FOREU4ALL Forum Board Members Highlight the Growing Impact of European University Alliances at Cyprus High-Level Meeting

A delegation of the FOREU4ALL Forum Board participated in the Meeting of Directors General for Higher Education held in Nicosia, Cyprus, on 20–21 May 2026 under the Cyprus Presidency of the Council of the EU. Representing the FOREU4ALL community, Fernando Pérez Peña, SEA-EU General Director and Vice-Chair of the FOREU4ALL Forum Board, alongside members of the Board Michal Karpisek (Secretary General of the E³UDRES² Alliance) and Naveed Syed (Secretary General of the ENHANCE Alliance), took part in the session “European Universities Alliances: Beating Heart of Europe’s Future”, reinforcing the collective visibility and strategic relevance of alliances within the European Higher Education Area.

The meeting brought together representatives from European Union Member States, the European Commission, quality assurance agencies, the European Student Union (ESU) and higher education stakeholders to reflect on key topics including European degrees, internationalisation, digitalisation, artificial intelligence, student involvement, research capacity and skills development.

Throughout the discussions, a strong consensus emerged around the growing maturity of European University alliances and their capacity to contribute far beyond mobility and joint education. Alliances were recognised as long-term strategic partnerships capable of driving institutional transformation, strengthening Europe’s innovation and competitiveness, and enhancing collaboration between universities, cities, industry and society.

The FOREU4ALL representatives highlighted how alliances are already generating concrete impact across Europe through new educational models, digital learning environments, joint programmes, research collaboration and policy development. Examples shared during the meeting included reforms supporting short-term mobility and recognition processes, contributions to national discussions on micro-credentials, and the development of innovative integrated European study programmes.

Participants also emphasised the importance of sustained political and institutional support for the future development of alliances. Discussions pointed to the need for stronger coordination between alliances, ministries, European institutions and broader stakeholders, as well as greater awareness of the achievements and opportunities generated by the European Universities Initiative.

Photo credit: Cyprus Presidency of the Council of the EU 2026