A global network of academic and non-academic partners connects Leiden University’s research, education and innovation activities to the world.

Partnerships can vary from student exchange, to research collaboration, or shared projects for engagement and impact, to joint educational programmes or executive education.

A small number of this wide array of partnerships are seen as a truly strategic partnership. These act as umbrellas for joint research, education and outreach activities, involving colleagues from most of our faculties. These partnerships help us develop new practices, improve existing ones and open doors to other (local) partners and activities. Through these partnerships, Leiden University aims to for worldwide impact and outreach, to exchange knowledge and talent and to collaborate on prestigious projects.

Academic partners

University of Birmingham

A history of shared interest and profound collaboration in health and wellbeing has evolved to a partnership that encompasses Leiden University and LUMC. Shared ideals and ambitions provide a fertile ground for sowing seeds for research and education collaborations. A yearly round of shared seed funding enables us to give the partnership body and ongoing momentum. The number of shared activities grows every year.

A highly renowned university in the UK and abroad, the University of Birmingham and Leiden share the aim to create impact worldwide. Birmingham’s prestige is underlined by their membership of the Russell Group, their participation in international research funding schemes and their global network of partners.

The University of Edinburgh

Leiden University and The University of Edinburgh are of similar DNA and ambition, and complementary in their fields of expertise. This makes working together effortless, valuable and enriching. Collaborations between various research groups has been growing in the past years, leading to a vibrant joint-PhD poule, several shared research projects and joint educational programmes. Both members of Una Europa, LERU and Coimbra group, our academic and advocacy interests align with a potential to grow even more pronounced in the future.

The University of Edinburgh is one of the oldest universities in the world, and one of the top institutions in Scotland and the UK. The worldwide network of universities that Edinburgh operates in adds to their prestige and guarantees a global impact.

Nonacademic partners

Asian Development Bank (ADB) and ADB Institute

Leiden University has a special collaboration with the ADB in Manilla, and the ABDI in Tokyo. The Asian Development Bank (ADB) is the regional development bank that helps developing countries in Asia and the Pacific reduce poverty and improve their standard of living. It is increasingly becoming a climate bank. Leiden University leverages its interdisciplinary expertise to work with the bank on topics such as urbanisation, circular economy, water, biodiversity and tax reform. With the ADBI, we are exploring opportunities for executive education for Asian professionals.

In addition to these three strategic partners, many other partnerships are ongoing and growing. Internal incentive to collaborate in Leiden’s priority regions, leads to more intensive collaboration with academic partners in Africa, Asia and Latin America. Leiden’s Erasmus Plus collaborations and partnerships are always dynamic and growing.