Last week, ENLIGHT was represented at the 3rd Forum of European Universities Alliances in Wrocław, Poland, by Marcela Zubriczka (Comenius University Bratislava) and Kristi Kerge (University of Tartu). The event gathered delegates from all 65 alliances recognised under the European Universities Initiative — providing an important platform to exchange practices, reflect on progress, and explore the future of cross-border collaboration in higher education.
Hosted under the Polish Presidency of the Council of the EU, the Forum was officially opened by Minister Marcin Kulasek (Poland’s Ministry of Science and Higher Education), who underscored the strategic role of alliances in shaping a more connected and resilient European Education Area. Pia Ahrenkilde Hansen, Director-General for Education, Youth, Sport and Culture at the European Commission, reinforced the Commission’s commitment to supporting long-term, structural advancement through cooperation among universities.
“The Forum of European Universities Alliances in Wrocław highlighted the urgent need to transform education systems in the EU through alliances,” said Kristi Kerge, Head of International Cooperation at the University of Tartu.
She continued: “It was strongly emphasised that to prepare future leaders with the necessary skills, we need curricula that integrate the humanities alongside STEM, address societal challenges, and include AI and climate innovation. The concept of a European degree was strongly advocated, aiming for full-fledged degrees accessible to all students, fostering mobility and inclusiveness. The importance of collaboration between academia and the private sector was stressed, with alliances acting as testbeds for transformative education and research initiatives. Sustainable funding for alliances was a key point, with suggestions to leverage various programmes and private sector involvement to support research and innovation.”
The event included discussions on the Union of Skills Initiative, moderated by key voices such as Vanessa Debiais-Sainton (European Commission), Timothée Toury (EUT+), and Tayyeb Shah (EAIE), highlighting the need to align academic programmes with labour market and societal needs.
“For me, it was incredibly valuable to see the experiences shared by more than 60 universities that are part of the alliances and met at the Forum. The results they have achieved in education and research through mutual cooperation over the five years of the alliances’ existence are truly impressive. I look forward to future collaborations and to seeing how higher education in Europe evolves thanks to European Universities and the opportunities we create,” said Marcela Zubriczka, Main Liaison for ENLIGHT at Comenius University Bratislava.
Additional panels explored best practices and common challenges across alliances, including funding models, led by speakers such as Prof. Patrycja Matusz (University of Wrocław), Laurence Farreng (European Parliament), and representatives from Una Europa, SEA-EU, and EU4Dual.
From high-level plenaries to informal exchanges, the Forum reaffirmed the momentum behind the European Universities Initiative and the essential role of alliances like ENLIGHT in shaping a more inclusive, innovative, and future-proof higher education system.
Forum of European University Alliances
Photo: The Chancellery of the Prime Minister / PAP S.A
