The French Ministry for Higher Education, Research and Space (MESRE), has published a report on the effect that membership in the European Universities Alliances has had on six French higher education institutions: Qualitative assessment of the “transformative effect” for six French institutions of being members of a European University Alliance.
Drawing on the experience of six French institutions involved in first-wave alliances, this report by the MESRE highlights the transformative impact of European University alliances and calls for a major shift in how they are supported.
The report urges policymakers to overcome the duality between Erasmus+ and Horizon Europe, arguing for sustainable, coordinated and long-term funding backed by a strategic vision extending over at least a decade.
Now entering a phase of institutionalisation, the European Universities Initiative is described as a powerful catalyst for organisational and cultural change, capable of proposing a new model for 21st-century universities. The report emphasises the alliances’ role in fostering innovation in education, strengthening research cooperation, and reinforcing a shared sense of European belonging.
The document also identifies key challenges related to funding, legal frameworks and human resources, stressing that the long-term sustainability of alliances will depend on clear political commitment at both European and national levels.