On 13 and 14 April 2026, ATHENA participated in the European Universities Alliances Coordinators’ Meeting held in Brussels. The event brought together representatives from alliances across Europe to reflect on progress, exchange experiences, and discuss the future of the European Universities initiative.
ATHENA was represented by its coordinators, Zdravdo Kačič and Bojan Dolšak from the University of Maribor, alongside Ioan Todinca from the University of Orléans, representing the current ATHENA presidency.
The meeting gathered coordinators from dozens of European alliances, forming a key platform for dialogue with the European Commission and among peers. Discussions focused on the evolving role of alliances within the European Higher Education Area and the challenges and opportunities ahead. Among the central topics addressed were long-term sustainability, strengthening institutional cooperation, fostering innovation in education, and enhancing mobility opportunities for students and staff.
This edition of the coordinators’ meeting comes at a pivotal moment for the European Universities initiative, which now encompasses 65 alliances and hundreds of higher education institutions across Europe. The initiative continues to play a central role in shaping a more integrated, innovative, and resilient European higher education landscape.
The event also provided an opportunity to exchange best practices, share lessons learned, and reinforce collaboration between alliances. Such interactions are essential to ensuring that alliances not only meet current expectations but also contribute actively to building a long-term vision for European higher education.
ATHENA’s participation reaffirms its strong commitment to contributing to the strategic development of the European Universities initiative. By engaging in these high-level discussions and collaborative platforms, ATHENA continues to position itself as an active and forward-looking alliance, dedicated to advancing inclusive, innovative, and high-quality education across Europe.
