Universities must actively look to the future to identify threats and opportunities. This closely relates to a key element of universities' existing role within society, whereby they both identify and influence a wide range of changes happening in the world around us. Over the past decade, many have experienced profound institutional- and system-level reforms, and they continue to change as challenges evolve and new opportunities arise. Questions surrounding the future of our planet, societies and economies drive these changes.
As the university sector takes ownership of this debate, EUA has developed its own vision about what Europe's universities should look like in 2030.
Renewal and transformation are present at various levels, be it institutional, societal or political. The Covid-19 pandemic has accelerated certain aspects of these developments.
At the European level, political interest in universities has increased in recent years and EUA has been a major player in the debate. In 2017-2018, the European Universities Initiative (EUI) put universities and higher education high on the European agenda. Specifically, the EUI has focused on the development of transnational university alliances as a cornerstone of a future European Education Area. More recently, a much broader debate on the future of universities has emerged. In this context, EUA is actively looking towards the institutional transformation needed to advance towards shared goals, such as innovative learning and teaching, Open Science and Open Access.
As a next step, EUA is engaging in the debate about “Universities and the future of Europe”. In its work to shape this future, the Association will explore what kind of European framework and means of cooperation universities need to best fulfil their missions in an ever-changing world.
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.
Current crises, and the geo-political, economic, social, environmental and technological change and uncertainty that they bring, are impacting how universities work, follow their missions and collaborate with European and global partners. To address this fundamental challenge, European...
view moreThe European University Association (EUA) has joined the “Improving Research Ethics Expertise and Competencies to Ensure Reliability and Trust in Science” (iRECS) project. The aim of this initiative, funded by the Horizon Europe programme, is to improve the quality of ethics review processes...
view moreThe European Commission is developing a set of non-binding commitments for EU member states...
read moreThe Conference on the Future of Europe is an initiative for all Europeans to voice their ideas and debate the future of our continent. As its contribution to this important debate, EUA is submitting the following on the role of universities in shaping the future of Europe: Europe and the world...
view moreEUA member RWTH Aachen University will launch its new virtual event series "The New Fiction of Good Science - Talking About...". EUA President Michael Murphy will participate in the first edition “Talking About... How Universities Positively Shape Social Change”, which will be made available on 29...
view moreThis publication focuses on geopolitical changes, digitalisation and artificial intelligence, as...
read moreHigher education institutions are key actors in the transition towards carbon neutrality and...
read moreThis EUA policy input aims to inform the development of the European Commission’s upcoming...
read moreThe Magna Charta Observatory (MCO) will celebrate the 32nd anniversary of the Magna Charta Universitatum on 16 and 17 June, and will launch the new Magna Charta, the MCU2020, which makes the charter more global and more in line with today's world. EUA Secretary General Amanda Crowfoot will be...
view moreEUA member in Poland, Wroclaw University of Economics and Business (WUEB), published its 2030 Strategy report outlining the circumstances that explain the university’s understanding of the future functioning of WUEB, its vision and mission, strategic priorities, and the iterative mechanism of...
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 moreThe Eurasian Universities Union (EURAS) organises the Eurasia Higher Education (EURIE) Summit on 3 – 5 March 2021. This year’s EURIE Summit will be held virtually and will count with the presence of the European University Association in two sessions: EUA President Michael Murphywill...
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 moreTo mark its 75th anniversary in 2020, the United Nations launched a global conversation on how to tackle the challenges we face and build a better future for all. The UN invites European universities to participate in the UN75 Initiative by hosting dialogues and responding to a one-minute...
view moreEUA is embarking on an initiative to develop a vision for Europe’s universities in 2030. This vision by the sector for the sector will serve as inspiration for EUA members, as well as for policy makers and other stakeholders. It will build on EUA’s new strategy, the Association’s long-standing...
view moreHow can universities adopt more flexible and adaptive approaches to strategy development? Gert-Jan...
read moreGlobal challenges call for “universities without walls”. Drawing from his experience in the Higher...
read moreAs we look forward towards a future of “Universities without walls”, this article by EUA President...
read moreWhat will the future hold in terms of geopolitics, digitalisation and democracy? How will this...
read moreUniversities support Europe’s agenda for digital leadership in their role as digital technology...
read moreAs universities strive to realise human potential, preserve the planet and promote health and...
read moreThe European Commission aims at developing a “European strategy for universities” to strengthen...
read moreThe preservation and development of culture is part of the mission of universities. This article,...
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 moreChange is in the air. The Covid-19 crisis has turned our lives upside down, but well before this...
read moreIn this in-depth analysis of the lessons presented by the Covid-19 crisis for universities, EUA...
read moreThe 2021 EUA Annual Conference “Universities 2030: From vision to reality” took 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 moreAs part of the process to develop the EUA vision of Europe’s Universities 2030, the Association organised an online Leadership Roundtable to bring together...
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