27 May 2025: This pan-European conference held in Dublin will highlight the deep cross-national collaboration with Irish, French and German partners in shaping a more integrated, competitive, and inclusive European Higher Education Area. All three countries have shown strong commitment to the European University Alliances Initiative which has been underscored by both institutional participation and financial support. European Universities Alliances are integrated inter-university campuses, where students, staff, and researchers can move seamlessly—physically, virtually, or in blended formats—across partner institutions to study, train, teach, conduct research, work, and share services.
A total of 65 French higher education institutions are currently involved in 54 alliances. To sustain and reinforce this engagement, the French government has mobilised significant national resources, allocating €100 million since 2019; Germany has provided substantial funding through the DAAD and national programmes, enabling 67 German universities to actively contribute to these alliances; and the Irish government, through the Higher Education Authority has allocated over €10.35 million to support participation by 14 higher education institutions.
Hosted by the French and German Embassies in Ireland, with the support of the Irish Universities Association (IUA) and the Technological Universities Association (TUA), the event will provide a platform to advance strategic dialogue and showcase best practices among higher education institutions engaged in the European Universities Initiative.
Participants include staff and students from 8 French Universities, 7 German universities and 14 Irish Higher Education Institutions, as well as the European Commission and a number of national higher education organisations from the three countries. Discussions are planned on the evolving role and added value of European University Alliances in fostering cooperation, democratic resilience and deeper European integration.
Minister for Further and Higher Education, Research, Innovation and Science, James Lawless TD commented: “I am delighted to join with Irish and International colleagues today to highlight and celebrate, the work of the European University Alliances. These are networks which, by their nature, drive creativity, collaboration, and innovation, strengthening the fabric of higher education across Europe. “At their heart, they represent the true spirit of the European project: not just economic cooperation, but a shared commitment to peace, understanding, and people. Research, innovation, education and skills are central to that project, and as Minister, I will continue to lead and invest in these areas, particularly as we prepare to assume the EU Presidency in 2026”.
H.E. Céline Place, French Ambassador to Ireland said “As President Macron recalled in the speech that he gave at the Sorbonne in September 2017, universities are at the heart of Europe’s ambition to be stronger, more sovereign, and more united. 8 years on, this trilateral dialogue between France, Ireland and Germany is a concrete step towards that vision of universities as political forces towards the construction of a Europe of knowledge, cooperation and shared values”.
H.E. David Gill, German Ambassador to Ireland remarked : “European University Alliances are not just an academic initiative – they are more: a bold vision for the future of knowledge, collaboration, and identity in the European Union. Germany has embraced this vision wholeheartedly”.
In the lead-up to Ireland’s Presidency of the Council of the European Union in the second half of 2026, the conference will explore pivotal questions about the long-term future and sustainability of these Alliances beyond 2027, including how these Alliances can support strategic European priorities such as competitiveness, sovereignty, technological preparedness, etc. Key elements for these, which will also be discussed, include joint degree development, funding strategies, mobility, skills and innovation ecosystems, and the added value for students in engaging in these European University Alliances.
Ends.
For more information contact:
Jennifer Cleary, Head of International, IUA jennifer.cleary@iua.ie 087 2755937
Delphine Tessier, Academic and Scientific Attachée French Embassy delphine.tessier@diplomatie.gouv.fr 087 685 8098
Additional Notes:
The European Universities Alliances are a key initiative of the European Commission aimed at fostering collaboration among higher education institutions across Europe. Currently, there are 65 alliances involving over 570 institutions, designed to enhance educational quality and accessibility. These alliances focus on creating long-term partnerships that promote structural and sustainable impacts in teaching, research, and innovation. The initiative is an integral part of the Erasmus+ 2021-2027 programme, which has allocated a record €1.1 billion for the 2021-2027 programming period to support the construction of these alliances. These alliances should ultimately enhance the quality and competitiveness of European higher education.
The project to create European university alliances follows on from French President Emmanuel Macron’s speech at the Sorbonne on 26 September 2017, which proposed the creation of ‘European universities which will be a network of universities from several European countries, setting up a pathway where each of their students will study abroad and take courses in at least two languages’.
The European University Alliances invited to this conference, and including Irish participants are the following :
- EU-Green (9 European members including ATU)
- ECIU (12 European members including DCU)
- Film-EU (8 European members including IADT)
- Arqus ( 8 European members including Maynooth University)
- INGENIUM (10 European members including MTU)
- EU-CONEXUS (9 European members including SETU)
- EUt+ (9 European members including TU Dublin)
- RUN-EU (8 European members including TUS as coordinator)
- CHARM-EU (9 European members including Trinity)
- UNIC (10 European members including UCC)
- UNA Europa (9 European members including UCD)
- ENLIGHT (10 European members including University of Galway)
- EMERGE (9 European members including UL as coordinator)
- EUGLOH (10 European members including RCSI as associate partner)
Ireland’s Role:
Ireland’s engagement was prominently highlighted – 14 Irish higher education institutions are active members of European University Alliances, connecting them with 122 partner universities across Europe. Collectively, these alliances encompass over 2.7 million students and 148,000 staff, underscoring Ireland’s dedication to collaborative education and research within Europe. 20% of all Alliances have an Irish partner, making Ireland one of the most interconnected countries in the EU through this programme.
The Department of Further and Higher Education, Research, Innovation and Science (DFHERIS) and the Higher Education Authority (HEA) have demonstrated strong support for Ireland’s involvement in European University Alliances. To date, over €10.35 million has been allocated in national funding to assist Irish HEIs in actively participating in these alliances, enabling them to engage effectively in collaborative European initiatives. Participation in these Alliances amplifies Ireland’s universities’ current connectivity to Europe and significantly increases our reputation globally.
Notably, Ireland has taken on leadership roles within these Alliances. The Technological University of the Shannon (TUS) became the first Irish university to coordinate a European University Alliance by leading the RUN-EU consortium. Similarly, the University of Limerick leads the EMERGE alliance, further exemplifying Ireland’s proactive engagement in shaping the future of European higher education.
Further Details
European Universities initiative – European Education Area