The missions and work of universities in Europe and elsewhere are underpinned by a number of fundamental values. EUA as an Association strongly believes in and works towards upholding these.
The Association’s activities include monitoring and promoting institutional autonomy as a core principle of university governance and advocating academic freedom as the single most important basis for meaningful academic research and teaching. EUA has a strong track record in standing up for freedom of expression and the protection of higher education and its communities from intimidation and attack.
In addition, the Association supports universities in nurturing a culture of openness, tolerance and dialogue by promoting diversity among students and staff, integrating refugees into their communities and acting as models of healthy democratic communities. EUA also encourages its members to fulfil their civic role by contributing to social and political debates, addressing societal challenges and contributing to sustainable development. EUA also focuses on the responsible and proper conduct of scientific work, as upholding research integrity and ethics is key to strengthening universities’ credibility and consolidating their role in society.
EUA works together with its members and a variety of partners, including Scholars at Risk, the Magna Charta Observatory and the International Association of Universities (IAU), to ensure that these values are respected and guide universities’ activities.
EUA Strategic Plan
The need for strong universities has never been greater in addressing societal challenges. The Covid-19 pandemic, climate change, resource scarcity, ageing populations, migration and managing artificial intelligence are among the many examples of areas where universities have a major impact.
EUA, All European Academies (ALLEA) and Science Europe have issued a joint statement on the urgent need to back commitments to academic freedom and university autonomy with solid actions.
The European University Alliance E³UDRES² (Engaged and Entrepreneurial European University as Driver for European Smart and Sustainable Regions) calls for scientific contributions, relevant concepts, inspiring ideas, and innovative approaches for a closer connection between science and higher...
view moreThe School of Human Rights in Turkey, an EU-funded project that started during the state of emergency in Turkey, organises the International Online Conference of Academic Freedom as a Human Right on 14, 15 and 16 December 2020. During the conference, there will be a discussion on the definition...
view moreLumina Foundation published a study entitled “COVID’s Lessons for Global Higher Education: Coping with the Present while Building a More Equitable Future”. The study offers a preliminary assessment of the impact of the Covid-19 pandemic on higher education throughout the world, with a special...
view moreThe new European Commission “Action Plan on Integration and Inclusion” frames migrant integration under the overarching theme of “Inclusion for all”. Like the previous plan, there is a strong emphasis on the role of education and training (particularly early education) in the integration of...
view moreRecent months have seen important events regarding academic freedom, both in Europe and globally. There have been violations of democratic and human rights in Belarus, including threats against students and staff of universities – which were widely condemned. Last month, the Court of Justice...
view moreEUA member in Russia, Tomsk Polytechnic University, launched the Urban Greenhouse Challenge: Reforest, an international competition of student projects for innovative greenhouse complexes in urban environment. Registrations are open until 28 February 2021. The competition will run online...
view moreThe Institute for the Development of Education (Croatia), together with 22 partners/associate partners from six EU Member States including EUA, launched the Erasmus+ project SHEFCE – Steering Higher Education for Community Engagement. The project has been launched to support community...
view moreThe Refugee Education Initiatives 2 (REIs 2) consortium organises the online workshop “Recognising Learning and Promoting Inclusion: conversations on access to university in Europe for refugees and displaced people” on 30 October. The workshop is part of the EU-funded REIS2 project and it is...
view moreEUA partner Scholars at Risk (SAR) organises “Free to Think 2020: Responding to Attacks on Higher Education” on 19 – 20 November 2020. The virtual conference marks SAR’s 20th anniversary and the release of the SAR's annual monitoring report, Free to Think 2020. The event will also feature the...
view moreOn 6 October 2020, the Court of Justice of the European Union (ECJ) ruled that the Hungarian government violated EU law in 2017 when it changed its education legislation. The amendments made headlines as they ultimately led the Central European University (CEU), an EUA member, to move most of its...
view moreEUA member in Ukraine Vasyl Stefanyk Precarpathian National University, together with the NGO “Sustainable Development Landmarks”, organise the 1st virtual international conference on sustainable education (SEVIC 2020) on 11 – 13 December 2020. The event SEVIC 2020 encourages scholars and...
view moreThe nominations for the 2020 edition of the UNESCO King Hamad Bin Isa Al-Khalifa Prize for the use of Information and Communication Technologies in education are open until 18 December 2020 (midnight, Paris time). Funded by the Kingdom of Bahrain and established in 2005, the Prize rewards...
view moreInSPIREurope, the initiative to support, promote and integrate researchers at risk in Europe, organises the first InSPIREurope outreach workshop in Thessaloniki, Greece, on 30 September. The event will be organised in hybrid format: online and with face-to-face meetings at the premises of EUA...
view moreTo mark its 75th anniversary in 2020, the United Nations launched a global conversation on how to tackle the challenges we face and build a better future for all. The UN invites European universities to participate in the UN75 Initiative by hosting dialogues and responding to a one-minute...
view moreOn 10 July, Romanian President Klaus Iohannis submitted an appeal to the country’s Constitutional Court regarding an amendment passed by the Parliament that would prohibit gender studies in all education institutions. The Romanian Parliament approved the amendment to the education law on 16 June....
view moreThe European Commission has published the first report of the Eurograduate Pilot Survey, with insights on graduates’ education, skills, careers, mobility, and social outcomes, comparing eight pilot countries. EUA is member of the Eurograduate advisory board. The Eurograduate survey is a one-off...
view moreEUA is embarking on an initiative to develop a vision for Europe’s universities in 2030. This vision by the sector for the sector will serve as inspiration for EUA members, as well as for policy makers and other stakeholders. It will build on EUA’s new strategy, the Association’s long-standing...
view moreIn the context of the coronavirus crisis, the Secretariat of the Asia-Europe Meeting (ASEM) Education Process would like to showcase and disseminate different types of initiatives and measures, with a focus on the inclusion of vulnerable or disadvantaged students in distance education and...
view moreThe 2020 InSPIREurope Stakeholder Forum, originally scheduled to take place at the Collège de France in Paris, will now take place virtually due to the coronavirus pandemic. Registrations are now open to the online event, which is the first of three annual fora taking place over the duration of...
view moreThe Université Libre de Bruxelles (ULB) has created a Solidarity Fund in order to provide support for researchers who no longer have the freedom to pursue their research in their home country, where they are threatened due to the content of their scientific work or to the opinions they...
view moreSOS International launched the world’s biggest survey on students’ opinions on sustainability, open from 1 to 31 May 2020 to anyone currently enrolled in a higher education institution. The survey is available in Arabic, Bosnian-Croatian-Montenegrin-Serbian, Danish, Dutch, English,...
view moreInternational Women’s Day, celebrated on 8 March, is a moment to recognise the great achievements that women have made in history, as well as reflect on what still holds them back. Every year, EUA takes the occasion to present the latest data on female leadership among its 800-plus member...
view moreThe final results of the “Curriculum Guidelines 4.0” initiative are now available on the EU Publications: Final Report with detailed guidelines. Brochure with the key highlights. The initiative, launched in January 2018, aims to contribute to increasing the quality and relevance of...
view moreThe Covid-19 pandemic presents new challenges for inclusive teaching. This article shares the...
read moreThe radical digitalisation of higher education due to the Covid-19 crisis offers an opportunity to...
read moreAs reflected by the European Green Deal, the environmental revolution is likely the main challenge...
read moreProviding students with the skills for multidisciplinary collaboration and entrepreneurship...
read moreThe Bologna Follow-up Group has developed a new strategic document that defines ten principles and...
read moreThe coronavirus pandemic demonstrates the renewed importance of universities’ civic engagement,...
read moreRefugees bring with them skills, qualifications and experience – including in the medical field....
read moreGrants are important for researchers’ careers and only the best applicants receive them. So, what...
read moreA new year brings new opportunities to address global challenges. EUA President Michael Murphy...
read moreThe support for student engagement in volunteering, civic, cultural, associative and solidarity...
read moreThe Global Convention on Recognition will provide a strong instrument for higher education...
read moreUniversity autonomy and academic freedom should be more than topics of proclamation and...
read moreJón Atli Benediktsson, Rector of the University of Iceland, reflects on the future and why...
read moreUniversities are based on and guided by values. It is vital that each institution declares them as...
read moreHow can universities use the renewed attention to values to their advantage? A key step is to move...
read moreTo remain world leaders in research and innovation, Europe’s universities need more supportive...
read moreAcademic freedom is the latest of the many victims on Hungary’s path towards an illiberal state,...
read moreThe Hungarian government’s clampdown on gender studies and research into migration sets a...
read moreMore detailed information on the 2021 EUA Annual Conference will be available in the near future.
Read more3 November 2020, 14:00 - 15:00 CET. As part of its contribution to the Inspireurope project, EUA launched the report “Researchers at Risk: Mapping Europe’s...
Read moreEUA organised a focus group for university practitioners across Europe to discuss how to articulate and implement strategies for public engagement on 19...
Read more