On 28 April 2026, the E³UDRES² Alliance, together with the EURECA-PRO Alliance, invited representatives of European Universities Alliances with Austrian member institutions and beyond to Vienna's MuseumsQuartier for an event titled “Impulses for the Higher Education Strategy 2040: European Universities as Drivers of Innovation for the Universities of the Future!?". The event discussed the role of European Universities Alliances (EUAs) in the further development of Austria's higher education strategy, offering keynotes and discussions on opportunities, potentials and challenges faced by EUAs as well as an open space for Austrian members of EUAs to connect and share their experience. Federal Minister for Women, Science and Research Eva-Maria Holzleitner also attended the event and delivered opening remarks.
Out of 73 alliances currently operating, there are 16 higher education institutions in Austria contributing to an alliance, with two institutions - E³UDRES² and EURECA-PRO - also leading a consortium. Ever since the European Universities Initiative launched, it has become clear that such alliances provide important impulses for teaching and research, knowledge transfer and innovation, societal engagement, and institutional cooperation, both on a national level as well as on an international scale.
Position Paper for the Higher Education Strategy 2040
As part of the event, a joint position paper by the Austrian European Universities for the Higher Education Strategy 2040 was presented. Its aim is to systematically incorporate the experiences gained within the alliances into the national strategy development process and to outline perspectives for the further development of the initiative. Numerous good practices provide not only inspiration for future developments at European and global level, but also concrete solutions to the national challenges addressed in the recently published FORWIT analysis of the Austrian higher education system.
Broad Dialogue with European and National Stakeholders
The discussions were deepened through a high-level panel with representatives of the European Commission, the Austrian Federal Ministry for Women, Science and Research, as well as universities and student organisations from across Austria.
Federal Minister Eva-Maria Holzleitner highlighted the importance of the initiative for Austria as a higher education location, while Managing Director of USTP – University of Applied Sciences St. Pölten as well as President of E³UDRES² Hannes Raffaseder underlined the role of European Universities as drivers of innovation for the universities of the future in Europe.
Under the motto “United Campuses of Europe!", the event also created space for informal exchange among numerous European University alliances with Austrian participation. This highlighted how strongly Austria is already embedded in the “Campuses of Europe" and how intensively universities are working together to shape the future of the European Higher Education Area.
Images: USTP / Tabea Bender
Links
➞ EURECA-PRO
➞ Press Release
➞ Event Page - Impulse für die Hochschulstrategie 2040:
European Universities als Innovationstreiber für die Hochschulen der Zukunft!?
Article created by: USTP
