Brussels, 29 and 30 April, 2024
On the occasion of the Belgian Presidency of the Council of the European Union, all ten universities of Belgium are delighted to invite researchers and policy makers to reflect on the European University Alliances as drivers of change and innovation in higher education.
This high-level conference will explore multilingualism, inclusion, student and staff mobility, superdiversity in academia and the labour market, pedagogical innovations and the European Degree label. The conference will also focus on how the Alliances can contribute to an enhanced collaboration with our partner universities in the Global South.
PROGRAMME
29 APRIL
Brussels, ULB Campus Solbosch, Auditorium Henri La Fontaine
Opening session: 17:00 – 18:30
Reception/walking dinner: 18:30 – 21:00
30 APRIL
Brussels, Centre Albert Borschette
Session 1
9:00 – 10:00: The Future of Education and Language Learning in our Connected World
Lead partners: UCLouvain (Circle U) and VUB (EUTOPIA)
Break: 10:00 – 10:30
Session 2
10:30 – 11:30: Cosmobility: Rethinking Student and Staff Mobility
Lead partners: ULB (Civis) and UGent (ENLIGHT)
Session 3
11:30 – 12:30: Understanding and Applying Superdiversity in Academia, Higher Education and Beyond
Lead partners: ULiège (UNIC) and UHasselt (EURECA-PRO)
Lunch: 12:30 – 14:00
Session 4
14:00 – 15:00: Alliances as Drivers of Pedagogical Innovation
Lead partners: UNamur (UniversEH) and UAntwerpen (YUFE)
Session 5
15:00 – 16:00: The European Degree as an Important Milestone Towards a Strong Future for the European Higher Education Area
Lead partners: UMONS (EUNICE) and KU Leuven (Una Europa)
Break: 16:00 – 16:30
Session 6
16:30 – 17:30: EU and Global Partnerships / Cooperation with the Global South
Lead partners: VLIR-UOS and CRef
Concluding session
17:30 – 18:00: Policy Recommendations
Session 5: The European Degree as an Important Milestone Towards a Strong Future for the European Higher Education Area
Session led by University of Mons, representing EUNICE European University, and KU Leuven, on behalf of Una Europa
To support the development of a strong European Education Area, the European Commission financed six projects to examine, test and facilitate the delivery of a joint European Degree label for international programmes developed through intensive cross-border collaboration of European higher education institutions.
This session will reflect on the results of these projects and consider them from a forward looking broader perspective. Representatives of different stakeholder groups will discuss the European Degree in light of the desired future for European higher education and consider the added value of a label versus a degree from a global perspective.
Panel discussion
- What is the added value of a European Degree for learners outside of Europe? How will this instrument contribute to a stroger position of European higher education in the world?
- Moderator: Peter Lievens, Vice-Rector for International Affairs at KU Leuven
- Which advice do you want to give policy makers at regional, national and international level when it comes to further implementation of the european Degree?
- Moderator: Laurence Ris, Vice-Rector for International Affairs at UMONS
