European universities

The European Universities initiative aims to foster deep, institutionalized cooperation among higher education institutions across Europe, making such collaboration systemic, structural, and sustainable. The primary goals are to enhance the quality, performance, and international competitiveness of European universities, while promoting common European values and a strengthened European identity. By bringing together a new generation of Europeans, the initiative seeks to cultivate individuals capable of working across cultures, languages, borders, sectors, and academic disciplines. The program aspires to drive a substantial leap in the attractiveness and effectiveness of higher education, supporting institutional transformation and contributing to the European knowledge economy, employment, creativity, culture, and welfare. Innovative pedagogies and strong links to research and innovation are central to this vision, with the ultimate aim of making the “knowledge square” a reality and increasing the sector’s outreach to society and the economy.

Eligibility for this funding is open to existing alliances of higher education institutions engaged in deep, transnational cooperation. This includes, but is not limited to, alliances previously selected under the 2022 Erasmus+ call for proposals. The funding period for selected alliances is two years, providing a sustainable financial perspective to support ongoing transformation and inspire broader change within the European higher education sector.

The impact of the European Universities initiative is expected to be significant, serving as a catalyst for systemic change in higher education across Europe. By supporting alliances that exemplify best practices in collaboration, innovation, and societal engagement, the initiative aims to set new standards for quality and competitiveness, ultimately benefiting students, institutions, and European society as a whole.