EUGLOH Contributes to Key Brussels Conferences Shaping the Future of European University Alliances

26th February – FOREU4ALL General Forum and Closed Rectors Meeting 

The morning of the 26th February was dedicated to the FOREU4ALL General Forum, organised by and for the alliances and chaired by Emily Helmeid, EUGLOH Secretary-General and current Vice-Chair of FOREU4ALL. Anouk Deana, EUGLOH Policy and External Affairs Officer was also present at the event.  The forum brought together representatives from most of the 65 EUAs both physically and virtually. In-person participants actively engaged in interactive sessions focused on topics such as internal and external communication, deepening collaboration within alliances, governance, and applying a holistic approach across all missions. All participants also received updates from the Community of Practice (CoP) project management team, covering engagement strategies, topical group developments, and outreach efforts. These discussions offered important insights into the evolving structure and priorities of the European Universities Initiative. 

In the afternoon, the European Commission hosted a closed Rectors Meeting titled “Shaping the Future: European University Alliances for a Competitive Europe.” EUGLOH was represented by António Sousa Pereira, Rector of the University of Porto (2025 EUGLOH President), Camille Galap, President of Université Paris-Saclay (Coordinator of EUGLOH 2.0), and Emily Helmeid, in her capacity as Vice-Chair of FOREU4ALL. 

Rector Sousa Pereira opened the session with a keynote speech, where he stated: 

“At EUGLOH and the University of Porto, we are increasingly convinced of the catalytic role of these alliances in fostering citizenship, reinforcing European values, and modernising the European Higher Education Area.” 

He emphasised the need for transformation and greater student involvement. The session continued with structured exchanges between Executive Vice-President Roxana Mînzatu and rectors from numerous other alliances and concluded with parallel small-group discussions on the strategic future of the initiative.

27th February – High-Level Coordinators Meeting Hosted by the European Commission 

The second day featured a full-day event organised by the European Commission: A High-Level Coordinators Meeting involving multiple representatives from each alliance, along with student leaders and other key stakeholders. EUGLOH was represented by Joana Resende, Vice-President and Representative of EUGLOH’s 2025 Presiding University, Secretary-General Emily Helmeid, Coordination Officer Catarina Tavares, Policy and External Affairs Officer Anouk Deana and Student Representative Francisca Albuquerque. Their presence highlighted EUGLOH’s ongoing commitment to shaping European higher education through collaboration and innovation. 

The day began with keynote speeches and testimonials, including a student perspective from EU CONEXUS, and a keynote by Enrico Letta, President of the Jacques Delors Institute and former Prime Minister of Italy. The conference focused on themes of preparedness, competitiveness, innovation, and resilience, with trust highlighted as a foundational value for the alliances' success. 

Michel Mariton, former Vice-President for Innovation at Université Paris-Saclay and EIT Governing Board member, represented EUGLOH on a high-level panel exploring how EUAs can transform the higher education landscape and strengthen Europe's strategic autonomy. 

The day continued with parallel breakout sessions covering: 

• Future skills development
• Embedding academic communities in the alliance journey
• Progress toward a European Degree
• Global partnerships
• Innovation ecosystems
• Student engagement and inclusiveness
• Investment pathways and funding synergies
• Monitoring and evaluation frameworks
• The role of the Community of Practice (FOREU4ALL)
• Coordinator perspectives on successful implementation 

EUGLOH’s commitment to student co-creation and ensuring that students remain central to the development of European alliances was seen in EUGLOH’s decision to include an ISB representative in its delegation. 

 Francisca Albuquerque highlighted the benefits of student representation at these events, stating:  

"This event and the opportunity to participate as a student representative, showcase the strong commitment of the EUGLOH Alliance and the European Commission to include students in co-creating the Universities of the Future, emphasising student-centred approaches, cross-border collaboration, and the role of European University Alliances as catalysts in fostering open innovation ecosystems".