This briefing reports on recent developments affecting Europe’s recognition regimes – both professional and academic.

The European University Association welcomes the European Commission’s Communication on A New European Innovation Agenda, notably as an overarching innovation agenda is needed to tackle specific bottlenecks which stunt Europe’s innovation performance, and to achieve consistency and effective implementation of the various tools available for this purpose.

The EUA Council for Doctoral Education has developed this publication at a time when global challenges such as the climate crisis and the need to build a more sustainable planet, together with emerging opportunities (e.g. digitalisation), have led universities to a deep reflection on how doctoral education can further progress and remain open and observant of the core values of academia.

The European University Association welcomes the adoption by the Council of the European Union of the Conclusions on research assessment and implementation of Open Science.

In recent years, co-tutelles de thèse have become increasingly popular among universities in Europe in the area of doctoral education as one of the main components of their internationalisation strategies.

This self-assessment tool was developed by the European University Association (EUA) in partnership with the German Rectors’ Conference (HRK), the Spanish Rectors’ Conference (Crue) and the Dutch organisation for internationalisation in education (Nuffic) in the context of the Erasmus+ co-funded “Spotlight on recognition” project.

This brief provides a snapshot of how the Russian Federation’s invasion is impacting Ukraine’s university sector, and the measures taken by Ukrainian authorities and the higher education sector. It also looks into how the European Union and the European higher education community have responded.

Scholars in many parts of the world are experiencing threats to their careers, liberty, and even their lives. Many of these at-risk researchers have to leave their countries in order to find refuge, safety, support, and the intellectual space to continue their work. When researchers are at risk, not only are individual lives and careers in jeopardy, but the quality and very future of research is also at stake.

This Annual Report demonstrates the Association’s efforts throughout the year in shaping the future of Europe’s universities – notably through European policies and initiatives affecting higher education and research.

Based on data collected in 2021 by the International Association of Universities (IAU), Michael Gaebel and Henriette Stoeber reflect on the impact of the pandemic on European higher education.