Facilitation :
Merryl Moneghetti : journalist
Emilie Frenkiel : Adjunct professor in political science at the University of Paris Est Créteil (UPEC)
january, 25th
Opening ceremony
Speakers: Commissioner Mariya Gabriel, Minister Frédérique Vidal, Minister Anna Ekström, Sophia Eriksson-Waterschoot, Director DG EAC , Michael Murphy ;
Presentation of the Manifesto on the Future of European Universities, prepared by the students of the European Universities Community (EUC)
january, 26th
Opening session
Speakers: the Director General of Higher Education and Professional Integration of the MESRI, Anne-Sophie Barthez; the Director of Youth Education and Erasmus+ of the European Commission – DGEAC, Sophia Eriksson-Waterschoot; the President of France Universités, Manuel Tunon de Lara; the President of HCERES, Thierry Coulhon
10:00-10:15
Introductory keynote speech
by Federica Mogherini, Rector of the College of Europe
Roundtables
Workshops of the alliance
10:15 – 11:15
Roundtable 1:
A shared European framework : put the values and principles of higher education into action
A shared European framework : put the values and principles of higher education into action
Universities are stewards of freedom, they promote active citizenship, tolerance, diversity, openness and critical thinking. These fundamental values and principles are, together with institutional autonomy and academic freedom, the bedrock on which European higher education internationalization should be based. It is on this condition, and by defending a common understanding of these fundamental values and principles with their global partners, that European universities will be able to engage in fair and mutually beneficial collaborations worldwide.
The panel will discuss how universities can be supported in upholding and promoting these values and in facing the challenges to fair international collaboration, including through welcoming schemes for academics and students under threat as well as tools aiming at tackling foreign interferences.
Questions for participants may include the following: how can universities and alliances of higher education institutions promote fundamental values in their internationalisation strategies and in their collaboration with international partners? What support do they need to position European Union as a safe haven for the freedom of scientific research and democratic values? What are the obstacles to fair international collaboration and how can universities be supported in facing these challenges?
Moderator: Brigitte Plateau, Task officer Unite, Grenoble INP-UGA, former Director of Higher education at the French Ministry of Higher Education and Research.
- EUF – European University Foundation
- SUHF – The Association of Swedish Higher Education Institutions
- MŠMT – Ministry of Education, Youth and Sports – Cz
10:15 – 11:15
Roundtable 2:
Joining forces to transform: an asset for international competitiveness
Joining forces to transform: an asset for international competitiveness
Alliances of higher education institutions, which include the ‘European Universities’, are demonstrating the potential and impact of extensive and long-term institutional cooperation in Europe and can play a unique role in strengthening universities’ attractiveness to international students, researchers and global partners. Through a strong degree of integration, transparency and openness, they are catalysts of exploration and have the potential to generate a deep transformative
impact within and for Europe. In that respect, they could become lighthouses of European quality in higher education and research excellence.
However, universities face obstacles to a deeper level of cooperation, for example in implementing innovative joint programs, in improving human resources management and in mutualising structures. Further support and increased coherence between European, national and local funding seems therefore necessary to unlock the full added value of these alliances.
Questions for participants may include the following: how to further support alliances of higher education institutions and strengthen the coordination of European, national and local supports? What financial and legal means are needed for alliances to deepen their institutional cooperation and how can Member States and the Commission effectively support their transformation on all of their missions, higher education, research and innovation? How can this transformation be supported to enhance the quality and the international attractiveness of European higher education institutions?
Moderator: Vanessa Debiais-Sainton – Head of Unit, Higher Education, DG EAC, European Commission
- ERRIN – The European Regions Research and Innovation Network
- EUA – European Universities Association
- MIU – Ministry of Universities Es
10:15 – 11:15
Roundtable 3:
A global approach: emerging world- class European university sites, attracting talent, developing capacities
A global approach: emerging world-class European university sites, attracting talent, developing capacities
While global higher education and research becomes increasingly competitive, universities and higher education alliances should be encouraged to develop internationalization strategies and to project themselves internationally, building networks with key partners in the world, strengthening the capacities of partners in third countries and bolstering international inwards and outwards mobility of students, researchers, teachers and staff. In that respect, mobilizing local or regional ecosystems involving research organizations, innovation actors and economic partners in cooperation with regional authorities is a crucial vector of visibility and attractiveness for European higher education institutions. Furthermore, in the global race for talent and innovation, there is a need for a better coordination to promote the quality and diversity of the European higher education offer worldwide.
This roundtable will elaborate on the ways to incentivize the ecosystems’ stakeholders to gather forces towards building universities’ global outreach. The panel will also discuss how to empower universities to cooperate with their European peers and their local partners, with the view to support the emergence of world-class European university sites.
Questions for participants may include the following: how to facilitate collaboration between universities and their ecosystems, with the view to foster world-class university sites? How to further encourage the mobility of students, researchers and teachers between universities and with universities’ ecosystems? How can higher education institutions in Europe play a role in science diplomacy?
Moderator: Professeur Patrick Lévy – President, University Grenoble Alpes
- The Guild – Guild of European Research-Intensive Universities
- Science Europe
- EQAR – European Quality Assurance Register for Higher Education
Workshops of the alliance
10:15 – 10:45
Joint programs and degrees
Joint programs and degrees
Among the specific objectives of the ‘European Universities’, as defined in the Erasmus+ calls for proposals, alliances are invited to develop new, flexible and innovative joint curricula, setting a solid ground for the development of a European degree. This workshop will allow alliances to exchange views towards the realisation of joint programmes and degrees, to reflect on the steps towards this goal and on criteria that could constitute joint degrees. They will be invited to present existing good practices and their ambitions towards these ends.
Moderator: Ludovic Thilly – ForEU2
CHARM-EU, EDUC, EELISA, EUCOR, EURECA-PRO, FORTHEM
10:45 – 11:15
Synergies between higher education and research
Synergies between higher education and research
With funding from the Erasmus+ and Horizon 2020 programmes, the ‘European Universities’ are at the very crossroads of higher education and research, to which they contribute through integrated and long-term joint strategy on research and innovation in line with their projects on higher education. In this way, ‘European Universities’ are exploring the strengthening of synergies between the European education and research area. This workshop will allow alliances to present their reflections and progresses towards realizing these synergies, and to exchange views on the steps forward.
Moderator: Alison Garnier – ForEU1
ARQUS, CIRCLE U, EC2U, EUNICE, EUNIWELL Transform4Europe
11:30-11:45
Introductory keynote speech
by Alexandre Tisserant, President, Kineis
Roundtables
Workshops of the alliance
11:45 – 12:45
Roundtable 1:
Transforming knowledge into skills and innovation: mobilizing universities at the service of society
Transforming knowledge into skills and innovation: mobilizing universities in the service of society
Universities have a unique place at the crossroads of education, research, innovation and service to the society. They thus have a wide societal impact and should be supported in turning knowledge into skills and innovation, which can be done by developing close cooperation with economic and industrial partners within local and regional innovation ecosystems, for example through the transmission of necessary skills and knowledge for strategic industrial sectors, by fostering technology transfer capacities and through spin-offs.
The panel will explore how to give universities the means to enhance their positive impact on local economic ecosystems and society as a whole. Panelists will have the opportunity to present how to valorize the aptitudes to knowledge transfer or to give academics and researchers a flexible frame for career assessment, which should encourage the diversity of activities such as entrepreneurship, leadership, teaching or management.
Questions for participants may include the following: how to foster partnerships between universities and the industry at European level? How to encourage the transfer of knowledge into future skills and innovation building on local or regional ecosystems?
Moderator: Apostolia Karamali – Head of Unit, RI Actors and Research Careers, DG RTD, European Commission
- EuroCities
- EARTO – European Association of Research and Technology Organisations
- UAS4 Europe – Universities of applied sciences for Europe
11:45 – 12:45
Roundtable 2:
Strengthening the training-employment link: teaming up to increase the competitiveness of European higher education
Strengthening the training-employment link: teaming up to increase the competitiveness of European higher education
Universities have a key role to play in responding to the labour market transformations and in preventing the skills mismatches and bottlenecks that risk hindering Europe’s growth. To that end, universities could be supported in opening up to all types of learners and in fostering their employability, which can be done by implementing flexible and tailor-made curricula. In order to develop learners’ relevant skills, competences, attitudes and entrepreneurial spirit, universities can rely on close cooperation with their local industrial ecosystems, on increased traineeships or on innovative learning and teaching methods such as micro-credentials.
The panel will discuss the ways in which universities can address these transformations, and contribute to enhance inclusion, lifelong learning and professional reskilling and upskilling. To this end, participants may be invited to present good practices in pedagogical innovation and local cooperation.
Questions for participants may include the following: how can universities and alliances of higher education institutions contribute to strengthen the training-employment continuum? How can Member States and the Commission support the development of innovative learning and teaching methods and enhance lifelong learning through more tailor made and flexible training offer ? How can higher education institutions be supported in taking advantage of micro credentials to foster relevant skills?
Moderator: Christian Lerminiaux, VP – CDEFI
- CEDEFOP – European Centre for the Development of Vocational Training
- Business Europe
- Cesaer -Conference of European Schools for Advanced Engineering Education and Research
11:45 – 12:45
Roundtable 3:
Green and digital transitions: what tools, methods and places for tomorrow’s education?
Green and digital transitions: what tools, methods and places for tomorrow’s education?
Higher education institutions have a key role to play in unfolding the green and digital transitions, and can decisively contribute to the UN Stainable Development Goals. Universities can accelerate the green transition by introducing greening as part of their missions, infrastructure and operations, by developing the necessary skills and competences for the green transition, by conducting research and steering public policy. Higher education institutions are also instrumental to accelerating the digital transition in Europe, especially by providing digital literacy to the wider public and by providing emerging digital competences, for example in the fields of artificial intelligence, high-performance computing and cybersecurity. The digital technologies are also a powerful vector of transformation for higher education systems in Europe and can foster a greater inclusion of all potential learners.
The panel will discuss the means at the universities’ disposal to accelerate the transitions, and to face the challenges emerging from it. Panelists will be able to formulate concrete courses of action, and to present existing good practices.
Questions for participants may include the following: how can universities and alliances of higher education institutions be empowered to tackle the transitions through their strategies, operations and campuses? Which tools, methods and places are necessary to enable universities to share resources and means across Europe ? How to foster more interdisciplinarity in order to address those challenges at all relevant training and research levels? How to protect universities’ data sovereignty while making full use of digital means to enhance teaching and research activities? How to strike the right balance between digital and presential modes to improve the learners’ experience?
Moderator: Emmanuel Zenou – Universeh
- LLP – Lifelong learning platform
- Universities Estonia : association of the rectors of public universities of Estonia
- ESU – European Students’ Union
Workshops of the alliance
11:45 – 12:15
Green and digital transition
Green and digital transition
The ‘European Universities’ explore ways to strengthen the commitment of universities to the global challenges. In supporting challenged-based and interdisciplinary approaches, they are building knowledge-creating teams of students, academics and researchers to address these societal transformations and equip the society with the necessary skills and knowledge to unfold the green and digital transitions. ‘European Universities’ are therefore building models of cooperation and practices that could inspire the higher education and research sector in Europe. This workshop will allow alliances to present their commitments and good practices with regard to the green and digital transitions, and to reflect on the added value of institutional cooperation to that end.
Moderator: Ludovic Thilly – ForEU2
AURORA, ERUA, EUROTEQ, SEA-EU, ULYSSEUS, YUFE
12:15 – 12:45
Innovation ecosystems and entrepreneurship
Innovation ecosystems and entrepreneurship
The ‘European Universities’ are supporting practical and work-based experience to foster entrepreneurial mind-sets, skills, civic engagement and to promote knowledge transfer with surrounded ecosystems. In this way, they contribute to the dissemination of good practices and the emergence of dynamic local ecosystems, which actively participate to the European Union innovation capacity. In this workshop, the alliances will have the opportunity to present the projects they lead with their associated partners and to exchange view on how to further exploit the benefits of their local ecosystems.
Moderator: Carle Bonafous-Murat – France Universités
4EU+, E3UDRES2, ECIU, ENGAGE.EU, RUN-EU, UNIC, UNITE!
14:00-14:15
Introductory keynote speech
by Marie-Pierre Vedrenne, MEP
Roundtables
Workshops of the alliance
14:15 – 15:15
Roundtable 1:
Learning in and about Europe: students as actors of European citizenship
Learning in and about Europe: students as actors of European citizenship
Universities are places of freedom: they promote the active citizenship of students by transmitting democratic values and fundamental freedoms while encouraging each student in his or her academic, professional and personal journey. By supporting student mobility and the internationalization of curricula, universities and alliances of higher education institutions enable learners to acquire international and intercultural competences, as well as linguistic skills which contribute to transmit and reinforce the European way of life.
However, student mobility is hampered by administrative obstacles or language barriers, and the student mobility target set out in the Rome ministerial Communiqué adopted in November 2020 is
out of reach. It therefore seems necessary to further remove obstacles to mobility, notably by simplifying administrative procedures or by encouraging the mutual recognition of diploma.
This panel will be an opportunity for its participants to discuss ways to strengthen students’ European sense of belonging, improve their engagement in the university and their mobility and promote European interculturality. Panelists will be able to present existing good practices, for example in the use of digital tools for mobility or in the promotion of multilingualism and interculturality.
Questions for participants may include the following: how can universities contribute to strengthening the sense of belonging of European students? How can student mobility be enhanced, both at university and Member states level? What are the possible ways to strengthen interculturality and multilingualism in European higher education institutions? How to improve students’ involvement in their universities’ missions, governance and partnerships?
Moderator: Sandrine Lacombe – EUGLOH
- ELIA – European League of Institutes of the Arts
- Erasmus Student Network
- EASSH – European Alliance for Social Sciences and Humanities
14:15 – 15:15
Roundtable 2:
Success and inclusion: developing the potential of all students at university
Success and inclusion: developing the potential of all students at university
Despite increasing access to tertiary education, disadvantaged groups such as people from poor families, ethnic minorities, people with disability and children of low qualified parents are still underrepresented among students, academic staff and researchers. On the gender equality front, gender gaps remain persistent in some fields of study. These inequalities generate a democratic and social issue, as they prevent talented people from accessing the skills and knowledge to which they should be entitled.
Therefore, universities should be supported in addressing the needs of an increasingly diverse student population and in ensuring the inclusion and well-being of all. In order to reduce inequality and to promote student achievement, they can be encouraged to use innovative teaching tools and methods and to offer tailor-made individual support.
This panel will present commitments and good practices to achieve inclusive higher education and research. Participants will be able to discuss the diversity of universities’ inclusion frameworks and the support they foresee to ensure the inclusion of all audiences.
Questions for participants may include the following: how can universities ensure the inclusion and well-being of all types of students? How can the Commission and Member States support universities towards this goal?
Moderator: Tine Delva – DG EAC
- Coimbra Group Universities
- Ministry of Education and Training (Flanders/Belgium)
- EADTU – European Association of Distance Teaching Universities
14:15 – 15:15
Roundtable 3:
The university as a trusted third place: science at the risk of disinformation
The university as a trusted third place: science at the risk of disinformation
Among the information that feeds the public debate, scientific publications and research from universities are a quality resource that should enlighten the discussion. Through research, and by training citizens in the use of information, universities fight against disinformation and the misuse of data. They are thus trusted actors, whose weight is reinforced by universities’ ability to engage with societal actors such as media, science outreach organizations, innovators or civil society organizations. In that respect, universities play an active role in strengthening democracy and citizen science while preparing students for active citizenship and public engagement.
This panel will provide an opportunity to discuss the challenges of disinformation that universities are contributing to address, to present good practices, and to emphasize the support that universities need in this regard.
Questions for participants may include the following: how can Member States and the Commission support universities to promote science against disinformation? What role should citizen science play in this regard and how can universities engage with it? In what ways can universities strengthen their relations with societal information actors and contribute to an informed public debate?
Moderator: Jacques Comby – MESRI
- LERU – League of European Research Universities
- EASAC – European Academies’ Science Advisory Council
- ECSITE – The European network of science centres and museums
Workshops of the alliance
14:15 – 14:45
International cooperation
International cooperation
The ‘European Universities’ are building models of good practices to further increase the quality, international competitiveness and attractiveness of the European higher education landscape. In this way, enhanced cooperation within the alliances will allow the emergence of world-class academic sites and programmes while creating increased learning opportunities and mobility for European students. This workshop will allow alliances to present their internationalisation strategies and ways of strengthening the attractiveness of their alliances. Alliances will also have the opportunity to present views on their strategies of long-term cooperation.
Moderator: Alison Garnier – ForEU1
ATHENA, CIVICA, CIVIS, EPICUR, EU-CONEXUS, UNIGR
14:45 – 15:15
Being a student in Europe: belonging, inclusion, well-being
Being a student in Europe: belonging, inclusion, well-being
The creation of inter-university campuses can empower alliances to strengthen the social, economic and cultural diversity of their student, researcher and academic communities. By promoting interculturality, mobility and multilingualism, alliances can foster their students’ sense of European belonging while ensuring the well-being of each learner. This workshop will allow alliances to present their strategies, progress and good practices in order to achieve inclusive and European inter-university campuses that can foster their students’ European sense of belonging
Moderator: Carle Bonafous-Murat – France Universités
ENLIGHT, EUGLOH, EUT+, EUTOPIA, FILMEU,UNA EUROPA, UNITA
Final wrap-up of round tables and workshops, by students from European University Alliances
Conclusion
Speakers: Claire Giry, Director General of Research and Innovation; Director General for Education and Culture of the European Commission – DGEAC, Themis Christophidou