European Universities Initiative

In 2018, the European Commission launched a new initiative that aims to attain an unprecedented level of cooperation among Europe’s institutions of higher education at all levels and in every field of activity (teaching, research, and innovation), in the words of France’s Ministry of Higher Education.

The European Universities Initiative catalyzes the creation of new 'European Universities', of which there are currently 41. These European Universities are multi-campus alliances of three or more higher education institutions from three or more European Union member states or Erasmus program countries. Participating universities represent the diversity of the European intellectual community, and represent regions across Europe, not only the capital cities. 

Key cooperation principles for the European Universities:

• European University alliances present a joint long-term strategy for education with links to research and innovation to drive systemic, structural and sustainable impact at all levels of their institutions
   
• European University alliances design and cultivate a European inter-university ‘campus’, where:
  • students, staff and researchers enjoy seamless mobility (physical, virtual or blended) to study, train, teach, do research, work or share services at cooperating partner institutions
  • transdisciplinary and transnational teams of students, academics and external stakeholders tackle big issues facing Europe (such as climate protection, democracy, health, big data, migration)
  • students can design their own flexible curricula, leading to a European Degree
  • practical and/or work-based experience is provided to foster an entrepreneurial mind-set and develop civic engagement
  • the student body reflects the social, economic and cultural diversity of the population

The selection of the 41 European Universities includes a broad range of higher education institutions from across the EU, from universities of applied sciences, technical universities and universities of fine arts to comprehensive and research-intensive universities.

As of 2021, there are 41 European Universities (17 launched in 2019, and 24 in 2020)  and 29 French institutions figure prominently among the core founders. Each European University alliance is designed around a core uniting theme, and provide study abroad opportunities for all students that leverage the expertise of each university member. Students emerge with 

The European Universities with French institutions as founding partners include: 

(Alliances launched in 2019) 

• UNA Europa
  • Université Paris 1 Panthéon-Sorbonne, University of Edinburgh, Universidad Complutense de Madrid, Alma Mater Studiorum, Università di Bologna, Freie Universität Berlin, KU Leuven, Helsingin yliopisto/ Helsingfors, Uniwersytet Jagielloński w Krakowie
  • Focus Areas: Cultural Heritage, Data Science and Artificial Intelligence, European Studies, Global Health, Sustainability. 
     
• ARQUS European University Alliance
  • University of Lyon, University of Bergen, Vilnius University, University of Graz, Leipzig University, University of Padu, University of Granada
  • Focus Areas: Diversity and Inclusion, European Collaboration, Entrepreneurship
     
• CHARM European University
  • University of Montpellier, University of Barcelona, Trinity College Dublin, Utrecht University, Eötvös Loránd University (ELTE)
  • Focus Areas: European collaboration to advance the U.N. Sustainable Development Goals
     
• CIVICA 
  • Sciences Po, Bocconi University (Italy), Central European University, European University Institute, Hertie School, SNSPA - School of Governance, Stockholm School of Economics, The London School of Economics and Political Science
  • Focus Areas: Social Sciences 
     
• CIVIS 
  • Aix-Marseille Université, National and Kapodistrian University of Athens, University of Bucharest, Université libre de Bruxelles, Universidad Autónoma de Madrid, Sapienza Università di Roma, Stockholm University, University of Tübingen, University of Glasgow
  • Focus Areas: Civic engagement and innovation
     
• CONEXUS
  • La Rochelle Université, Agricultural University of Athens, Technical University of Civil Engineering (Bucharest), Klaipeda University of Lithuania, La Universidad Catolica de Valencia, University of Zadar Croatia​​​​​​
  • Focus Areas: Smart urban coastal sustainability issues 
     
• EDUC
  • Université de Rennes 1, Paris Nanterre University, University of Potsdam, Masaryk University, University of Pécs, University of Cagliari
  • Focus Areas: The European Digital University 
     
• EUGLOH
  • Université Paris-Saclay, Lund University, Ludwig-Maximilians-Universität München, Universidade do Porto, University of Szeged 
  • Focus Areas: The European University Alliance for Global Health
     
• EUTOPIA
  • CY Cergy Paris University, Babeș-Bolyai University, Vrije Universiteit Brussel, Ca’ Foscari Venezia University, Technische Universität Dresden, University of Gothenburg, NOVA University Lisbon, University of Ljubljana, Pompeu Fabra University-Barcelona,The University of Warwick 
  • Focus Areas:  Geography, Environment and Sustainability, Multilingualism & Diversity, Data & Critical Thinking, Technological Business Development, Artificial Intelligence, International Journalism, Global Media, Project Management, Social Change and Citizenship, Sustainability
     
• FORTHEM
  • Université de Bourgogne, Johannes Gutenberg-Universität Mainz, Jyväskylän yliopisto, Finland Uniwersytet Opolski, Universita' degli Studi di Palermo, Latvijas Universitāte, Universitat de València
  • Focus Areas:  Diversity and migration, climate science, multilingualism and higher education, food sciences, European affairs, demographics and resilience 
     
• SEA-EU
  • Université de Bretagne Occidentale, University of Cádiz, University of Kiel, University of Gdańsk, University of Split, University of Malta
  • Focus Areas:  European University of the Seas, marine resource management, ocean conservation, coastal protection and coastal resources management, sustainable fisheries management 
     
• UNITE!
  • Grenoble INP, TU Darmstadt, Aalto University, KTH Sweden Royal Institute of Technology, Politecnico di Torino, Universidade de Lisboa, Universitat Politècnica de Catalunya · BarcelonaTech
  • Focus Areas:  The University Network for Innovation, Technology, Engineering 

(Alliances launched in 2020) 

• ATHENA
  • Universite d’Orleans, Instituto Politecnico do Porto, Hellenic Mediterranean University, University of Siegen, University of Maribor, Universita degli Studi Niccolo Cusano Telematica Roma, Vilniaus Gedimino Technikos Universitetas 
  • Focus Areas:  Inclusive, innovative, high quality international education permanently aligned with global labor market needs, addressing societal and environmental challenges as well as European research priorities.
     
• CIRCLE-U
  • Université de Paris, Aarhus University, University of Belgrade, Humboldt-Universität zu Berlin, King's College London, Louvain University of Oslo, Università di Pisa, Universität Wien
  • Focus Areas:  Climate, democracy, global health, the future of higher education, sustainability, public governance 
     
• EC2U
  • University of Poitiers, University of Coimbra, Alexandru Ioan Cuza University of Iasi, the University of Jena, the University of Pavia, the University of Salamanca, the University of Turku
  • Focus Areas:  – customised joint Master programmes based on selected UNSDGs: Good health & well-being, Quality education,
    Sustainable cities & communities
     
• UNITE!
  • Grenoble INP, TU Darmstadt, Aalto University, KTH Sweden Royal Institute of Technology, Politecnico di Torino, Universidade de Lisboa, Universitat Politècnica de Catalunya · BarcelonaTech
  • Focus Areas:  The University Network for Innovation, Technology, Engineering 
     
• ENLIGHT
  • University of Bordeaux, University of the Basque Country, Comenius University, NUI Galway, Ghent University, University of Göttingen, University of Groningen, University of Tartu, Uppsala University
  • Focus Areas: European University Network to promote Equitable Quality of Life, Sustainability, and Global Engagement through Higher Education Transformation
     
• ERUA
  • University of Paris 8, Roskilde University (RUC), University of Konstanz, University of the Aegean, New Bulgarian University
  • Focus Areas: European Reform University Alliance; Sustainability, reimagining higher education