Erasmus+ has boosted the cooperation between European Universities alliances by offering funding of up to €14.4 million for each alliance for a four-year period, totalling a record overall budget of €402.2 million.
According to a press release by the European Commission, these European University alliances are establishing a new generation of Europeans who are able to study and work across the zone as well as combine their studies in different EU states, creating their ultimate academic careers.
Another seven new European Universities alliances have been added, taking the total number of alliances involved to 50, working across more than 430 universities and colleges in 35 countries, such as the EU Member States, Iceland, Norway, Türkiye as well as Balkan countries; Albania, Montenegro, Serbia, North Macedonia and Bosnia Herzegovina.
The European Universities have joined partnerships with nearly 1,700 associated organisations, including businesses, NGOs as well as local authorities. This year’s call created the pathway for higher education institutions from Western Balkan countries to participate as full partners.
“As last year, the alliances can involve higher education institutions from Bologna Process countries as associated partners. Under the 2023 call, close to 30 higher education institutions from Ukraine have also joined the alliances,” the press release said.
The following steps for fully implementing this year’s agenda include the EU Commission launching the next Erasmus+ call for proposals, with the aim of reaching the goal of the European strategy for universities to reach 60 alliances with more than 500 participant universities and colleges by the middle of next year.
The European Universities initiative aims to increase the transnational alliances that include different types of establishments, such as comprehensive and research universities, institutes of technology, schools of applied sciences and arts, as well as training institutions.
These institutions are dedicated to improving the quality of education by developing long-term structural and sustainable cooperation between the universities and offering curricula that focus on students. Researchers, scholars and students can all benefit from this curriculum, being able to enjoy Europe while studying and combine their experiences across the 27-nation area.
The European Universities initiative was proposed to EU leaders in 2017 by the Commission, which was a component of the project for creating the European Education Area by 2025. Since 2022, the European strategy for universities has set a goal to support 60 European Universities and more than 500 universities by the middle of 2023.
A record of €1.1 billion under Erasmus+ is anticipated to be allocated under the current implementing project for 2021 to 2027.
