Background

As flagships of the European Education Area (EEA) and the European Research Area (ERA), the European Universities Alliances (EUI) are at the forefront of developing new and innovative concepts for transnational institutional cooperation. Shortly after institutions partnered in these alliances, they sought to expand by building relationships with a wider circle of partners. These efforts led to the creation of the non-official network FOR-EU, which now covers all 64 European university alliances and more than 500 European universities within these alliances.

In recent years, FOR-EU participated in consultation meetings with policymakers, but in order to support exchange among the alliances initiated also various working groups focused on joint issues topics such as the interoperability of digital platforms, the research and innovation dimension of alliances, and a European approach to micro-credentials. Moreover, alliance experts have been brought together to form active communities focused on strategic issues.

The FOR-EU4All project builds on all this, but intends – with the support of EU funding – to further strengthen systemic collaboration and exchange among European university alliances,  joint reflections on European and national policies. It also – considering the alliances’ prominent positions  – ensures that innovative approaches, identified solutions and aspects boosting cross-border cooperation are shared and transferred to all types of HEIs in Europe and beyond.

Project Content

FOR-EU4All brings together all current (and future) European university alliances, encouraging them to foster a collaborative and supportive environment.

There are two main objectives:

• To promote the exchange of best practices and experiences both among members and with the broader European Higher Education (HE) sector.
• To translate experiences and findings into policy-related proposals that foster smooth cross-European cooperation in higher education.

The exchange should take place within thematic Communities of Practice, which are built on a revised set of previous workshops as well as new working group configurations. The communities will organize the exchange activities themselves.

FOR-EU4All actively connects with the HE sector in Europe and beyond to make the transformative impact of the European Universities alliances known to a wider audience. The network engages with European Commission services, relevant decision-makers in Member States, and other participating countries.

In summary, FOR-EU4All establishes a unique, large-scale network of European Higher Education Institutions (HEIs) committed to advancing Europe's higher education sector and leveraging the strengths of each alliance and its partners.

Primary initiatives

The topics listed below stand out as priorities:

• Knowledge sharing and mutual learning within Communities of Practice.
• Networking and collaboration within the network, as well as outreach to higher education stakeholders beyond the network.
• Fostering innovation and problem-solving in all relevant missions of higher education.
• Engagement with regional, national, and European policymakers.

Impact

FOR-EU4All maximizes the benefits of diverse cooperation, by bringing together key stakeholders and European University alliances. It also propels the transformation of the HEI sector forward and supports the partners in the network to make the most of their strengths and expand their opportunities. To ensure tangible outcomes at multiple levels, the project defines clear roles, sets guidelines, and implements processes that enhance organization and collaboration, while also facilitating structured and goal-oriented discussions on various policies. FOR-EU4All not only strengthens the ties within the alliance but also places a high value on cross-alliance initiatives. To make the work and outcomes of the project visible, FOR-EU4All engages in various communication and dissemination activities. Moreover, external collaboration and sustainability beyond EU funding are cornerstones of the project.