The final trimester of 2025 brought together experts from ACA member organisations for the last round of Thematic Peer Group (TPG) meetings of the year. As in previous rounds, these meetings provided a space for peer exchange, joint reflection and forward-looking discussions on key developments in European and international higher education. 

TPG New Mobility Formats convened on 27 October 2025 for its final meeting of the year, focusing on recent developments in blended and digitally enhanced mobility formats. An external presentation on the European Higher Education Interoperability Framework explored how seamless data exchange could support European higher education systems and virtual campuses. Discussions underlined that interoperability extends beyond technical solutions, encompassing institutional, organisational and policy dimensions, as well as the role of National Agencies in strengthening institutions’ digital readiness. Members also shared updates on digitally enhanced mobility formats, highlighting both increased engagement and ongoing implementation challenges. 

TPG European Policies and Programmes concluded its annual series of meetings on 12 November 2025, featuring a new round of peer discussions on the new Erasmus+ programme (2028-2034), with special focus on funding, programme governance, and newly proposed schemes, such as strategic scholarships, as well as the novelties piloted under the 2026 Work Programme. Members also agreed on the recently published ACA’s response to the EU public consultation on the EU’s next long-term budget (MFF), with particular emphasis on EU funding for cross-border education, training and solidarity, young people, media, culture, and creative sectors, values, and civil society (for more information, see ACA Newsletter – Education Europe,  November 2025).  

TPG Inclusion met on 2 December 2025 to discuss upcoming plans for strengthening the inclusion and diversity priority in the next Erasmus+ programme and to exchange approaches to inclusive communication campaigns across different EU countries. The meeting also featured a presentation of the newly launched SEPIA project, through which ACA and its partners (Tilburg University, OsloMet and UAM) will map existing research and good practices, analyse barriers to participation, and develop a Social Inclusion Assessment Tool. In addition, the project will provide training sessions, workshops, and a handbook to help higher education institutions promote more inclusive forms of international engagement. 

TPG Global Developments convened on 3 December 2025 to explore approaches to knowledge security from a U.S. university perspective. Naomi Schrag, Vice President for Research Compliance, Training, and Policy in the Office of the Executive Vice President for Research, and the University's Research Integrity Officer, at Columbia University, presented the institution’s practices and outlook on research security, including how it navigates differing requirements from public funding agencies and evolving regulatory frameworks. Discussions highlighted shared challenges across national and institutional contexts, while also noting itportany differences in regulatory contexts and the resulting opportunities and limitations. 

TPG Communications met on 4 December 2025 to learn more about developing effective communications strategies. Members heard presentations from the Czech National Agency for International Education and Research (DZS) and Croatia’s Agency for Mobility and EU Programmes (AMEUP), which showcased two distinct approaches to strategic communication. Given the key role National Agencies play in disseminating information and engaging diverse audiences, the topic generated a lively discussion on internal coordination, the resources required to support communications work, and the importance of aligning communication strategies with broader organisational objectives. 

TPG Research on International Higher Education met on 15 December 2025, focusing on member presentations related to mobility statistics and participation trends. Nicolai Netz from the German Centre for Higher Education Research and Science Studies presented findings from the DAAD-funded project ERRASTUD: Explanations for the Declining Rate of German Students Temporarily Studying Abroad. In addition, Pavol Galáš and Ján Toman from the Slovak Academic Association for International Cooperation shared survey results from Slovakia examining university students’ interest in Erasmus+ and perceived barriers to participation. Reflections centred on common challenges across countries, as well as the impact of the Bologna Process and other initiatives on mobility rates.