Arqus Secretary General participated in the Symposium “European Universities Initiative 5 years on”

Fernando M. Galán represented the Arqus Alliance at the “European Universities Initiative 5 years on: a research and practice symposium” on 2 and 3 June in Switzerland.

The European Universities Initiative (EUI), involving 570 higher education institutions in 65 alliances by 2025, marks a significant transformation in the European Higher Education landscape.

This symposium, which coincides with the fifth anniversary of the first alliances, including Arqus, offered a crucial opportunity for gathering evidence to be able to critically evaluate the EUI’s impact, exploring its achievements and challenges, and shaping its future direction. It took place at Università della Svizzera italiana (USI), in Lugano (Switzerland). The symposium brought together researchers, practitioners and policymakers to exchange knowledge and ideas and create new networking opportunities.

On Tuesday, 3 June, Arqus Secretary General, Fernando M. Galán, participated as a speaker at the panel “Key panel discussion: future directions” addressing how to manage change in the European Universities Initiative and the impact of alliances in transforming Higher Education through cross-border collaboration.

Fernando M. Galán (Arqus) and Melinda Szabo (EUTOPIA) explored best practices in fostering effective cooperation, sustaining long-term partnerships and overcoming barriers to integration. They assessed the mechanisms that alliances employ to balance top-down policy directives with bottom-up institutional autonomy, and the strategies for overcoming cultural, administrative and structural challenges. This panel highlighted the alliances’ contribution to the European Education Area by promoting seamless mobility, joint research initiatives and institutional learning. 

The symposium “European Universities Initiative 5 years on” discussed key research questions such as:

• Impact and Effectiveness: Has the EUI truly revolutionised European higher education, or has it resulted in incremental change? What are the demonstrable impacts of EUI alliances on teaching, learning, research, and institutional governance? How effectively are the EUI’s objectives being met, and what metrics are appropriate for evaluating success?
• Collaboration and Integration: How are EUI alliances fostering cross-border collaboration and integration in higher education? What are the best practices for building and sustaining successful alliances? What are the challenges to collaboration, and how can they be overcome? How is the EUI contributing to the creation of a genuine European Education Area?
• Innovation and Transformation: Is the European Universities Initiative driving innovation in higher education? How are alliances fostering new approaches to teaching, research, and knowledge transfer? Are they leading to transformative changes in institutional structures and cultures? What role is the EUI playing in addressing societal challenges and promoting sustainable development?
• Future Directions: What are the future prospects for the EUI? What are the key challenges and opportunities that lie ahead? How can the European Universities Initiative be strengthened and developed to maximise its impact? What role will the EUI play in the context of other European-level initiatives and policies?

More information and full programme here.