Alliances: "A deepened cross-border collaboration and a shared sense of purpose" (Aurora conference)

"The journey of the alliances is rooted in the belief that our universities can and must serve as engines of positive change locally and globally. This mission feels especially urgent in today's geopolitically challenging times", declares Veronika Sexl, President of Aurora, on 20/05/2025.

She is opening the Aurora annual conference, taking place from 19 to 22/05/2025 in Créteil (France), with members of the alliance, associated partners and other alliances' members to talk about the future of the EUI (European Universities Initiative).

Aurora was founded in 2016 as a consortium of universities, and later joined the European Commission's first EUI call for projects in 2019, which "has not only deepened cross-border collaboration but has also fostered a shared sense of purpose among universities", according to Veronika Sexl. Aurora is now entering its second alliance phase, Aurora 2030, aiming to "build a more inclusive, innovative and sustainable Europe".

For Susanne Conze, Head of Unit for Higher Education at the DG EAC of the European Commission, "there is a common agreement that…