PRESIDENCY NEWS
2024
DRC delegation attended a High-Level Meeting in Uzhhorod
DRC President Friedrich Faulhammer and DRC Secretary General Sebastian Schäffer attended a High-Level Meeting in Uzhhorod titled "Development perspectives in higher education cooperation between Austria and Ukraine". Organised by the OeAD together with the Austrian Federal Ministry for Education, Science and Research, the Ukrainian Ministry of Education and Science as well as the National Erasmus+ Office of Ukraine, the event brought together representatives from the ministries as well as a variety of universities from both countries. Several crucial aspects were discussed, including working groups amongst others on „The role of universities in reconstruction“. Heartfelt accounts of destruction, displacement and death caused by the unjustified Russian aggression against Ukraine were inevitable also on the agenda.
As the meeting was hosted by our long-term cooperation partner and active member the Uzhhorod National University, this was also a good occasion to catch up with Rector Volodymyr Smolanka. We are convinced that we will return to our friends soon, either for an annual conference or with our summer school. Until then we will continue to support especially our members in Ukraine!
© Sebastian Schäffer
DRC President met with Ukrainian Ambassador in Austria
Friedrich Faulhammer, DRC President and Rector of the University for Continuing Education Krems, met for an exchange with Vasyl Khymynets, Ambassador of Ukraine to Austria.
The DRC works closely with Ukraine through its network, events, publications and scholarships and stands firmly at the side of Ukrainians. Thank you for the conversation!
© Embassy of Ukraine in the Republic of Austria
Friedrich Faulhammer, President of the Danube Rectors' Conference (DRC), Chairman of the Board of the Institute for the Danube Region and Central Europe (IDM), and Rector of the University for Continuing Education Krems, held a keynote speech on the topic “The Danube region as a cultural, natural and scientific area” on the occasion of the 9th Conference of the Speakers of Parliament of the European Union Strategy for the Danube Region (EUSDR), which took place in the Austrian Parliament on 18 and 19 March 2024.
Faulhammer emphasized the important role the DRC is playing in the Danube Region while fostering scientific exchange and mobility of ideas and persons for more than 40 years. He also pointed out on the successful cooperation with the Austrian Federal Ministry for Education, Science and Research within the Danubius Awards, particularly concerning the Danubius Young Scientist Award which is awarded to 14 young scientists – one for each country that is part of the EUSDR. The Award represents one of the most significant recognitions of young scientific talents coming from the Danube Region.
In his keynote, he also explained the mission of the IDM as the permanent secretariat of DRC: transnational cross-border cooperation in the Danube Region stands always at the forefront. In the last year under the motto “Locating the Future”, with an exceptional programme of 20 organized events in all of IDM's 19 target countries as well as one dedicated to the river itself, the IDM demonstrated in practice how cross-border cooperation works and how important professional network facilitation along the Danube River is. A. As a result, this is where according to the Institute – which is also one of the oldest think tanks not only in the German speaking world – future is located: in the Danube Region.
From left: President of the National Council Wolfgang Sobotka (ÖVP), Chairman of the Danube Rectors’ Conference Friedrich Faulhammer, President of the Federal Council Margit Göll (ÖVP)
Copyright: Parlamentsdirektion/Johannes Zinner
Session 3: The Danube Region as a Cultural, Natural and Science Area. Keynote. Chairman of the Danube Rectors’ Conference Friedrich Faulhammer
Copyright: Parlamentsdirektion/Johannes Zinner
2022
Following the elections of the new presidency during the DRC General Assembly on 11 November 2022, we gladly announce the new DRC Presidency for the period 2023-2024.
Beginning with 1 January 2023, Mag. Friedrich Faulhammer, Rector of the University for Continuing Education Krems, takes over the position of DRC President. The role of the new Vice-Presidents will be assumed by former DRC President Prof. Dr. Zdravko Kačič, Rector of the University of Maribor, and Prof. Dr. Daniel David, Rector of the Babeş-Bolyai University.
We would like to congratulate the newly elected Presidency and are looking forward to the cooperation during the upcoming two years. We are confident the members of the new Presidency will continue DRC’s mission to strengthen the ties among its members and through the continuation of various initiatives to further increase DRC‘s presence in the Danube Region and beyond.
Following the decision of DRC General Assembly on 11 November 2022, the DRC is pleased to announce the election of former DRC President and Vice-President Ivanka Popović as DRC Acting Honorary President. We would like to thank Prof. Popović for all efforts and valuable contribution in her previous roles within DRC Presidency and look forward to continuing the successful cooperation in the upcoming years!
We are also glad to announce that Ivanka Popović has also been nominated for the position of EUA President. The DRC Presidency fully supports her nomination as it is convinced that her election as EUA president would not only strengthen the voice of universities from Central, Eastern and Southeastern Europe, but she would firmly represent and promote the interests of the EUA members.
DRC Vice-President Prof. Dr. Ivanka Popović, DRC Vice-President Mag. Friedrich Faulhammer and DRC Secretary General Mag. Sebastian Schäffer attended the European University Association (EUA) Annual Conference held in Budapest on April, 28-29 2022.
DRC Vice-President Mag. Friedrich Faulhammer speaking during the breakout session "Strategic Framework instead of Strategy - an institution-wide approach to drive values into reality". He presented the further strategic development of the University of Continuing Education Krems (UWK) as a "best practice" model. The "Spotlight on Ukraine", touching upon the effects of the war on educational and research institutions as well as the experiences of a professor who had to flee her academic institution for the second time after 2014, was particularly impressive for the DRC representatives.
2021
The DRC wishes to congratulate Rector Ivanka Popović, who was elected as the new member of the European University Association board. The ceremony took place on the 30th of April 2021. Her term spreads over 2021-2025. She is also currently vice-president of the Danube Rectors Conference.
The European University Association (EUA) is the representative organisation for universities in 48 European countries, bringing together more than 850 institutions. The EUA plays a major role in the Bologna Process and in the definition of the European Union's policies on higher education, research and innovation.
Invanka Popović studied at the University of Maryland (US) and at the Faculty of Technology and Metallurgy (FTM) at the University of Belgrade. She holds a Master's degree and a PhD in Chemical Engineering from the latter, where she then served as the faculty’s first female Dean (2006-2012).
Besides teaching and research activities (polymer science and engineering, and sustainable development), she served as Vice-Rector for Research (2012-2015) and as Vice-Rector for International and Inter-University Cooperation (2015-2018) at the University of Belgrade. She also managed several national fundamental scientific projects and participated in renowned project such as TEMPUS, ERASMUS, as well as two FP7 projects and one H2020 project. She is a UNIDO national expert for Cleaner Production.
Since October 2018, Professor Ivanka Popović is Rector of the University of Belgrade. Currently, she is the President of the Serbian Rectors’ Conference and the Rectors’ Forum of Southeast Europe and the Western Balkans, Vice-President of the Danube Rectors' Conference, and now member of the board of the European University Association.
The DRC is glad that universities from Southeastern and Eastern Europe have now an opportunity to be better heard in the European University Association thanks to Rector Ivanka Popović's two roles as member of the European University Association board and as Vice-president of the Danube Rectors Conference.
Following the elections of the new presidency that took place during the DRC General Assembly on 6th of November 2020, we gladly announce the new DRC Presidency for the period 2021-2022. Beginning with the 1st of January 2021 Prof. Dr. Zdravko Kačič, Rector of the University of Maribor in Slovenia, assumed the role of DRC President. The new Vice-Presidents are former DRC President Prof. Dr. Ivanka Popović, Rector of the University of Belgrade, and Mag. Friedrich Faulhammer, Rector of the Danube University Krems.
Hopefully the year 2021 is going to impact positively all areas of higher education and we are very much looking forward to contributing to the new developments with our newly appointed presidency. We are confident we will continue our mission to strengthen the ties among our members, and, by doing so, to increase our presence in the Danube Region.
2020
We are glad to announce that the DRC President and Rector of the University of Belgrade Prof. Dr. Ivanka Popović has been awarded the prestigious Excellence Award 2020 for her committment and dedication in the field of education.
'It is really a privilege to be in the company of such distinguished laureates of this award. I would like to thank Hemofarm Foundation and Hemofarm for considering me in general for such a prestigious award. It’s a really special honor for me. I would like to especially thank my home Faculty of Technology and Metallurgy, which enabled me to practice my profession, but also the Serbian Chemical Society, which also influenced my professional path and means a lot to me and I believe that its work in Serbian society is exceptionally significant', Prof. Dr. Popović said when receiving the award.
The Hemofarm Foundation is active since 1933 and it's the leading foundation in Serbia. This awards-winner foundation has been working in the area of health to improve the quality of services and life within society and it's been also investing in programmes aimed to support younger generations in the field of culture and education. In this perspective, in 2018 they established the "Excellence Award" a prize for those personalities who stood out with their outstanding achievements, their dedication and persistence in the field of culture, health and education. These values inspired the artist Alexandar Vac who designed this year's statuette with the shape of a crane symbolizing persistence and perserverance as the two main lever to change the future.
Source: www.fondacijahemofarm.org.rs
On the occasion of the 30 years since the foundation of the Vasile Goldis Western University of Arad, Friedrich Faulhammer, Rector of the Danube University Krems and DRC Vice President, send his message wishing ongoing academic success and prosperity.
DRC President and Rector of the University of Belgrade Prof. Dr. Ivanka Popović was guest of the IDMonSite live talk on March 27, 2020.
With the recently launched IDMonSite format the Institute for the Danube Region and Central Europe (IDM) is providing regular live streams with its cooperation partners and experts in the CEE and SEE region via IDMVienna YouTube channel.
DRC President Prof. Dr. Ivanka Popović at the kick-off event of the joint Jean Monnet project of the DRC with the Institute for the Danube Region and Central Europe (IDM) called "Democracy Is (No!) Fiction: Developing Concepts and Strategies For an Inclusive and Participatory Europe" on January 13, 2020 in Vienna.
The event was opened, among others, by the DRC President and Rector of the University of Belgrade Prof. Dr. Ivanka Popović, who emphasized the importance of education on the formation of a stable, sensitive civil society composed of critically-minded and socially engaged citizens.
On behalf of the DRC were also involved the DRC Vice-President and Rector of the Danube University Krems Mag. Friedrich Faulhammer as well as the DRC Secretary General Mag. Sebastian Schäffer.
You can find more information on the project here.
2018
DRC President Mag. Friedrich Faulhammer at the UNICA Rectors Seminar “Networking of university networks: synergy of partnership”, hosted by the University of Belgrade, 24-25 May 2018.
DRC President Mag. Friedrich Faulhammer speaking during the panel discussion "Networking of University Networks: increasing cooperation, improving visibility, adding value". More information can be found here.
DRC President Mag. Friedrich Faulhammer and DRC Vice-president Prof. Dr. Karol Mičieta at the Annual Conference of the European University Association (EUA)
DRC President Mag. Friedrich Faulhammer and DRC Vice-president Prof. Dr. Karol Mičieta attended the Annual Conference of European University Association (EUA) held in Zurich on April 5-6, 2018.
DRC Presidency Meeting, Vienna 2018
The 1st DRC Presidency Meeting 2018 has been held at the Institut for the Danube Region and Central Europe (IDM) on 7th March 2018.
2017
DRC Presidency and Permanent Committee Meeting, Zagreb
DRC Presidency at the 6th Annual EUSDR Forum
DRC President Friedrich Faulhammer attended the 6th Annual EUSDR Forum in Budapest on 18. October 2017.
Honorary President Ferenc Hudecz represented the DRC at the 4th Danube Participation Day on 17. October 2017.
EDU-LAB Seminar und Workshop held at the University of Maribor
DRC Presidency Meeting, Zagreb
The 3rd Presidency Meeting 2017 has been held at the University of Zagreb on 20th September. The minutes can be found in our Intranet.
14th DRC Summer School opened by Honorary President Ferenc Hudecz at the University of Pécs
DRC Presidency Meeting, Krems 2017
The 2nd Presidency Meeting 2017 has been held at the Danube University Krems on 29th May. The minutes can be found in our Intranet.
DRC president Friedrich Faulhammer and DRC vice-president Karol Mičieta at the Annual Conference of the European University Association (EUA)
Under the title “Autonomy and freedom: The future sustainability of universities”, representatives from universities from all over Europe discussed the autonomy of universities at the EUA Annual Conference 2017. Friedrich Faulhammer, Rector at the Donau-University of Krems and DRC president, spoke about the current developments regarding the autonomy of universities in Austria at the conference held in the Norwegian city Bergen on 6th and 7th April. For more information (in German), visit the website of Danube University Krems.
DRC is associated partner of EDU-LAB
EDU-LAB is a project funded by the European Union aiming to improve the professional chances of young people in the Danube region.
More than 20 partners from 10 countries will cooperate for two and a half years to link education to employment in a sustainable way. A new governance model will be developed with the goal to create a binding commitment by the “Danubian Charter for young talents”.
DRC president rector Friedrich Faulhammer attended the 1st Steering Committee Meeting and the Kick-off Conference in Stuttgart, Germany.
For more information visit the EDU-LAB project website.
2016
New DRC presidency elected by the General Assembly
During the General assembly held at the Danube University Krems on 11. November 2016, a new DRC presidency has been elected. The new DRC president Rector Friedrich Faulhammer and his Vice-presidents Prof. Dr. Doru Pamfil and Prof. Dr. Karol Micieta have been unanimously approved by all DRC members present.
