2024 was an exceptional year for EURASHE, filled with impactful events, key publications, and significant growth in membership. This article highlights some of the most noteworthy milestones, including the 33rd Annual Conference, the “Knowledge or Skills” Seminar, and exciting new projects. We also look ahead to 2025, with promising initiatives and plans already underway.
Policy
2024 was a pivotal year for higher education policy. During the Belgian presidency from January to June, significant strides were made in preparing for the 2024-27 Bologna cycle, culminating in the adoption of the Tirana Communiqué in May. EURASHE was present at the Ministerial Conference in Tirana, delivering a powerful statement on the importance of applied higher education for regional development.
Meanwhile, the European Union made progress on its blueprint for a European Degree, aiming to enhance cross-border collaboration and recognition of qualifications. Additionally, the Council of Europe issued a vital recommendation on fostering sustainable and attractive academic careers, supporting the next generation of educators and researchers, which EURASHE fully endorsed in this recent statement.
Events
The 33rd Annual Conference “Stronger Together: Fostering transnational cooperation in applied universities” was the most attended event in EURASHE’s history, with over 210 participants taking part in panel discussions, breakout sessions, and an engaging social programme. This milestone demonstrated the growing engagement and influence of EURASHE across Europe and beyond.
The Seminar “Knowledge or Skills: What do university graduates (and economies) need?”, hosted by Aix-Marseille University, was another highlight of the year, bringing together a range of experts to discuss skills gaps in different parts of Europe.
Another major development this year was the formation of the Sounding Board on the European University Initiative, a platform aimed to foster collaboration and innovation within European University Alliances. Additionally, we held several webinars (which can be accessed from our ‘PHE at Home’ library) and in-person small-scale events, such as the “University alliances harnessing talent and skills in Europe’s regions” workshop hosted with the frame of the European Week of Regions and Cities.
Projects
This year saw the successful completion of five projects:
Membership
EURASHE welcomed 21 new members this year, bringing the total to 79 institutions across 32 countries. Collectively, our Association now represents over 500 higher education institutions in 37 countries. Explore our members.
Key Publications
EURASHE released several significant publications in 2024:
- Vision for FP10 and Beyond: An outline for the next European research framework.
- Open Science Task Force Statement: Advancing open science practices.
- Statement on the Seal of Excellence: Supporting European University Alliances awarded with the Seal within the European University Initiative.
Looking Forward to 2025
We now turn our heads to 2025, in which we will hold the 34th Annual Conference “Place, Knowledge, Skills: Applied universities driving regional competitiveness” in Portalegre (PT). Registrations open on 15 January. We also look forward to launching new projects, including EngageAll, HUCO Labs, and ETI Labs.
As the year ends, we would like to wish our entire network a Merry Christmas and a Happy New Year. We look forward to working closely with our members and partners to achieve even greater things in 2025!
EURASHE is dedicated to addressing challenges through joint European solutions, advocating for international cooperation and stronger policy support at all levels. We are ready to work with European institutions, governments, and other stakeholders to advance these goals. As we reflect on the purpose of higher education, we must remember that it is not only about integration but also about addressing the broader challenges Europe faces. By developing competencies for the digital and green transitions and considering our institutions’ local and regional impact, we can ensure that higher education remains accountable and relevant to society.
