European universities alliances present at the EAIE conference 2024: pioneering journey to transform higher education
Over 20 Alliances, representing more than 200 higher education institutions, will converge in Toulouse for the first time around the European Commission’s booth at the European Association for International Education’s Conference from 17-20 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 explore 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 for International Education’s Conference in Toulouse, France (17-20 September 2024) will provide a unique opportunity to explore answers to this question, and many more, through 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, offering the international HE community a chance to better understand the scope of the European Universities Initiative, which is currently co-funding a total of 64 Alliances.
By showcasing their collaborative efforts and energising a series of joint activities, the European Universities Alliances will take the stage as pioneers of a new paradigm of cooperation in Higher Education, paving the way towards a leading role in shaping the global landscape of academia and research. They will also provide insights into their contributions as key actors in a transformative approach aligned with the Sustainable Development Goals (SDGs), positioning 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 they have made, and communicate information regarding their results on topics such as mobility and new joint programmes. They will also present the steps taken towards the innovative and unprecedented European Degree, a new type of degree awarded jointly by a group of universities across Europe and automatically recognised within the EU. All these efforts will underline an inspiring model for transnational collaboration, even amidst challenging times of global conflict.
As part of the EAIE conference’s programme of activities, the Alliances will offer a series of sessions covering a wide range of subjects, demonstrating their commitment to innovation in higher education and research.
Highlight on the Globalisation Potential of Alliances
Prior to the start of the EAIE Conference, there will be an opportunity to witness the Alliances engage in joint dialogue at a special side event hosted by the Université de Toulouse and the 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 on 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 the current state of play and possible pathways for the internationalisation of alliances.
The European Universities Alliances are a flagship initiative of the European strategy for universities. They encompass 64 European University Alliances, with more than 560 higher education institutions of all types from across Europe. Check the full list of Alliances by country: https://education.ec.europa.eu/education-levels/higher-education/european-universities-initiative/map.
The EAIE Conference is the most important event dedicated to higher education in Europe and the second largest in the world. Recent venues have been Barcelona (2022) and Rotterdam (2023), where the number of exhibitors and visitors exceeded 5,000 each year, demonstrating that transnational cooperation is now a growing sector of influence and action in an increasingly globalised and interconnected world of higher education systems. More information and the full programme can be found here: https://www.eaie.org/events/toulouse.html.
