European Universities Initiative

In his Sorbonne speech in September 2017, French president Emmanuel Macron proposed to create at least 20 European Universities by 2024, building “a network of universities across Europe with programmes that have all their students study abroad and take classes in at least two languages. These European Universities will also be drivers of educational innovation and the quest for excellence.”

Macron’s initiative was taken up in November 2017 by the European Commission in its Communication “Strengthening European Identity through Education and Culture” and confirmed by the European leaders at their Council meeting in December 2017. They call on the Commission to encourage “the emergence by 2024 of some twenty ‘European Universities’, consisting in bottom-up networks of universities across the EU which will enable students to obtain a degree by combining studies in several EU countries and contribute to the international competitiveness of European universities.”

The term universities should be understood in the broadest sense of all kinds of higher education institutions.

European Universities have an ambitious mandate aimed to trigger unprecedented levels of institutionalised cooperation between higher education institutions, making it systemic, structural and sustainable.

More specifically European Universities aim to establish the following three key components:

A shared, integrated, long-term joint strategy for education with, where possible, links to research and innovation and society at large
A European higher education inter-university campus offering curricula where students, doctoral candidates and staff can experience mobility at all study levels
European knowledge-creating teams addressing together societal challenges in a multi-disciplinary approach

European Universities in Erasmus+

At EU level, the EU education and mobility programme Erasmus+ is the central programme for the implementation of the initiative. Under key action 2, the European Commission published the call for proposals for the first pilot in October 2018 and for the second pilot in November 2019.

1. Pilot Call – To the call for proposals (EACEA)

A total of 54 applications were submitted for the first pilot call. They cover more than 300 universities from 31 countries, including all EU Member States. To the press release

17 networks have been selected, each receiving a maximum of 5 million euros over 3 years. To the results of the first pilot call

2. Pilot Call – To the call for proposals (SEDIA)

From 62 applications, 24 networks have been selected, each receiving a maximum of 5 million euros over 3 years. To the results of the second pilot call

Composition of the consortium: a minimum of 3 universities from 3 Erasmus+ programme countries (in possession of a valid Erasmus University Charter ECHE)
Possibility of associated alliances for public/private organisations from Erasmus+ programme countries, which operate in the field of education, research or innovation (associated partner do not receive funding from the programme)
One coordinator acts on behalf of the consortium

European Universities consist in bottom-up networks of European universities, pursuing a common, long-term strategy for cooperation;
The support should allow existing networks to scale up their cooperation on a new/higher level;
European Universities offer integrated mobility for students, scientists and staff, and facilitate knowledge transfer across borders;
European Universities offer innovative study concepts (incl. digital services, the integration of research in teaching, the learning and practising of different languages, team-oriented work on societal challenges etc.) and cooperate closely in the fields of education, research and innovation;
European Universities contribute to regional development;
European Universities mirror Europe’s diversity (geographically – different types of higher education institutions);
European Universities are socially inclusive, promote European values and strengthen European cohesion;
In the long run, European Universities can contribute to the development of policies, such as a European diploma and a European status.

Further information about the initiative are available on the websites of the Directorate-General Education and Culture (DG EAC) and of the Education, Audiovisual and Culture Executive Agency (EACEA).

The Commission published individual factsheets about the 41 selected networks.

European Universities in Horizon 2020

The EU research programme in its former generation (Horizon 2020 ) provides additional funding amounting to maximal 2 million euros per alliance for a research dimension of European Universities under the chapter “Science with and for society”. The first 17 alliances received their funding commitment of EUR 2 million each on 22 July 2020.

To the press release

What are the next steps?

The results of the pilot calls will be incorporated into the design of a comprehensive funding line under the subsequent Erasmus+ programme. Following a positive evaluation in 2021, the successful networks shall be able to apply for further funding. The programme proposals for Erasmus+ 2021-2027 and Horizon Europe, the forthcoming EU research framework programme, provide for the possibility of providing support for ‘European Universities’ and creating synergies between EU funding programmes.

In the new European Skills Agenda, the European Commission outlines how the European Universities should be rolled out as long-term, transnational alliances between universities across Europe, setting new standards for the entire European Education Area and the European Research Area.

On the German side, the European Universities initiative is flanked by a national supplementary, preparatory and accompanying programme for German universities. Further information can be found on the homepage of the DAAD Head Office.

The DAAD

The DAAD has contributed to shape the idea of European Universities from the start. In April 2018, the DAAD Brussels office organised a European workshop on this topic in Brussels together with the Permanent Representation of Germany and the German Rectors’ Conference.
To the event page

The National Agency for EU Higher Education Cooperation within DAAD has taken on the task to inform and advise German higher education institutions about the application process for the Erasmus+ pilot.
To the NA DAAD website (in German)

Unit P13 – Research and Internationalisation, University Networks in the DAAD is responsible for the national supporting programme for the European Universities (see above).

“Building bridges between research and teaching” – DAAD article about the alliances UNITE!, Una Europa and SEA-EU (19 November 2020)
“Multilingualism in the European Education Area” – DAAD article about the alliances Arqus, EPICUR and 4EU+ (21 September 2020)
“Digitalisation enables visibility and mobility” – DAAD article about the alliances EDUC and CIVIS (9 July 2020)
“European universities at the service of society” – DAAD article about the alliances EUGLOH and EPICUR (28 May 2020)
“How European University Networks aim to strengthen a European identity” – DAAD article about the alliances YUFE and CIVICA (7 May 2020)
Interview with Dr. Klaus Birk, Director of the DAAD National Agency (26 September 2019)
Interview with Anke Stahl, Head of DAAD Department for fundamental questions projects, internationalisation and research, university associations (26 September 2019)
Guest contribution by Prof. Hiltraud Casper-Hehne, Vice President for international issues of the University Göttingen (19 July 2018)
Article by Nina Salden, Director of DAAD Brussels office (18 July 2018)
Guest contribution by Prof. Schiewer, Rector of the University of Freiburg (4 July 2018)
Interview with Dr. Dorothea Rüland, DAAD Secretary-General (24 May 2018)