Exeter is the latest member of the Venice International University (VIU) Consortium, it has been announced.

Exeter joins Venice International University Consortium

The University of Exeter has joined a prestigious international consortium comprising of 20 of some of the world’s leading universities, it has been announced.

Exeter is the latest member of the Venice International University (VIU) Consortium, based at a campus on the island of San Servolo in Venice, Italy.

The confirmation comes following a recent visit from Exeter's Deputy Vice-Chancellor (Global Engagement) Mark Goodwin to the VIU.

Exeter will join members from China, Korea, Japan, Russia, Switzerland, Belgium, France, Slovenia, Italy, USA, Canada, and South Africa. A full list of member universities can be found here.

Professor Goodwin said: "We are delighted to be the first UK University to join the Venice International University and we are looking forward to working with the other nineteen international partners.

"This will be a fantastic opportunity for our undergraduate and postgraduate students to study in Venice, taught by excellent lecturers from across the world, and for our staff to forge new international collaborations to address global challenges.”

Exeter students at all study levels, and in a wide range of subject areas, will have the opportunity to study abroad at VIU’s campus in Venice.

For both bachelors and masters students, there is the opportunity to join VIU’s Globalization Programme, which brings together students in a truly multicultural, international, and interdisciplinary environment, to tackle some of the grand challenges of globalization from climate change and the environment, to sustainable development and economic management, with 140 places available each term on more than 20 programmes.

For postgraduate Masters and PhD students, as well as postdocs and early career researchers, VIU offers the International PhD Academy, bringing together academics from around the world to collaborate on key research Focus Areas, listed on the VIU website.

A series of Graduate Seminars also offer thematic intensive seminars on these focus areas, driven by co-operation between member universities, with a goal to create medium and long-term collaborative research projects.

Academic staff from member institutions have the opportunity to design and deliver programmes at VIU, and are encouraged to collaborate with other VIU members to teach joint programmes, with Exeter expected to teach up to 4 programmes in 2021/20.

Members are also encouraged to run their own academic activities at VIU on their San Servolo campus, including Academic Programmes, intensive seminars, Summer/Winter Schools, and research groups.

Date: 20 December 2019