On 3 April 2025, the National Agency for Erasmus+ Education & Training hosted the Training and Cooperation Activity (TCA) European University Alliances in the Dutch Higher Education Landscape, bringing together a diverse group of stakeholders from the Dutch higher education sector. The event focused on the current state and future of the European Universities Initiative (EUI) in the Netherlands, exploring how these alliances contribute to both national and international education landscapes. 

This TCA brought together both research universities and universities of applied sciences involved and not involved in the EUA initiative and addressed a number of topics identified by the HE sector. The resources of the event are available TCA European University Alliances in the Dutch Higher Education Landscape | Erasmus+ including the document “All you must know about the European Degree” drafted to shed light about the topic and clarify the most common misunderstandings.  

One of the key takeaways from the event was the importance of long-term collaboration. Hans Hellendoorn, from TU Delft, emphasised that universities must consider the benefits of working together on a larger scale: “We are in a transition period, but cooperation will be the future of higher education.” 

Although the concept of university alliances is still evolving, Stijn van Hussen (ISO) pointed out that students are familiar with mobility but are still not fully aware of the alliances: “Mobility is a success story, but we need time to build awareness of the European University Alliances.” 

The TCA also touched on critical questions surrounding the future of European education. Issues such as the exclusivity of alliances, the integration of national education systems, and the balance between competition and cooperation were raised. In closing, Bjørn Stensaker emphasised the need for deeper collaborations: “We need alliances, we need friends!” 

The event reinforced that while the EUI is still in its early stages, its potential to shape the future of European higher education is immense.