Pilar Aranda, Rector of the University of Granada, meets in Brussels with Commissioner Mariya Gabriel and rectors from all European University Alliances

On 30th and 31st January, Rectors representing each of the 44 current European University Alliances are meeting in person in Brussels in the presence of Mariya Gabriel, European Commissioner for Innovation, Research, Culture, Education, Youth and Sport.

The meeting is aimed at taking stock of the end of the Alliances’ piloting phase (2019-2022), and discussing together the next deployment phase of 4 plus 2 years, as well as the long-term future of the European Universities initiative, including post-2027 under the next EU budgetary period. Pilar Aranda Ramírez, Rector of the University of Granada, will represent the Arqus Alliance in this relevant political appointment that follows the intended objectives of the Council Recommendation adopted in April 2022 that called Alliances to address challenges and act together at the national and European levels.

On 30th January, Rectors were given the opportunity to exchange between themselves on the good practices that they have put in place to succeed and common challenges that they are facing, as well as on their vision for the further success of the European Universities initiative, also in the light of the European Strategy for Universities. The topics selected for the open discussion between Rectors were:

• Unlocking the transformational potential of the European Universities initiative: state of play, impact and way forward.
• How to join forces and make European higher education thrive – drive of the European strategy for universities.

The next day, 31st January, after an opening plenary session by the Director-General of Education, Youth, Culture and Sport, Themis Christophidou, Commissioner, Gabriel will meet physically the 44 Rectors representing the European Universities Alliances with the objective of having an open high-level dialogue on:

• The main achievements, outcomes and progress, in line with the European Strategy for Universities and its flagship initiatives.
• Opportunities for the future, deepening the links between Alliances and with their innovation ecosystems and communities.

More concretely, Rectors may reflect upon the progress made by their Alliances on the implementation of a European interuniversity campus, the 50% target for student mobility, the progress towards a joint degree based on common European criteria, or how to forge a culture of cooperation between the Alliances and between them and their innovation ecosystems and communities, among other themes.