From vision to impact
Since its establishment in 2019, EU-CONEXUS has played a pivotal role in transforming higher education, becoming an interdisciplinary hub that fosters academic integration, research advancements, and societal impact. The alliance has built an extensive education, research and innovation network, bringing together a wide range of academic institutions, industry partners, policymakers, and local communities. Because of these efforts, today EU-CONEXUS is a living example of how universities can collaborate beyond borders, create impactful research, and nurture global citizens who are ready to tackle complex contemporary challenges.
Empowering communities through knowledge
The joint master’s programme in Marine biotechnology has been a great success and is now used as a model for the ongoing development of master’s programmes in other areas, including Digital humanities and Smart urban coastal sustainability. In addition, the focus on challenge-driven research – particularly through initiatives like the SMART Valencia Living Lab – is playing a major part in bridging research and real-world problems. This approach has strengthened the scientific output of EU-CONEXUS, positioning the alliance as a hub for developing practical and scalable solutions to sustainability challenges in coastal regions.
Building bridges for a better tomorrow: EU-CONEXUS future objectives
Addressing some of the main areas for improvement, representatives from all four decision-making bodies within EU-CONEXUS agreed to share their vision and plans for the future direction of the alliance.
Prof. Radu Văcăreanu, EU-CONEXUS Governing Board President
“As EU-CONEXUS continues to strengthen its position as a leading European university alliance, our commitment to fostering transnational collaboration, academic excellence, and research-driven innovation in smart, urban, and coastal sustainability is as strong as ever.
One of the primary goals of EU-CONEXUS is to create a seamless academic experience across partner institutions. To achieve this, we must harmonise further administrative and academic procedures, strengthen student and staff mobility opportunities while minimising bureaucratic obstacles, and develop a unified approach to governance and decision-making.
Furthermore, we must seek to fully integrate an academic environment that will reinforce the identity of EU-CONEXUS as a single transnational institution,” urged Prof. Văcăreanu.
With regard to research expansion and funding opportunities, he also highlighted the need to strengthen access to European and international funding programmes, and enhance support for multidisciplinary research teams to ensure alignment with global sustainability challenges. “Developing shared research facilities and digital infrastructure to encourage collaboration across member universities is another objective we will continue to strive for,” he noted.
Addressing the aspect of industry collaboration and societal engagement, the Governing Board will focus on further expanding partnerships with industry leaders, local governments, and international organisations to co-develop research projects and educational initiatives. In parallel, it is crucial to continue enhancing student internships, joint projects, and career development programmes within EU-CONEXUS institutions. “This approach will allow us to bridge the gap between academia and industry, fostering innovation and ensuring our graduates are well-prepared for emerging challenges in sustainability,” Prof. Văcăreanu said.
“As we move forward, the focus on positioning EU-CONEXUS as a thought leader in sustainability education also remains strong. As the Governing Board President, my vision for EU-CONEXUS is centred on reinforcing our alliance as a benchmark for SmUCS, transnational collaboration, academic and research excellence, and societal impact. By addressing these key areas of improvement, we will build a fully integrated European University, expanding our engagement with the industry, policymakers, and civil society, and overall, elevating EU-CONEXUS’s global profile,” the Governing Board President remarked.
Theobald Goltz, Student Board President
“EU-CONEXUS spreads a sense of European community – even at a time when nationalism and selfishness are on the rise. Close cooperation also shows how believing in something bigger can create unity across borders,” T. Goltz stated.
According to him, the network of CONEXUS coordinators and other really committed people is strong and united, but human connections are sometimes overshadowed by the overwhelming organisational structure.
“To nurture those connections and create a better understanding between the different units, we need more physical meetings. For the next semester, I would like to see a more visible spirit of EU-CONEXUS in every single university, establish a general EU-CONEXUS day, and initiate more physical mobilities,” the Student Board President noted. According to him, these efforts will also spread the word about the possibilities that exist within the alliance – something that many students in individual partner institutions are still not aware of.
David Denieffe, Chair of Academic Council
“EU-CONEXUS is a super initiative. By incorporating nine universities, it provides opportunities for our staff and students that come from being one. As we grow together, the shared goal of establishing sustainable structures and systems becomes even more important. We at Academic Council support this through a new committee focused on quality assurance,” David Denieffe noted.
According to him, maintaining a focus on quality and consistency throughout in the face of all the new and ongoing initiatives is essential for guiding EU-CONEXUS forward. He also highlighted the ongoing work on joint study programmes/training, promoting intra-EU-CONEXUS mobilities, programmes, and soft and transversal skills training programmes for all cycles as a strong foundation for creating value within and beyond the bounds of the alliance.
José María Tormos Muñoz, Chair of Research Council
Moving forward, one of the goals set forth by the Research Council is boosting European research funding. According to Tormos, while progress has been made, there is significant potential to secure more high-impact, multi-disciplinary projects, in turn providing stronger support for research teams in crafting competitive proposals and fostering deeper collaborations.
“EU-CONEXUS should increase its participation in European funding opportunities like Horizon Europe. Although we have already made progress with academic and governmental partnerships, industry engagement is another area for growth,” Muñoz noted.
Strengthening ties with private sector leaders in technology, infrastructure, and environmental services will help accelerate the application of research into market-ready solutions, bridging the gap between innovation and practical implementation.
“We also want to focus on expanding living labs. For now, SMART Valencia Living Lab is a standout initiative, but expanding similar labs across other EU-CONEXUS institutions will address diverse regional challenges. By leveraging local expertise, we can create a network of interconnected research hubs that share insights and best practices, enhancing our collective impact,” Chair of Research Council remarked.
According to him, yet another opportunity for growth lies in increasing visibility and outreach. To further amplify its influence, EU-CONEXUS should increase its visibility within the European research landscape. Hosting international events, engaging with non-EU countries, and strengthening public outreach will forward research outcomes to a broader audience, influencing policy and public discourse on coastal urban sustainability.
Driving EU-CONEXUS forward in this mission is a collective effort that requires seamless collaboration, impactful action, visibility, and outside support. We wish the newly appointed representatives determination and success in the upcoming term!
