Sustainability of European Universities alliances explored at Future4Alliances workshop in Vienna

Future4Alliances workshop in Vienna, celebrated on 30 September and 1 October, gathered a full room of representatives from different ministries, national points and the academic community to discuss the sustainability of funding for European Universities alliances.

The event featured two key panels with active participation from alliance members.

• Round table: Visions, expectations & experiences – Insights from the European University Alliances

Ludovic Thilly (EC2U), Nebojša Bojović (Circle U.), Meritxell Chaves (CHARM-EU), Mona Roman (UREKA! SHIFT), and Niall Power (ECIU) shared their perspectives on ambitions, experiences, and the added value of the initiative.

• Panel discussion: Challenges and needs in the funding of European University Alliances

Nebojša Bojović, Meritxell Chaves, and Mona Roman were joined by Michal Karpíšek (E3UDRES2) for a second session, which addressed the importance of adequate funding and the sustainability of the initiative. Ludovic Thilly contributed on behalf of FOREU4ALL, emphasising the need for long-term perspectives and support mechanisms.

The participants stressed the tangible impact of alliances on universities, local ecosystems, national regulations, and the European Higher Education and Research Areas, establishing them as a powerful instrument for enhancing not only Europe’s competitiveness but national competitiveness as well. Thilly also called for long-term, predictable, and flexible funding instruments in the next MFF (2028–2034).

The Vienna meeting confirmed that alliances are already paving the way for future EU programmes (Erasmus+, FP10, and ECF), while showing the crucial need for sustainable funding solutions to ensure their long-term impact.

Photo credit: Günter Macho