hosted by the University of Liechtenstein in Vaduz, Liechtenstein, on 10 May, 2023, members unanimously approved the application of the Äland University of Applied Sciences to join the Network.
This expanded membership of the 5-year old Network underscores the relevance acquired by the association since its constitution for institutions that share unique characteristics and challenges due to common socio-political environments, while it also brings the Network a step closer to a complete representation of European national and territorial representation.
For more information on the new member please visit https://www.ha.ax/en/about-us/
Universities interested in joining NUSCT should apply online or address a letter of interest by their rector/Vice Chancellor to: NUSCT President Eyjólfur Guðmundsson at president@nusct.net
At the 5th Rectors’ Annual meeting of the Network of Universities of Small Countries and Territories (NUSCT) hosted by the Univresity of Liechtenstein in Vaduz, Liechtenstein, on 10 May, 2023, members unanimously elected member University of Akureyri rector Eyjólfur Guðmundsson second president of NUSCT for a statutory 3-year term.
Prof. Guðmundsson takes over from the founding president of the network, Prof. Miquel Nicolau, rector of the University of Andorra, who held the position for a mandate and two one-year extensions of the same.
Consequently, the NUSCT Secretariat, managed until now by Secretary General John Zvereff, University of Andorra Rector’s Delegate for Internationalisation, passes on to the University of Akureyri, and will be taken over by Rúnar Gunnarsson, Director of the International Office of the University of Akureyri.
9 Rectors and 9 delegates from the 11 university members of the Network of Universities of Small Countries and Territories gathered, onsite and online, on 10 May, 2023, at the University of Lichtenstein, to celebrate the network’s 5th rectors’ annual meeting.
The participants were welcomed by Mrs. Rachel Guerra, Director of the Liechtenstein Office of Education and were addressed by Andrew Deeks, President of the International Association of Universities.
Amongst the most important decisions unanimously taken at the meeting, the following deserve special mention:
The complete list of the decision taken at the meeting can be accessed at this link.
The Secretariat of the Network of Universities of Small Countries and Territories was invited to present the Network at the 7h Meeting of the Informal Network of European National Commissions for UNESCO, held in Andorra on April 24-28.
Entitled “NUSCT: A Case Study in Internationalisation and Multilateral Collaboration”, the presentation was delivered on April 25, 2023, by NUSCT manager John Zvereff, who shared with 46 distinguished presidents and directors of European National Commisions for UNESCO the history, mission, and accomplishments of this very unique Network.
NUSCT statements “Declaration on Minority Languages and AI” and the renewed “Condemnation of the Russian Armed Forces Aggression against Ukraine” have been given wide distribution by the News Digest of the UNESCO National Commissions Platform, by the European University Association, and by the International Association of Universities.
Read the full statements:
The Network of Universities of Small Countries and Territories (NUSCT) calls on Technology companies to be linguistically inclusive
NUSCT Rectors gathered at the 4th NUSCT Rectors’ Annual Meeting at the University of Greenland, in Nuuk, Greenland, on 3 May, 2022 unanimously agreed to call on Technology companies to include minority languages in the design and production of Artificial Intelligence-supported software and applications, now mostly and alarmingly absent.
25 May 2022
NUSCT Rectors gathered at the 4th NUSCT Rectors’ Annual Meeting at the University of Greenland, in Nuuk, Greenland, on 3 May, 2022 unanimously agreed to renew their 2 March 2022 call for an immediate halt to the Russian armed forces’ aggression in Ukraine, also expressing concern for the programmatic destruction of Ukraine cultural heritage, in and beyond occupied territories.
20 May 2022
Rectors and rectors’ delegates from the 11 universities members of the Network of Universities of Small Countries and Territories gathered on 3 May, 2022, at the University of Greenland to celebrate the 4th rectors’ annual meeting of the Network
The meeting was held in Nuuk, the capital of Greenland, the largest island in the world.
The meeting brought together representatives from universities representing the near totality of Europe’s small countries and territories, in a blended format, with on-site and online participation.
The participants were welcomed by the Councilor of the Nuuk City Government Juaaka Lyberth, in representation of Mayor Charlotte Ludvigsen, and were also addressed by Amanda Crowfoot, the Secretary General of the European, Association of Universities.
Members also agreed to the following: 1. to lobby tech companies and respective governments to ensure that AI applications include languages employed in the countries and territories in our Network; 2. to renew the NUSCT condemnation of the Russian Armed Forces aggression against Ukraine, calling for an immediate halt to the suffering and destruction being caused. NUSCT once more underscores its commitment to peace and to a peaceful resolution of all conflicts; 3. to set up a Working Group to propose a multilateral NUSCT program (possibly at the Master’s level) on topics of common interest to all Network members; 4.to hold the 5th NUSCT Rectors’ Annual Meeting in Gibraltar in May/June, 2023.
Finally, members unanimously asked President Miquel Nicolau to further extend his mandate by another year, and accepted President Nicolau’s proposal to amend the Constitutive Agreement to allow former Rectors/Vice-chancellors/presidents of member universities to be presidents of the Network, as long as they are guaranteed the support of their institution.
NUSCT (www.nusct.net) is a network led by the University of Andorra to enable universities in small countries and territories that share similar characteristics and contexts establish collaborations, share strategies and best practices, and have a unified voice in international fora.
The following universities are members of NUSCT:
The University of Greenland will host the 4th NUSCT Rectors’ Annual Meeting on 3 May, 2022 .
The meeting will be held in Nuuk, the capital of Greenland, the largest island in the world.
Rectors from the 11 member universities representing the near totality of Europe’s small countries and territories, will come together in a blended on-site and online meeting to review the progress made by the Network since its 3rd Meeting celebrated at the University of the Republic of San Marino, UNIRSM, in San Marino, in October 2021, and to establish the Network’s roadmap for the coming year.
The participants will be welcomed by Juaaka Lyberth, Councillor of the Nuuk City Government , in representation of Mayor Charlotte Ludvigsen, and will also be addressed by the Secretary General of the European Association of Universities, Amanda Crowfoot in implicit recognition of the relevance of NUSCT within the European university landscape.
Rectors, assisted by vice-rectors and international office directors , will also have the opportunity to discuss adaptation to the COVID post-pandemic era, impact of the war in Ukraine on international mobility and collaborative international projects involving the countries at war, and hosting refugee scholars, amongst other relevant topics.
Quantitative and qualitative increase in collaborations amongst members and between the Network and other associations will also be the object of productive deliberations.
NUSCT (www.nusct.net) is a network led by the University of Andorra to enable universities in small countries and territories that share similar characteristics and contexts establish collaborations, share strategies and best practices, and have a unified voice in international fora.
The following universities are members of NUSCT:
For information on Greenland, please go to the following links:
