Edinburgh Napier University has signed an agreement with five other European universities to collaborate on urban research projects.

A consortium launch and research conference event in Amsterdam this week examined how the university and its continental partners can work together to study sustainability, ageing city populations, education in the urban environment, logistics and mobility in a city and research in education.

The agreement also paves the way for future staff and student exchanges.

The Urban Research and Education Knowledge Alliance (U!REKA) has been formed by Edinburgh Napier, Amsterdam University of Applied Sciences (the Netherlands), Frankfurt University of Applied Sciences (Germany), Metropolia University of Applied Sciences (Finland), Oslo and Akershus University College of Applied Sciences (Norway) and University College Ghent (Belgium).

The universities have joined forces around shared interests in applied research, professional education, staff development and the future world of work.

Professor Alistair Sambell, Vice Principal at Edinburgh Napier, said: “We have sent many students in recent years to Amsterdam University of Applied Sciences, and it is hoped this partnership will open new doors for collaboration across all partners in research, teaching and mobility.

“We look forward to building relationships and developing the partnership over the coming years.”

Attached picture shows board members – left to right – Kira Kastell (Frankfurt University of Applied Sciences), Bert Hoogewijs  (University College Ghent), Riitta Konkola (Metropolia University of Applied Sciences), Curt Rice (Oslo and Akershus University College of Applied Sciences), Huib de Jong (Amsterdam University of Applied Sciences), Alistair Sambell (Edinburgh Napier University).