Members of the ATHENA European University Alliance participated in the EAIE Conference and Exhibition last week, representing their respective universities and engaging with colleagues from across the European higher education community.
The conference provided an opportunity to follow some of the key developments currently shaping European cooperation in higher education. Among the sessions attended, discussions led by the European Commission on the future Framework Programme for 2028–2034 and the Joint European Degree Label (EDL) were particularly relevant to the work of European Universities Alliances.
A particularly timely focus on the Joint European Degree
The discussions around the Joint European Degree Label were especially timely for ATHENA, following the Alliance’s EDL Exploratory Action, ATHENA-AHEAD.
The sessions provided an opportunity to better understand the current European-level discussions, while also hearing from other European Universities Alliances about their approaches and experiences. For ATHENA, these exchanges offered useful perspectives to reflect on the work carried out through the Exploratory Action and on the possible next steps towards deeper European cooperation in joint educational provision.
The EDL was also discussed in the broader context of the development of the European Universities initiative and the future of European higher education. These discussions highlighted both the opportunities offered by greater cooperation between institutions and the practical questions that alliances continue to explore.
Learning from the European Universities community
Alongside the European Commission sessions, ATHENA members attended a number of sessions organised by and for European Universities Alliances. These provided a valuable space to share experiences, discuss common challenges and learn from approaches being developed across the wider alliance community.
Participation in events such as EAIE is an important part of maintaining connections within this growing European network. For ATHENA, it is an opportunity to bring together perspectives from our member universities, contribute to ongoing discussions and bring new insights back into the Alliance’s work.
The conference also provided numerous opportunities for informal exchanges with colleagues and partners working on internationalisation and European cooperation in higher education.
The discussions and perspectives gathered at EAIE will feed into ATHENA’s ongoing work, including our reflections on the Joint European Degree and the future development of European University Alliances.
