Arqus at high-level meeting “Shaping the future: European Universities alliances for a competitive Europe” in Brussels

On 26 and 27 February 2025, the European Commission organizes this high-level meeting in Brussels, with the presence of Executive Vice-President Roxana Mînzatu.

The Arqus Alliance is represented by Dorothy Kelly, Arqus coordinator, Fernando M. Galán, Arqus Secretary General,  Eeva Leinonen, President of Maynooth University, Rui Vieira de Castro, Rector of the University of Minho, and Diana Radoi, student of the Arqus Joint Master’s Programme in European Studies. Patrycja Matusz, Vice-Rector from the University of Wrocław and Plenipotentiary of the Minister of Science for European Affairs and the Presidency of the Republic of Poland in the Council of the European Union, will also participate in the event.

Considering the progress made over the last five years since the launch of the European Universities initiative, this high-level meeting aims to collectively reflect on its achievements and challenges still to be addressed. The meeting also explores avenues to continue making the European Universities initiative a success in the long term and discuss how the alliances can further contribute to Europe’s sustainable prosperity and competitiveness while defending democracy and promoting social fairness. The event is gathering representatives of all European Universities alliances, as well as Seal of Excellence holders and key higher education stakeholder organisations, including student organisations, European Parliament and Member States representatives.

The event starts the afternoon of 26 February with a keynote intervention by Roxana Mînzatu, Commission Executive Vice-President for Social Rights and Skills, Quality Jobs and Preparedness. A closed meeting of European Universities rectors with Vice-President Mînzatu will take place to discuss the European Universities alliances’ added value in driving transformation of the higher education sector and boosting future-proof skills for enhancing Europe’s competitiveness, strategic autonomy and preparedness. Rui Vieira de Castro, Rector of the University of Minho, and Eeva Leinonen, President of Maynooth University, will be the Arqus representatives at this meeting, where Eeva will have the chance to actively dialogue with Vice-President Mînzatu at an open exchange.

In the evening, several high-level discussions for and between rectors will take place. Welcoming and closing words will be delivered by Pia Ahrenkilde-Hansen, Director-General for Education, Youth, Sport and Culture.

On 27 February, a full-day event is organised, gathering the European Universities alliances, as well as higher education stakeholders, student organisations, European Parliament and Member States representatives. Two high-level panels will address the role of alliances in transforming the higher education landscape and in strengthening cooperation between innovation ecosystems, boosting Europe’s regions.

In the afternoon, parallel sessions on the future of the European Universities initiative will take place. Fernando M. Galán, Arqus Secretary General, participates as rapporteur in one strategic session dedicated to the role of the European Universities alliances as powerhouses for developing the skills for the future.

University of Wrocław Vice-Rector, Patrycja Matusz, is also a rapporteur and panel member for the session on how can the alliances support the progress towards a European Degree.

Diana Radoi, student of the Arqus Joint Master’s Programme in European Studies at the University of Granada, is a member of the panel on student perspective and engagement, enhancing inclusiveness, democratic representation and mobility in the European inter-university campus.

Dorothy Kelly, Arqus coordinator, takes part in the panel “Outlook of the future investment pathway for European Universities”, on how to enhance synergies and efficiently mobilise European and national/regional level funding, including reinforcing the research and innovation dimension of the alliances.

You can read the full agenda here.