The York-Maastricht Partnership (YMP) is a strategic collaboration between Maastricht University and the University of York, focusing on research, teaching and knowledge exchange. Launched in November 2017, the partnership aims to develop joint programmes tackling sustainability challenges while supporting dynamic research and innovative education opportunities.  

Maastricht University actively engages in cross-border projects in the Meuse-Rhine Euregion, connecting cities like Liège, Hasselt, Maastricht, Heerlen and Aachen. Home to 3.9 million people, five universities and 110,000 students, this region offers our graduates excellent employment opportunities. 

UM collaborates with knowledge centres, governments and companies in the region, supporting further internationalisation in research and education. The Brightlands campuses exemplify this collaboration, promoting innovation and intersectoral cooperation. 

UM also participates in research centres focused on cross-border and European issues, including:  

• the Institute for Transnational and Euregional cooperation and Mobility (ITEM) 
• the Aachen-Maastricht Institute for Biobased Materials (AMIBM) 
• Regenerative Medicine Crossing Borders (RegMed XB) 
• the Centre of European Research in Maastricht (CERiM) 

These centres act as 'living labs,' fostering an innovative knowledge region of international standing.

The UM Brussels Hub is the University’s main European public affairs engine and an integral part of the ecosystem that supports UM’s missions of education, research, and service to society. It focuses on four main objectives:  

• Building networks and facilitating community-led meetings 

• Monitoring and advising on EU policy  

• Positioning UM and advocating for its interests  

• Increasing UM’s opportunities to obtain EU research and innovation funding 

Brussels offers not only a direct line to the policy-makers and EU institutions headquartered in the city, but also to the thousands of public and private organisations that have an EU delegation there. Having a strong presence in the EU capital is therefore an important priority for UM’s strategy as the European University of the Netherlands as well as a means to further develop and implement UM’s Europe Policy.  

The UM Brussels Hub shares its office space with two UM partners, the Young Universities for the Future of Europe (YUFE) Alliance and the Association of Schools of Public Health in the European Region (ASPHER), of which UM’s Faculty of Health, Medicine, and Life Sciences is a member. This contributes to building synergies at European level across different domains.  

The United Nations University – Maastricht Economic and Social Research Institute on Innovation and Technology (UNU-MERIT) is a research and training institute based in Maastricht, collaborating closely with Maastricht University. It studies the social, political, and economic factors driving technological innovation, focusing on knowledge creation, diffusion, and access. 

In partnership with the UM School of Governance, UNU-MERIT researches governance in domestic and global organisations, covering risk assessment, policy analysis, design, and evaluation. Together, UM and UNU-MERIT offer a double master’s degree in Public Policy and Human Development. 

The School of Health Professions Education (SHE) launched "SHE Collaborates" in 2012 to expand international activities and partnerships.  

Drawing on Maastricht University’s 40+ years of expertise in student-centred learning in medicine and health sciences, SHE Collaborates offers innovative training and consulting in education, management, and research. Our collaborations aim to enhance health professions education worldwide by working with diverse partners across disciplines and cultures. 

Since 2008, Maastricht UMC+ has been active in India, forming partnerships with prestigious institutes and aligning research topics with our existing Maastricht UMC+ research programme.   

We currently maintain 25 active collaborations across academic, healthcare, and industrial sectors, with funding support from DBT, DEITY, ICSSR, NWO and ZonMw for various joint projects involving our Indian partners. 

Read more about Maastricht UMC+ in India 

In order to stimulate collaboration, we are committed to developing and strengthening our role in four key international university networks. 
 

1. Worldwide University Network (WUN) 

The WUN is a leading global higher education and research network of 25 universities across six continents. Membership adds a global dimension to UM's collaborations, focusing on global development challenges and enhancing UM's visibility. It also supports the acquisition of external research funding. UM aims to engage key academics in WUN research teams and create mobility opportunities for early and mid-career researchers, focusing on Global Challenges to foster collaboration and innovation. 

Read more about WUN and how you can benefit from UM’s membership.
 

2. Young European Research Universities (YERUN) 

As a leading young university, UM co-founded YERUN, a network that fosters collaboration among Europe’s young universities in research, education and societal impact.  

YERUN members share values like high-impact research and a strong commitment to internationalisation. The network is an important voice in EU higher education and research policy and offers opportunities for topical cooperation ranging from research mobility and open science to sustainability.  

Read more on YERUN and how you can benefit from UM’s membership.  
 

3. Young Universities for the Future of Europe alliance (YUFE) 

UM coordinates the YUFE alliance, which includes ten young and dynamic, student-centred universities and two non-academic partners. YUFE aims to establish a truly European University and is driven by a shared dedication to the European spirit and a commitment to a competitive, innovative, and united Europe.  

YUFE offers students the chance to create a European curriculum leading to a European degree, with opportunities to learn languages, engage in mobility, develop careers, and perform community service. 

Read more about YUFE and how you can benefit from UM’s membership.
 

4. European Alliance for Social Sciences and Humanities (EASSH)

UM is a member of EASSH, the largest advocacy and science policy organisation for social sciences and humanities in Europe. This alliance leverages its members' expertise to influence European policy and decision-making. Its working groups bring social sciences and humanities research into public debate and strengthen European research and cooperation among public and private partners. 

EASSH includes over 70 member organisations and represents more than 100,000 researchers across Europe.

Read more on EASSH and how you can benefit from UM’s membership.

Check out our other partnerships and collaborations.