ACA’s Spring General Assembly (GA) took place on 19 June 2025 in Sintra, hosted by the Erasmus + Portuguese National Agency, Education and Training (A.N E+EF), brought together leaders from ACA members to review ongoing initiatives and outline priorities for the coming period.  

Moderated by ACA’s President Gro Tjore, the discussions encompassed formal statutory issues such as preparations for the autumn Administrative Council elections, and content-driven exchanges during the Tour de Table, where members shared insights on current internationalisation debates, funding trends, and emerging priorities in their respective countries. This session highlighted both shared challenges and innovative responses across Europe and beyond.  

ACA members also discussed latest developments in the European policy landscape, including the outlook for the next Multiannual Financial Framework (MFF) and Erasmus+. Joint policy engagement strategies were explored, reflecting ACA’s commitment to fostering synergies at the European and national levels. The afternoon focused on ACA’s progress report and the planning of activities for 2025 and beyond. 

Organised back-to-back with the ACA’s GA meeting, on 20 June 2025, international education leaders from ACA member organisations and their partners in Europe and USA gathered at Luso-American Development Foundation (FLAD) in Lisbon for a high-level roundtable dedicated to strengthening transatlantic ties in higher education. Hosted by the DAAD, Institute of International Education (IIE), and FLAD, the event built on previous dialogues in Brussels and Washington, DC, advancing discussions on research partnerships, student mobility, and policy alignment between Europe and the United States.  

Held at FLAD’s headquarters, the roundtable explored how academic cooperation can reinforce transatlantic ties amid evolving geopolitical challenges. Cristina Perdigão (Erasmus+ Portugal), Michael Hörig (DAAD), and Kari Kuja (IIE) welcomed participants, emphasising the importance of shared commitment to international education. 

A keynote by Paulo Zagalo-Melo (President, AIEA) reflected on the legacy and future of transatlanticism, calling for renewed vision, institutional leadership, and strategic collaboration. Michael Baum (FLAD) offered a retrospective on 40 years of U.S.-Portugal academic relations, and Leah Mason (IIE) and Christian Strowa (DAAD) previewed the upcoming report Transatlantic Mobility in Higher Education and Research 2025. Engaging, interactive sessions underscored the urgency of strengthening partnerships to address global challenges and foster sustainable, inclusive academic cooperation.