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Timeline and future developments - European Universities initiative

The European Universities initiative has been developed through cooperation between higher education institutions, student organisations, national governments from EU countries and the European Commission.

As a result of such high support, the initiative is now an integral part of the Erasmus+ 2021-2027 programme. European Universities are selected through Erasmus+ calls for proposals.

Read more about EU financial support for the European Universities Initiative.

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

2023

50 European Universities alliances are active

2024

New funding for additional European Universities alliances will boost cooperation in higher education

The Erasmus+ programme also supports the set-up of a policy experimentation project aimed at cooperation between the 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

The future of the European Universities initiative

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 2026 and 2027 Erasmus+ Work Programme, calls for European Universities under Erasmus+ are expected to be launched in 2026 and 2027, targeting primarily already existing deep institutional transnational cooperation alliances, ensuring sustainable funding up to 2028-2029.

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 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.

Report on outcomes and transformative potential

Demonstrating the transformative impact of the European Universities initiative is also essential. To achieve this, the Commission developed a monitoring framework in collaboration with the alliances, the higher education sector and EU countries. 

Building on the results of this monitoring framework, the Commission will report in second half of 2024 on the outcomes and transformative potential of the European Universities initiative.