The Association of the Carpathian Region Universities

International Association of Higher Education Institutions from
Slovakia, Poland, Hungary, Ukraine, Romania, Serbia

The Association of Carpathian Region Universities (ACRU) is an international association of higher education institutions. It was established in 1994 by sixteen universities and colleges from five countries of the Carpathian region to encourage links among its member institutions and throughout the world. The main objective of the Association is the advancement of academic, scientific and cultural cooperation, taking advantage of the particular dynamics of the long established historic and cultural links developed in the Carpathian region. It also enhances the coordination of various activities in the field of international university relations, to the development of specific mechanisms for the transmission of information and knowledge, and to the exchange and support of contacts between member universities and interested third parties. The ACRU is also aimed at promotion of social, educational and technological development among neighbouring countries, communities and regions.

The Association recognises the important obligation of universities as social institutions to promote, through teaching, research and public service, the principles of freedom and justice, of human dignity and solidarity.

The history of the ACRU member universities is closely connected with the history of the Carpathian region. Mutual influence of nations, religions and cultures is a typical feature of this region. The university as a unique resource of knowledge, expertise and educated people should help to solve the problems of the region and facilitate informal relations. Up to now relations between universities were only bilateral, building in some cases on the common history, similarity of languages, cultures and problems. The establishment of the ACRU is a first attempt to build up a multi-lateral, multi-national cooperation to coordinate efforts of the member universities facing similar problems.

The Association is registered in the Slovak Republic as a non-governmental (NGO) not-for-profit organisation of international scope.