FOREU4ALL Hosts Third Stakeholder and External Advisory Board Meetings in Brussels

This week, representatives of higher education stakeholder organisations and members of the FOREU4ALL External Advisory Board (EAB) have gathered in Brussels for the third FOREU4ALL Stakeholder Meeting and EAB Meeting. Taking place a year and a half into the initiative, these sessions marked an essential forum for strategic stocktaking and navigating a shifting European policy landscape.

Chaired by Beatrix Busse, Chair of the Forum Board, alongside vice-Chair Emily Helmeid and co-Coordinator Olga Wessels, the meetings provided an opportunity to reflect on FOREU4ALL’s latest achievements, discuss future plans, and exchange views on key policy developments shaping the European Universities initiative, including FP10, the European Competitiveness Fund, and new Erasmus+ proposals.

Participants also explored how European Universities alliances can serve as role models for the wider higher education sector by fostering collaboration, sharing knowledge, and disseminating good practices. Discussions highlighted opportunities for stronger engagement with the higher education community, increased cross-sector cooperation, and the promotion of successful alliance experiences.

Some of the participants during the FOREU4ALL Stakeholder Meeting and EAB Meeting

During the EAB meeting, members from the European Students'​ Union (ESU); the European Association for Quality Assurance in Higher Education (ENQA); the European University Association (EUA); the European Association for the Applied Sciences in Higher Education (EURASHE), and the Erasmus Student Network (ESN) reflected on their role within FOREU4ALL and discussed ways to strengthen collaboration with topical groups, workshops, webinars, and Policy Learning Labs, while supporting communication, dissemination, and bottom-up initiatives across the community.

Moving forward, FOREU4ALL and higher education stakeholders pledged to continue their collaboration and drive joint advocacy efforts to secure sustainable funding in the next MFF, champion interoperability, streamline the European Degree Label, and strengthen awareness raising and information flow on the Member State level.