{"id":27355,"date":"2025-03-27T16:12:03","date_gmt":"2025-03-27T16:12:03","guid":{"rendered":"https:\/\/www-test.unipi.it\/news\/a-momentum-for-the-european-university-alliances\/"},"modified":"2025-04-07T10:15:07","modified_gmt":"2025-04-07T10:15:07","slug":"a-momentum-for-the-european-university-alliances","status":"publish","type":"news","link":"https:\/\/www-test.unipi.it\/en\/news\/a-momentum-for-the-european-university-alliances\/","title":{"rendered":"A momentum for the European university alliances"},"content":{"rendered":"
\n

Since the launch of the \u201cvon der Leyen II\u201d Commission in December 2024, universities \u2013 especially alliances \u2013 have been highlighted as key to shaping the new Commission vision for the future (europa.eu)<\/a>. Executive Vice-President Roxana M\u00eenzatu (education) and Commissioner Ekaterina Zaharieva (startups, research, and innovation) have been tasked with strengthening alliances to drive progress in higher education and research.<\/p>\n

The European Commission\u2019s Union of Skills (pdf)<\/a> communication reinforces this ambition, aiming to enhance human capital and European competitiveness. Through the creation of transnational joint programmes, innovative pedagogy, access to cutting-edge knowledge and provision of lifelong learning opportunities, alliances will play a vital role in building a dynamic and resilient workforce.<\/p>\n

\"\"<\/p>\n

The key initiative and the future development of the alliances should be considered in the current process of defining the next Multiannual Financial Framework 2028-2034 (europa.eu)<\/a>. The future budget of the EU is key as it defines the European capacities to design and implement policy actions. And it will therefore have a direct impact on the university sector, in particular the unique cooperation dynamics pushed by the alliances, as the budget will be reflected in the future R&I framework programme as well as the Erasmus+ programme. An ambitious roadmap to the next MFF (europa.eu)<\/a> was published in February in which the Commission intends to present a proposal in July 2025.<\/p>\n

65 alliances meeting in Brussels<\/h3>\n

It is in this highly \u201ccritical\u201d context that the 65 alliances<\/strong> were invited to gather in Brussels on 26 and 27 February, together with other key actors such as university networks, stakeholder organisations, national (and regional) ministries, etc.<\/p>\n

On 26 February afternoon, more than a hundred Rectors and Presidents of the alliances were invited to a high-level meeting with the Commission\u2019s Executive Vice-President, Roxana M\u00eenzatu, to discuss the future of European university alliances. Circle U. was represented by Prof. Fran\u00e7oise Smets, Rector of UCLouvain and Prof. Vladan Djokic, Rector of the University of Belgrade.<\/strong> Rector Smets was invited to engage directly with EVP M\u00eenzatu and exchange on the successes, challenges, priorities of Circle U. as well as the potential of the alliances to realise the Union of Skills.<\/p>\n

During this talk, Rector Smets underlined that there is no doubt that the alliances will continue to play a key role in boosting future-oriented skills development necessary for Europe\u2019s competitiveness, strategic autonomy and preparedness. She also emphasised the necessity fot the European Union to foster a more holistic approach towards competitiveness.<\/p>\n

Europe and Europeans do not need skills for competitiveness only. We need a resilient, dynamic, altruistic and engaged workforce to ensure a competitive Europe in the long run.<\/p>\n

\u2013 Prof. Fran\u00e7oise Smets, Rector of UCLouvain<\/p><\/blockquote>\n

Regarding the long-term development of Circle U., she reminded that, in the last 5 years, our academics, researchers, students, partners have developed and implemented hundreds of very successful initiatives. That these initiatives are now being scaled up, so that these experimentations can evolve into the \u201cbusiness as usual\u201d of our universities.<\/p>\n

On 27 February, alliances coordinators met with the European Commission services and key higher education partners to discuss the latest and future developments of the alliances. Circle U. was represented by<\/strong> Mette Oftebro (\u201cCU2030\u201d project coordinator and CU coordinator at UiO), Audrey Sullivan-Reilly (MEL Officer at the Circle U. Office) and Kevin Guillaume (Secretary General)<\/strong>.<\/p>\n

Many different topics were discussed over the plenary and breakout sessions, including<\/p>\n