Strategic dialogue on European Universities

10 May 2023, Maastricht, 08:30–19:00

Location: MECC, Forum 100, 6229 GV Maastricht

In 2017, the European Universities initiative was introduced by French President Macron in a speech given at Sorbonne University and launched by the European Commission. The initiative’s goal is to generate unprecedented levels of cooperation to foster strategic partnerships for student mobility, research and excellence; while at the same time boosting the EU's international performance. Since then, 44 alliances involving 340 higher education institutions have been formed in 31 countries.

Four years after the launch of the first call, many first-generation European Universities are now ending the pilot phase and are starting to further roll out, while others have just recently joined the family. Success in the experimental phase of a policy instrument depends on the extent that stakeholders and policymakers exchange information on obstacles, benefits, results and challenges.

It is in this context that the Institut français NL, Studio Europa Maastricht, the YUFE Alliance and Maastricht University invite European Universities, professionals and researchers in the field of European higher education, as well as the wider public interested in European higher education to join the  Strategic Dialogue on European Universities.

On 10 May, participants will reflect and discuss achievements, challenges and future goals with expert speakers and facilitators. What is needed to enable increased cooperation between European universities? How can universities fulfil European ambitions while remaining strongly embedded in their region? In what ways can member states and the European Commission support this?

View the programme here / Register here

About the organising partners

The Institut français NL is the French agency for cultural cooperation in the Netherlands. It promotes the learning of the French language and supports French-Dutch partnerships in the fields of creation, research, education, the French languages and ideas.

Studio Europa Maastricht is a centre of expertise for academic research, European heritage and public debate.

The YUFE Alliance is based on the joint vision of ten young research-intensive universities and three non-academic partners located all across Europe. The YUFE partners came together based on their shared dedication to the European spirit, their common aim to contribute to a more competitive, innovative and united Europe and their ambition to help address today’s challenges.

Maastricht University is a young university in the heart of Europe with a clear global perspective. It sees itself first and foremost as an open and inclusive academic community that strives for a good mix of Dutch, European and other international students and that addresses both European and global issues in its education and research programmes.