Project Partners
The ACCENT project brings together three partner universities:
These partners share a significant emphasis on research, education, and societal impact, internationalisation and entrepreneurship. The ACCENT project acts as a collaborative platform to achieve Accessible Entrepreneurship and Empowerment for Global Futures.
University of Cologne
The University of Cologne (UoC), established in 1388, is a renowned research university and one of the largest and oldest in Europe, with 45,000 students. It is one of only seven German universities endowed with four clusters of excellence funded under the federal Excellence Initiative for universities. The University of Cologne (UoC) is a member of renowned global networks, including the Coimbra Group, CEMS association, and UNIMED.
To support the United Nations Sustainable Development Goals, the UoC's current internationalization strategy prioritizes Global Responsibility. The Division of International Affairs' Global Responsibility Team strives to connect academic and professional worlds across various nations, utilizing resources from Cologne, European and global partners.
The University of Cologne is actively involved in promoting entrepreneurship and consultancy services for international and refugee students. The University's engagement comprises a variety of initiatives such as the Counselling Unit for International Students, the Academic Refugee Support launched in 2016, and, most recently, Career Services International, which offers customized career counselling for international students.
The university has effectively incorporated internationalization and transfer strategies into diverse projects under the coordination of the Global Responsibility Unit. Prominent initiatives comprise the DAAD ADENIN project, which created transnational co-incubator structures with Morocco, and capacity building schemes such as worldwide proposal writing courses and the LEAD project, providing career development opportunities for DAAD scholarship holders at the Master's level.
The Exzellence Start-up Centre GATEWAY acts as a valuable resource for guiding students, scholars, and staff with an interest in pursuing entrepreneurial ventures, providing diverse workshops that foster interdisciplinary collaboration.
In essence, the internationalisation strategy of the University of Cologne prioritises cultivating "Global Responsibility," with an emphasis on promoting entrepreneurship, supporting refugee integration, and fostering partnerships through initiatives and projects.
University of Granada
Founded in 1531, the University of Granada (UGR) is a public research university with around 56,000 students, 3,600 academics and 1,900 administrative and support staff.
Committed to quality education, research and societal impact, UGR actively participates in international networks, including the Coimbra Group, which it chaired from 2010 to 2017, and other networks such as UNIMED, EUA, IAU and AUF. Internationalisation is a key priority for UGR, as evidenced by its active participation in the Erasmus Mobility programme and its receipt of the Erasmus Gold Star Award in 2007.
In 2015, UGR established the General Coordination for Entrepreneurship (UGRemprendedora) to promote entrepreneurship within the university community. The university is currently focusing on internationalisation and female empowerment, participating in projects such as the GUESSS project, a global research initiative on student entrepreneurship. In addition, UGR has participated in Erasmus+ projects such as "TUNED", which aims to modernise the higher education sector in Tunisia, and "Institutionnalisation Des Structures d'innovation De Transfert Et d'exploitation Du Savoir", which focuses on building innovative structures between Morocco and Europe. The UGR is also part of the "Applied Innovation for Students and Businesses" strategic partnership, which works to strengthen skills that support innovation in small and medium-sized enterprises through vocational training methods.
University of Pavia
The University of Pavia (UNIPV), established in 1361, is one of the oldest academic institutions globally and was the only university in Lombardy and Milan until the 20th century. Presently, it has more than 900 professors, researchers, and 24,000 students. With a worldwide perspective, UNIPV has actively participated in European initiatives like Erasmus+ and Horizon 2020, engaging in over 400 international agreements with academic institutions globally.
The university is regarded for its management of Capacity Building in Higher Education projects, both as a coordinator and as a partner. UNIPV has notably established the Centre for International Cooperation and Development (CICOPS) in 1987 to facilitate partnerships with developing countries.
As a member of networks such as the Coimbra Group of Universities, EUA, UNIMED, CUIA, and Scholars at Risk, UNIPV is heavily engaged in international programs. The establishment of GLOBEC in 2020 demonstrates its dedication to aiding a range of global initiatives.
In terms of academia, UNIPV's department of Economics and Management provides a Master Program in International Business and Entrepreneurship (MIBE). This programme aims to develop the competence and skills of potential leaders and entrepreneurs. It includes a range of courses covering Design Thinking, Agile Management, Innovation, Digital Transformation, Lean Startup, Business Modelling, Project Management, Marketing, and International Business. MIBE, importantly, values a global perspective and maintains strong connections with international firms. The programme hosts visiting scholars as well.
A distinct feature of the MIBE programme lies in its focus on hands-on training via projects like Business Plan Competitions. In these competitions, students work with start-ups or SMEs to construct feasible strategies that range from financing to market entry, demonstrating the programme's practical learning methods.