On 24 January 2025 – the International Day of Education – the European Commission published the much-awaited evaluation report “European Universities Initiative - outcomes and transformational potential”. The publication presents the strengths, achievements and progress of the alliances since the inception of the initiative in 2019, considering the different development stages of this initiative. There are currently 65 such alliances involving over 570 institutions in 35 countries, some of which also receive support from national schemes. 

The analysis covers the initiative's potential, lays out aspects to be further addressed, and provides future policy direction as well as avenues to enhance the long-term impact of the European Universities initiative (EUI). It builds on data sources such as: 

• the piloting exercise of a monitoring framework for the EUI, co-developed with the alliances; 
• academic studies and position papers from European higher education stakeholders; and 
• national studies assessing the impact of the initiative at national/regional level. 

The report covers five core dimensions of the alliances: 

• transnational institutional cooperation and shared governance; 
• joint education provision and mobility; 
• cooperation with society and economy; 
• research and innovation dimension; and  
• outcomes for the wider higher education system. 

While there has been “significant transformational…progress”, the report also points that it is “still relatively early to assess the full-scale impact”. Amongst the key findings of the report: 

• the alliances’ deep long-term structural and strategic cooperation has been a game changer in the higher education landscape; 
• they accelerated national and European policy developments and reforms, notably in relation to facilitating transnational cooperation, drawing attention to persistent barriers, and setting up joint programmes, contributing to the launch of a European degree flagship; 
• the alliances strongly anchor(ed) their activities in their local and regional ecosystems through an extensive network of over 2.200 associated partners; 
• the alliances reinforced commitment towards European values, including academic values and democracy.

Looking into the future, it is highlighted that “the alliances now need to accelerate progress…by mainstreaming and further deepening their activities, scaling up their opportunities and reinforcing their outreach, both within and outside the alliances”. This will require strong leadership in the participating institutions, as well as increased incentives for and recognition of engagement among staff and students, according to the report. 

In the foreword, the Commission Executive Vice-President Mînzatu asserts her “unwavering commitment” to supporting the alliances, the report informing that European Commission is working on “a long-term comprehensive funding approach” for the alliances under the EU’s 2028-2034 Multiannual Financial Framework (MFF).