Pioneering Journey to Transform Higher Education
Over 20 Alliances, representing more than 200 higher education institutions, will converge in Toulouse (France) for the first time around the European Commission’s booth within the European Association of International Education’s Conference from 17 to 20 September, 2024.
A total of 18 sessions offered by European Alliances within the programme, along with a dedicated side event, will provide a comprehensive opportunity to delve into the reality of this pioneering initiative.
How is Higher Education shaping the future of Europe and charting new pathways for global collaboration? The European Association of International Education’s (EAIE) Conference in Toulouse, France (17-20 September, 2024) will provide a unique opportunity to explore answers to this question, and many more, with real-life examples, testimonials, and facts.
This is the very first time that the European Universities Alliances, a flagship initiative of the European Commission and its European Education Area since 2019, will come together and present themselves in a united way at a major international conference, giving the opportunity to the international HE community to better understand the dimension of the European Universities Initiative, which is co-funding today a total of 64 Alliances.
By showcasing their collaborative efforts and dynamising a series of joint activities European Universities Alliances will take the stand as pioneers of a new paradigm of cooperation in Higher Education, paving their way to a leading role in shaping the global landscape of academia and research. They will also provide insight into their contributions as key actors in a transformative approach aligned with the Sustainable Development Goals, viewing Higher Education as the catalyst for building a more resilient, sustainable, and equitable society.
Inspired by the EAIE Conference’s theme En Route!, the Alliances will disseminate their objectives and actions, share the impact created, and communicate information regarding the results achieved by them on topics such as mobility or new joint programmes. They will also present the steps taken toward the innovative and unprecedented European Degree, a new type of degree awarded jointly by a group of universities across Europe and automatically recognised in the European Union. All these efforts will underline an inspiring model for transnational collaboration even amidst challenging times of global conflict.
The Alliances are also offering, as part of the EAIE conference’s programme of activities, a series of sessions covering a wide range of subjects, demonstrating their commitment to innovation in higher education and research (see some highlights of sessions in the black buttons).
Highlight on the Globalization Potential of Alliances
Prior to the initiation of the EAIE Conference, there will be an opportunity to witness the Alliances in joint dialogue at a special side event hosted by the Université de Toulouse and la Région Occitanie on 17 September, 2024, at the Hôtel de Région Occitanie from 08:45 to 13:00. Titled “Internationalisation of European Universities Alliances: The New Frontiers”, the event will explore why and how European Universities Alliances build strategic partnerships with institutions and stakeholders beyond the European Union. A plenary session will discuss strategies and approaches and present case studies about how alliances can forge successful international connections. Two other sessions will examine partnerships with Ukrainian institutions amidst conflict and post-war reconstruction, as well as cooperation with African partners. This gathering aims to facilitate dialogue between Alliances, Non-European higher education institutions and European, national and regional policymakers to explore which are the current state of play and the possible pathways of alliances’ internationalisation.
University Alliances and the EAIE Conference
The European Universities Alliances are a flagship initiative of the European strategy for universities. They encompass 64 European Universities alliances with more than 560 higher education institutions of all types, from all across Europe. Check here the full list of Alliances by country.
The EAIE Conference is the most important event dedicated to higher education in Europe and the second largest in the world. Its recent venues have been Barcelona (2022) and Rotterdam (2023), where the number of exhibitors and visitors exceeded 5,000 participants each year showing that transnational cooperation is now a growing sector of influence and action in a more and more globalised and interconnected world of higher education systems. More information and full programme here.
