Europe’s Universities 2030

EUA has developed its vision for Europe’s universities in 2030. After intensive consultations with more than 100 experts and visionaries from the EUA membership and a wide range of external partners, the EUA Council, adopted “Universities without walls – A vision for 2030” on 29 January 2021.

In the midst of the pandemic, Europe’s universities are looking ahead to define their priorities for the next ten years. Europe and the world are facing immense challenges: finding a sustainable equilibrium between ecological, economic and social concerns, the digital transition and (geo)political uncertainty, to name some of the most important ones. We are at a tipping point, a time of transformation for society and universities; it is important to take a step back and reflect about the future strategically.

How do we want Europe’s universities to look in ten years? What should be their role in society and how should their missions evolve? What are the core values and key conditions we need to retain? These are some of the key questions that EUA reflected upon throughout the consultation process in 2020. The result is a vision by the sector and for the sector, offering inspiration and guidance to university leaders and academic communities. It is a call to strengthen the role of universities in society and an invitation to all stakeholders to join forces for deeper and more impactful collaboration.

“Universities without walls – A vision for 2030” is meant to support universities in their development, facilitate exchange and enable the articulation of common interests to policy makers linked to the future of universities.

To take the vision further and gather ideas for possible pathways for universities to achieve the goals of openness, sustainability and autonomy, EUA will organise a series of workshops for university leadership throughout the first half of 2021.

The EUA Annual Conference on 22-23 April 2021, will be another occasion to engage in a discussion about the vision and what it means for universities and the different aspects of their activities.