The missions and work of universities in Europe and elsewhere are underpinned by a number of fundamental values. EUA as an Association strongly believes in and works towards upholding these.
The Association’s activities include monitoring and promoting institutional autonomy as a core principle of university governance and advocating academic freedom as the single most important basis for meaningful academic research and teaching. EUA has a strong track record in standing up for freedom of expression and the protection of higher education and its communities from intimidation and attack.
In addition, the Association supports universities in nurturing a culture of openness, tolerance and dialogue by promoting diversity among students and staff, integrating refugees into their communities and acting as models of healthy democratic communities. EUA also encourages its members to fulfil their civic role by contributing to social and political debates, addressing societal challenges and contributing to sustainable development. EUA also focuses on the responsible and proper conduct of scientific work, as upholding research integrity and ethics is key to strengthening universities’ credibility and consolidating their role in society.
EUA works together with its members and a variety of partners, including Scholars at Risk, the Magna Charta Observatory and the International Association of Universities (IAU), to ensure that these values are respected and guide universities’ activities.
This seminal document is the result of extensive consultations and deliberations with EUA members and partners over a six-month period in 2020. It sets out a vision of resilient and effective universities, serving Europe’s societies towards a better future.
EUA Strategic Plan
The need for strong universities has never been greater in addressing societal challenges. The Covid-19 pandemic, climate change, resource scarcity, ageing populations, migration and managing artificial intelligence are among the many examples of areas where universities have a major impact.
Magna Charta Observatory and the Global Student Forum organise the free webinar “Involving students effectively – what happens and how it improves universities: international perspectives” on 19 April from 17.00 to 18.30 CEST. Registrations close on 17 April. The webinar looks at the student...
view moreGhent University’s Research Department organises a MSCA Master Class for incoming postdocs on 20 – 21 May 2021. Applications are open until 19 April. The training programme will take place on 20 and 21 May, from 9.30 to 16.00, and focuses on various aspects of the research proposal: purpose of...
view moreScholars At Risk (SAR) organises the webinar “Free Universities: Putting the Academic Freedom Index Into Action Through the UN Human Rights Systems” on 15 April from 15.00 to 16.00 CEST. The webinar will present the Academic Freedom Index (AFi), which draws on contributions by some 2,000...
view moreSustainable learning and teaching was at the centre of the 2020 EUA Learning & Teaching Thematic Peer Groups, which have wrapped up their cycle of work. Focusing specific issues under this broader topic, the groups have released their reports covering: Approaches in learning and teaching...
view moreThe UK Mission to the EU, the League of European Research Universities (LERU) and the European University Association (EUA) organise the webinar “From Diversity STEMs Success: Promoting Gamechangers in Research and Innovation” on 23 March from 11:00 to 12:00 CEST. As part of the UK G7...
view moreThe International Association of Universities (IAU) launched the second IAU global survey on the impact of Covid-19 on higher education, open until 15 April. The survey is available in English, French, and Spanish. Aimed at gathering substantial data on the ways global higher education systems...
view moreTento kľúčový dokument je výsledkom rozsiahlych konzultácií a rokovaní s členmi a partnermi EUA...
read moreThe European University Alliance E³UDRES² (Engaged and Entrepreneurial European University as Driver for European Smart and Sustainable Regions) celebrates its official Online Opening Conference “Towards Future Universities for Smart and Sustainable Regions” on 22-23 March 2021, from 13:00 to...
view moreNESET, the Network of Experts working on the Social dimension of Education and Training, has published the report “Community engagement in higher education: trends, practices and policies”. The report found that universities play a crucial role in responding to societal needs, and can further...
view moreInternational Women’s Day, celebrated on 8 March, is an opportunity that EUA has been seizing every year to further raise awareness on gender disparities in universities. In 2021, again, the Association contributes to this important discussion by presenting the latest data on female leadership...
view moreOn 14 February, Frédérique Vidal, French Minister for Higher Education, Research and Innovation, announced plans to order the French research agency (CNRS) to conduct an enquiry into French university research focused on colonialism and race. The aim, according to Vidal, is to identify those...
view moreThe Centre for Excellence in Teaching and Learning (CELT), part of EUA member National University of Ireland Galway (NUI Galway), partnered with its Inclusive Learning project team to organise the online Inclusive Learning in Higher Education Symposium on 7 and 8 April 2021. This two-day...
view moreThe European University Alliance E³UDRES² (Engaged and Entrepreneurial European University as Driver for European Smart and Sustainable Regions) calls for scientific contributions, relevant concepts, inspiring ideas, and innovative approaches for a closer connection between science and higher...
view moreThe School of Human Rights in Turkey, an EU-funded project that started during the state of emergency in Turkey, organises the International Online Conference of Academic Freedom as a Human Right on 14, 15 and 16 December 2020. During the conference, there will be a discussion on the definition...
view moreLumina Foundation published a study entitled “COVID’s Lessons for Global Higher Education: Coping with the Present while Building a More Equitable Future”. The study offers a preliminary assessment of the impact of the Covid-19 pandemic on higher education throughout the world, with a special...
view moreThe new European Commission “Action Plan on Integration and Inclusion” frames migrant integration under the overarching theme of “Inclusion for all”. Like the previous plan, there is a strong emphasis on the role of education and training (particularly early education) in the integration of...
view moreRecent months have seen important events regarding academic freedom, both in Europe and globally. There have been violations of democratic and human rights in Belarus, including threats against students and staff of universities – which were widely condemned. Last month, the Court of Justice...
view moreEUA member in Russia, Tomsk Polytechnic University, launched the Urban Greenhouse Challenge: Reforest, an international competition of student projects for innovative greenhouse complexes in urban environment. Registrations are open until 28 February 2021. The competition will run online...
view moreThe Institute for the Development of Education (Croatia), together with 22 partners/associate partners from six EU Member States including EUA, launched the Erasmus+ project SHEFCE – Steering Higher Education for Community Engagement. The project has been launched to support community...
view moreThe Refugee Education Initiatives 2 (REIs 2) consortium organises the online workshop “Recognising Learning and Promoting Inclusion: conversations on access to university in Europe for refugees and displaced people” on 30 October. The workshop is part of the EU-funded REIS2 project and it is...
view moreEUA partner Scholars at Risk (SAR) organises “Free to Think 2020: Responding to Attacks on Higher Education” on 19 – 20 November 2020. The virtual conference marks SAR’s 20th anniversary and the release of the SAR's annual monitoring report, Free to Think 2020. The event will also feature the...
view moreOn 6 October 2020, the Court of Justice of the European Union (ECJ) ruled that the Hungarian government violated EU law in 2017 when it changed its education legislation. The amendments made headlines as they ultimately led the Central European University (CEU), an EUA member, to move most of its...
view moreEUA member in Ukraine Vasyl Stefanyk Precarpathian National University, together with the NGO “Sustainable Development Landmarks”, organise the 1st virtual international conference on sustainable education (SEVIC 2020) on 11 – 13 December 2020. The event SEVIC 2020 encourages scholars and...
view moreThe nominations for the 2020 edition of the UNESCO King Hamad Bin Isa Al-Khalifa Prize for the use of Information and Communication Technologies in education are open until 18 December 2020 (midnight, Paris time). Funded by the Kingdom of Bahrain and established in 2005, the Prize rewards...
view moreInSPIREurope, the initiative to support, promote and integrate researchers at risk in Europe, organises the first InSPIREurope outreach workshop in Thessaloniki, Greece, on 30 September. The event will be organised in hybrid format: online and with face-to-face meetings at the premises of EUA...
view moreStudents from disadvantaged and marginalised backgrounds still struggle to participate in higher...
read moreEurope’s universities are upping their game for the new decade, to meet the challenges of our...
read moreAs the world faces complex challenges, universities are taking the time to reflect about the...
read moreThe Covid-19 pandemic presents new challenges for inclusive teaching. This article shares the...
read moreThe radical digitalisation of higher education due to the Covid-19 crisis offers an opportunity to...
read moreAs reflected by the European Green Deal, the environmental revolution is likely the main challenge...
read moreProviding students with the skills for multidisciplinary collaboration and entrepreneurship...
read moreThe Bologna Follow-up Group has developed a new strategic document that defines ten principles and...
read moreThe coronavirus pandemic demonstrates the renewed importance of universities’ civic engagement,...
read moreRefugees bring with them skills, qualifications and experience – including in the medical field....
read moreGrants are important for researchers’ careers and only the best applicants receive them. So, what...
read moreA new year brings new opportunities to address global challenges. EUA President Michael Murphy...
read moreThe support for student engagement in volunteering, civic, cultural, associative and solidarity...
read moreThe Global Convention on Recognition will provide a strong instrument for higher education...
read moreUniversity autonomy and academic freedom should be more than topics of proclamation and...
read moreJón Atli Benediktsson, Rector of the University of Iceland, reflects on the future and why...
read moreUniversities are based on and guided by values. It is vital that each institution declares them as...
read moreHow can universities use the renewed attention to values to their advantage? A key step is to move...
read moreTo remain world leaders in research and innovation, Europe’s universities need more supportive...
read moreAcademic freedom is the latest of the many victims on Hungary’s path towards an illiberal state,...
read moreThe Hungarian government’s clampdown on gender studies and research into migration sets a...
read moreThe 2021 EUA Annual Conference “Universities 2030: From vision to reality” will take place online on 22-23 April. Against the backdrop of the ongoing climate...
Read moreEUA is pleased to invite university leaders from its membership to an online discussion on the impact of changing geopolitics on their institutions. Based on...
Read more3 November 2020, 14:00 - 15:00 CET. As part of its contribution to the Inspireurope project, EUA launched the report “Researchers at Risk: Mapping Europe’s...
Read moreEUA organised a focus group for university practitioners across Europe to discuss how to articulate and implement strategies for public engagement on 19...
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