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Timeline
2017
European Council calls for the emergence by 2024 of European universities in its Council conclusions
2018
European Commission publishes first call for proposals for European Universities
2019
First 17 European Universities alliances become operational
2020
41 European Universities alliances are active
2021
Council Conclusions on the European Universities reiterate support for the European Universities
2022
- 44 European Universities alliances are active
- Adoption of the European strategy for universities
- Council Conclusions on the European strategy for universities
- Council Recommendation on building bridges for effective European higher education cooperation
2023
50 European Universities alliances are active
2024
June: 64 European Universities alliances
64 European Universities alliances are now active, surpassing the strategic goal
Autumn: FOREU4ALL community of practice kicks off
The FOREU4ALL community of practice brings together European Universities alliances and other higher education stakeholders like student organisations and university associations.
The mission of this community of practice is to foster close cooperation and knowledge exchange.
To achieve this, FOREU4ALL plans to
- reinforce peer learning between European Universities alliances
- boost the dissemination of results and models within the wider higher education sector
FOREU4ALL is supported by Erasmus+.
December: 65 European Universities alliances
EU-GIFT becomes the 65th European Universities alliance.
Browse the updated map and list of alliances
2025
Study on the outcomes and transformational potential of the European Universities initiative
The European Commission published a study on the outcomes and transformational potential of the European Universities initiative. It presents the progress, achievements and transformational potential of the European Universities alliances. It also gives on overview of remaining challenges and provides recommendations to sustain the initiative’s success in the long-term. With this it aims to support future funding decisions regarding the European Universities initiative under the next multi-annual EU budgetary period.
Start of policy experimentation project enhancing cooperation between Members on the European Universities initiative
Erasmus+ supports the set-up of a policy experimentation project that starts in 2025. It aims at enhancing cooperation between national and regional authorities on
- creating a supporting administrative and regulatory environment for European Universities and other similar long-standing institutionalised cooperation models
- funding European Universities at national or regional level, as a complement to the grants received at European level
Future developments
Over time, European Universities alliances will
- connect more and more faculties, departments, staff and students
- embed more mobility opportunities to students in their curricula
- offer more innovative pedagogies and flexible learning pathways based on challenge-based and transdisciplinary approaches
- implement more joint degree programmes
- deliver joint micro-credentials
- increase inclusivity and engagement with their communities
The blueprint for a European degree can act as a key enabler for the European Universities alliances to deliver joint degree programmes.
Read more about the blueprint for a European degree
2026-2027
Subject to the adoption of the Erasmus+ Work Programme, the European Commission expects to publish a call for European Universities under Erasmus+.
The primary target will be already existing alliances involved in deep institutional transnational cooperation, ensuring sustainable “bridge” funding into the next EU budgetary period starting in 2028.
2028-2034 investment pathway
The European Commission services are working with European Universities alliances, other higher education stakeholder organisations and the EU countries on an investment pathway for European Universities alliances for the period 2028-2034.
This work aims to facilitate a comprehensive funding approach, complementing the core educational dimension with support across all alliances’ missions (including research and innovation) for wider societal benefit. It also aims to seek synergies with national and regional funding.