Catholic Universities Partnership
Catholic Universities Partnership
The Catholic Universities Partnership (CUP) began in 2003 as an initiative to foster mutual support, elevation, and development of Catholic higher education and civil society in post-communist and post-Soviet Europe.
Now celebrating 20 years of progressive developments in programming, infrastructure, and research, the CUP continues to foster international collaboration among institutions of higher learning across Europe. As well as robust programs in support of CUP leaders and scholars, the Nanovic Institute helps further the CUP mission by supporting annual meetings hosted by one of its partner institutions.

More recent programs include the "Faith and Freedom" research initiative. Conducted in collaboration with CUP partners, this initiative is focused on understanding the pursuit of economic, religious, and political freedoms in Central and Eastern Europe since 1989. The Nanovic Institute is also developing a new grant, available to CUP partners, that will support virtual lectures or courses by Notre Dame faculty members at CUP institutions. This initiative is expected to launch in late-fall 2021.
For more information about CUP opportunities, please contact Grant Osborn, senior associate director.
CUP Programs
The centerpieces of the Nanovic Institute’s commitment to CUP institutions in Central and Eastern Europe are its leadership and visiting scholar programs.
Leadership Programs
The Nanovic Institute supports leaders from each of its partner universities by hosting a week-long Summer Leadership Program, in collaboration with the Mendoza College of Business.
Visiting Scholars Program
Faculty at CUP institutions are encouraged to serve as a Visiting Scholar at the Nanovic Institute through the Patrick and Angela Adams Fellowship.
Crossing the Square
Crossing the Square is a collaborative project within the CUP to share insights, research, and reflections in an online format.
Catholic Universities Partnership Institutions
Catholic University in Ružomberok
Ružomberok, Slovakia
Catholic University of Croatia
Zagreb, Croatia
John Paul II Catholic University of Lublin
Lublin, Poland
Pázmány Péter Catholic University
Budapest and Piliscsaba, Hungary
Sulkhan-Saba Orbeliani University
Tbilisi, Georgia
Ukrainian Catholic University
Lviv, Ukraine
Other participating institutions in the CUP
Catholic University of Eichstätt-Ingolstadt
Eichstätt and Ingolstadt, Germany
Catholic University of the Sacred Heart
Milan, Italy
Catholic University of Paris
Paris, France