“Seizing the Opportunities of Globalization”
After three successful years within the EPICUR-SHAPE-IT project, the University of Basel was officially admitted to the European university alliance EPICUR on 19 February 2026. University President Professor Andrea Schenker-Wicki discusses the role of the European higher education area in the 21st century and what prospects it has to offer members of the University of Basel.
26 May 2026
Ms. Schenker-Wicki, until now, the University of Basel has been indirectly associated with EPICUR through the Eucor alliance. What exactly does this direct membership change – and why has it taken so long?
Since Switzerland is not part of the Erasmus+ program, we have been formally excluded from many European initiatives. This made the process somewhat lengthier and more complex from a regulatory and political standpoint. However, the direct partnership within EPICUR represents a new dimension for us. We now have an equal say at the table when it comes to developing teaching formats, planning research initiatives and designing mobility programs. We’ve moved from merely being a “participant” to a “key player”. And that’s precisely what we aspire to be.
What does EPICUR mean specifically for students at the University of Basel – what will they be able to do next year that they can’t do now?
Our offerings will be more concrete and have more variety. EPICUR provides innovative teaching formats developed specifically for the inter-university campus – from purely digital teaching formats to physical mobility in nine countries. In the future, for example, a law student in Basel will be able to register for a module on European geopolitics together with fellow students from Thessaloniki, Poznań and Freiburg – without interrupting their studies or spending a full semester abroad. This is a particular key aspect for students with personal commitments or financial constraints. Internationalism should not be a privilege. EPICUR makes it accessible – with low barriers, flexibility and in a way that offers real academic value. The personal aspect should not be underestimated either: working on real-world issues in a multinational team develops skills that no textbook can teach.
And the researchers – will they also benefit, or is EPICUR primarily a teaching project?
EPICUR has its origins in teaching, that’s true. But anyone who believes that teaching and research can be cleanly separated has failed to understand the nature of a research-intensive university. The best teachers are researchers – and conversely, interdisciplinary teaching contexts also inspire the research agenda. Every year EPICUR finances several projects to specifically tap into this synergy. For our researchers, too, direct membership means access to a network of ten universities in nine countries, new opportunities for securing external funding and, not lastly, the opportunity to become more visible in European consortia. For young academics in particular – PhD students and postdocs – this is a career opportunity that we want to actively promote.
You’ve spoken at length about students and researchers. But what about administrative staff – do administrators benefit from EPICUR as well?
Yes, the administrative staff are often overlooked in these discussions. An internationally connected university needs to be supported by an administration with an equally international mindset. EPICUR offers exchange programs, staff weeks and “communities of practice” where administrative staff at partner universities can work, compare processes and learn from each other. Anyone who has seen how student services offices are organized in Denmark, Austria or Spain will come back with new ideas.
Politically, Switzerland is a special case in Europe – often excluded from EU programs. Does that sometimes give you pause in your role as President?
I’ve learned to be pragmatic. Switzerland has its own political logic, which I respect. What drives me is the conviction that despite – or precisely because of – this special role, we have to be creative. With Eucor, the University of Basel and its partner universities in the Upper Rhine region launched a trinational network back in 1989 – long before the term “European university alliance” came up in funding discussions in Brussels. And now EPICUR! The University of Basel is located in the heart of Europe, both geographically and intellectually. This position is both a privilege and great opportunity for us. After all, here in Basel we have learned to live with borders creatively and take advantage of the opportunities offered by internationalism.
