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LSE helps launch CIVICA –The European University of Social Sciences

LSE is looking forward to working closely with CIVICA to enhance the impact of the social sciences and humanities
- Minouche Shafik, LSE Director
CIVICA meeting 747x560
Representatives from CIVICA meet in Brussels, November 2019

Professor Simon Hix, LSE’s Pro Director for Research, joined partner institutions in Brussels on 7 November 2019 to officially launch CIVICA - the new European University of Social Sciences. The meeting took place as part of the Building the universities of the future event, which introduced 17 new pilot European Universities.

CIVICA, which was selected as one of the pilot European Universities earlier this year, is a collaboration between eight leading higher education institutions with a focus on social sciences:

  • Bocconi University (Italy), 
  • Central European University (Hungary),
  • The European University Institute (European Intergovernmental Organization),
  • The Hertie School of Governance (Germany),
  • The National University of Political Studies and Public Administration (Romania),
  • Sciences Po (France),
  • The Stockholm School of Economics (Sweden),
  • The London School of Economics and Political Science.

The association will unite these leading institutions to create a broad European inter-university campus, linking teaching and learning, research and innovation, and mobilise society at large across cultural, linguistic, and national borders.

Focus areas

During the pilot phase, CIVICA will have a particular focus on four key areas: Challenges to Democracy in the 21st century; Societies in Transition and Crises of Earth; Europe Revisited, and Data Driven Technologies for the Social Sciences. 

Earlier this year LSE Director Minouche Shafik commented on the value of the new partnership:

“From combatting climate change to treating global disease and tackling inequality, the social sciences are vital for our wellbeing and prosperity.  LSE is looking forward to working closely with CIVICA to enhance the impact of the social sciences and humanities and help demonstrate their enormous value to the world."

Discover more about plans for the new European University of Social Sciences at civica.eu