28.02.2025 EUPeace at European Universities high-level meeting 'Shaping the future: European Universities alliances for a competitive Europe'

Representatives of 65 European university alliances, including EUPeace, met in Brussels on 26-27 February 2025 to discuss Europe's competitiveness regarding education, research and the job market.

EUPeace was represented at a meeting of the Community of Practice FOREU4ALL in the morning of 26  February 2025 by the Chair of the EUPeace Governing Board and Deputy President of Marburg University, Prof. Dr. Evelyn Korn and by Alexandre Wipf, Secretary General of EUPeace. FOREU4ALL gathers all university alliances and serves as a platform for exchange and coordination. 

In the afternoon, Prof. Dr. Evelyn Korn was joined by UWB Rector, Prof. RNDr. Miroslav Lávička, Ph.D. for the closed meeting with Rectors/Presidents of the European Universities alliances that was organised by the European Union. In this meeting the Commission’s Executive Vice-President for Social Rights and Skills, Quality Jobs, and Preparedness, Roxana Mînzatu delivered a keynote and directly exchanged with the representatives of the alliances. Joint international study programmes and diplomas, the harmonisation of academic environments, and easier opportunities for study and work stays abroad are among the most significant benefits of European university alliances for students and university staff. The role of university alliances in providing high-quality and competitive education for young people in the future was the key topic of this extraordinary meeting of rectors and presidents of European universities. Executive Vice-President Roxana Mînzatu presented her vision for the future of the European Education Area, where she clearly sees an increasing role for university alliances. Key topics discussed included the long-term funding of university alliances, the possibility of establishing a joint European diploma, and strategies for better preparing students for current societal challenges and labor market demands. Discussions also covered innovation support, the use of artificial intelligence, sustainability, and student start-ups.

"When discussing competitiveness and future-readiness of Europe we have to remind ourselves of the strengths of universities: they deliver innovative education, conduct cutting-edge research leading to ground-breaking innovation, and serve society for informed citizens and resilient democracies. An Alliance such as EUPeace is an opportunity to multiply the impact of universities throughout Europe. Universities and Alliances can indeed be the cornerstone of completing the internal market through the Fifth Freedom proposed by former Italian Prime Minister Enrico Letta. Together we serve and shape society, including the economy and the labour market" said Prof. Dr. Evelyn Korn, Chair of the Governing Board of EUPeace  and Deputy President of Marburg University.

Another crucial challenge for Europe is improving the quality and internationalisation of higher education. Over the past five years, 65 European university alliances have been established, playing an increasingly important role in connecting universities across Europe. Just like EUPeace, all alliances help overcome the fragmentation of the higher education system, facilitate international mobility, and promote the exchange of experiences among students and academics.

Each alliance was represented by two members of the top management of their universities. EUPeace, which aims to promote European values and build a modern, resilient society that effectively utilises modern technologies, was represented by the Alliance's chair, Prof. Dr. Evelyn Korn, and UWB Rector Prof. RNDr. Miroslav Lávička, Ph.D. "It is an honor for UWB that Evelyn Korn invited us to participate in this discussion. It shows that we are not only strong and trustworthy partners for our colleagues but also valuable and active members of the alliance. This is further confirmed by the fact that the EUPeace alliance, under the auspices of UWB and the Pilsen Region, is organising a debate in Brussels on March 25 on the topic of Strengthening European Values – Universities and University Alliances at the Heart of the Action," concluded Rector Miroslav Lávička.

On 27 February 2025, the high-level meeting on the European Universities initiative continued with sessions including all the coordinators of the Alliances. EUPeace was represented by its Coordination Office, including Alexandre Wipf, Petra Kienle, and Sandy Halliday. Enrico Letta, President of the Jacques Delors Institute and former Prime Minister of Italy, called in his keynote on Alliances and universities to take their just place and become central reference points not just for education and research but also social change and competitiveness around the proposed Fifth Freedom -the free movement of research, innovation, knowledge, and education. Alliances had the opportunity to exchange on European Universities as power houses for developing the skills for the future; Embarking academic communities at large on the alliance journey; the developments around the European Degree; cooperation with non-EU countries; Fostering innovation in European Universities; the Student perspective; the future investment pathway for European Universities; the monitoring framework for the European Universities initiative. 

Original article "University rectors discussed the future of European higher education in Brussels" by Andrea Čandová on UWB's website here.