The Increasing Role of Networking for the Cooperation between Universities in Europe

Abstract

European universities, as the Technische Universität in Munich holds memberships in many international network organisations like CRE, European Union Rectors" Conferences, All European Universities, Academic Cooperation Asssociation etc. Institutionalised international networks create a basis for exchanging information and establishing contacts at low cost, which goes beyond the purely academic communities" interests. On the other hand there exist many informal contacts between members of different universities, which also promote a wide range of cooperation. In my paper I would like to discuss the growing influence of institutionalised as well as informal networking on the decision-making in Europe of a more internationally oriented academic community, using the Technische Universität München as an example.