Many institutions invest heavily in generating interest from prospective international students — through marketing, fairs, digital outreach and agent networks — yet struggle to convert that interest into actual applications and enrolments. To tackle this frequent challenge, the Study in Europe initiative...

On the occasion of the French Presidency of the G7, ACA member Campus France hosted an important meeting of the directors of G7+ national higher education promotion agencies. Under the theme “Shaping the future of international higher education: opportunities and challenges for the decade ahead”, the gathering took place in Paris, on 23 and...

Five Erasmus+ National Agencies (NAs)—CMEPIUS (Slovenia, coordinator), DAAD (Germany), EDUFI (Finland), Nuffic (the Netherlands), and OeAD (Austria)—have joined forces with the Academic Cooperation Association (ACA) to support the strategic and operational revision of the Erasmus Charter for Higher Education (ECHE) in view of the next Erasmus+ programme.  Implemented as...

Designed to broaden participation and support innovative teaching and learning formats, Blended mobility (BM) – and in particular Blended Intensive Programmes (BIPs) – have quickly become one of the most dynamic innovations under the Erasmus+ Programme 2021–2027.   While uptake has grown quickly and early studies (including ACA’s HIBLend project) suggest that students value the...

Another online session in the Inclusion ACAdemy training series for Norwegian HEIs brought together higher education professionals to explore how inclusive communication can strengthen belonging in international programmes. Organised by the Academic Cooperation Association in partnership with the Support Centre for Inclusive Higher...

The Erasmus Generation Meeting (EGM), Europe’s largest student-led conference, gathered over 1,000 participants from across Europe and beyond in Split, Croatia, from 16–19 April 2026. Organised by the Erasmus Student Network (ESN), this year’s fifth edition centered on Shaping Skills through Student Mobility, specifically, through...

On 28 April, the European Parliament adopted its position for negotiations with member states on the next Multiannual Financial Framework (MFF) for 2028–2034, setting out both the overall budget level and key spending priorities.  Building on the Budgets Committee’s interim report by co-rapporteurs Carla Tavares (S&D, PT) and Siegfried Muresan (EPP, RO), MEPs propose an increase of approx. 10% compared...

On 14 April 2026, coordinators of the European Universities alliances gathered in Brussels for a working retreat focused on co-shaping the next phase of the initiative, together with the European Commission.  The meeting was opened by Diana Jablonska, Director for Youth, Education...

With the adoption of its first Action Plan in April 2026, the EU’s Pact for the Mediterranean (see ACA Newsletter – Education Europe, October 2025), has moved from vision to concrete implementation. Based on a broad framework for a “Common Mediterranean Space” set out in the original Pact, the Action Plan puts forward 21 co-designed actions to be...

After the much-acclaimed election on 12 April of Péter Magyar as the incoming Prime Minister of Hungary (to be sworn in on 9 May 2026), much hope has been placed within the European higher education community into re-establishing a more balanced relationship with the European Union, translated, inter alia, into a swift return...

Following the launch of the Global Minds Initiative (see ACA Newsletter – Education Europe, April 2025, September 2025), German Academic Exchange Service (DAAD) has announced the selection of 20 higher education institutions for funding under its “Academic Horizons – Attracting Global Minds” programme. The initiative will run from...

Following the news that the United Kingdom will rejoin Erasmus+ in 2027 (see ACA Newsletter – Education Europe, December 2025), the UK’s Department for Education has announced that the British Council is set to take on the role of the National Agency for the programme.  The...

Registration is now open for the 3rd European Universities Conference, taking place on 20 May 2026 at Poznan University of Technology, Poland. Organised by the Foundation for the Development of the Education System (FRSE) – Poland’s National Agency for Erasmus+ and the European Solidarity Corps – the...

Since late 2024, large-scale student-led protests have shaped the Serbian political and higher education landscapes, triggered by the 1 November collapse of a railway station canopy in Novi Sad that resulted in 16 deaths. These demonstrations, which cantered on demands for institutional...

Additional Erasmus+ funding for students with fewer opportunities is making a tangible difference to participation in international mobility, according to a new survey published by the German Academic Exchange Service (DAAD).   Since 2021, students with fewer opportunities, including first-generation students, working students, students with children,...

In a joint statement, the German Rectors’ Conference, France Universités, Universities of the Netherlands, Conference of Rectors of Academic Schools in Poland, Flemish Interuniversity Council, Rectors' Council of the French-speaking universities of Belgium, and Conference of Rectors of Spanish Universities call...

Registration is now open for the Joint Assessment for International Institutional PROFFORMANCE Ambassador Network, an online activity taking place from spring to autumn 2026. The initiative is organised by Tempus Public Foundation – PROFFORMANCE Team (Hungary).  The activity invites higher education institutions to participate in a structured joint assessment process focused on teaching performance in...

HOME2 European Conference 6 May 2026 More information Mestenhauser Academy for Leadership in Internationalization 15 – 17 May 2026 More information REX Conference 2026: Rethinking Student Mobility in Higher Education 20 May 2026 More information 3rd European Universities Conference 20...

On 18 February, the ACA Thematic Peer Group “European policies and programmes” convened to discuss the latest policy updates related to the design of the new Erasmus+ programme and the launch of a new EU package linked to talent attraction and retention (see ACA Newsletter – Education...

On 26 – 27 March, five Nordic National Agencies (NAs), the Icelandic Centre for Research (Rannis), the Norwegian Directorate for Higher Education and Skills (HK-Dir), the Danish Agency for Higher Education and Science, the Swedish Council for Higher Education (UHR); and coordinated...

CEEDUCON 2026, the 8th edition of the Central European Conference on the Internationalisation of Higher Education, will take place on 1–2 December 2026 at the O₂ universum in Prague. The event is expected to bring together up to 1,000 participants, including university staff, policymakers, and...

The second session of the Inclusion ACAdemy for Norwegian HEIs brought together experts and practitioners to explore how higher education institutions can make international mobility more inclusive and accessible (for the information about the opening session, see ACA Newsletter – Education Europe, February 2026). The programme...

On 19 – 20 March, the partners of the SHIFT (Student-centred Higher Education Innovation for the Future of Teaching) project met in Brussels to discuss the timeline and details for the Erasmus+ project. SHIFT is a transnational initiative aimed at transforming European...

On 27 February 2026, the European Commission (EC) published a package of measures to support research and innovation (R&I) cooperation in the EU. The package includes:   Proposal for a Council recommendation on a European Union framework for science diplomacy   Research Security Monitor 2025   Global...

The European Commission is currently running a consultation exercise to improve the implementation of European Student Card Initiative’s (ESCI) main tools, including Erasmus Without Paper, the Erasmus+ App and the European Student Card in the next Erasmus+ Programme (2028–2034). The aim is to identify priorities for each ESCI component and...

March has been a particularly busy month in the European Parliament (EP) focused on the development of the latter’s formal position on establishing the Erasmus+ programme for the period 2028-2034.   Following the sectoral stakeholder hearings hosted in January and February 2026, MEP Bogdan Zdrojewski (EPP), member of the CULT Committee...

The European Parliament’s Academic Freedom Monitor 2025 , published in February 2026, offers a snapshot of the state of play of academic freedom across the EU. Encompassing the freedom to research, teach, study, and express academic views, academic freedom is both a core principle underpinning...

Beginning in the 2026 academic year, tuition fees in higher education in the Wallonia-Brussels Federation are set to undergo a major restructuring. As reported by Le Soir and RTBF, the reform introduces a unified, income-based system, replacing the current model in which costs vary...

The National Assembly of Slovenia has unanimously approved the establishment of a fourth public university in the country – the University of Novo mesto. The decision represents a significant milestone for the region, bringing together a range of existing higher education and research institutions under...

Austria’s OeAD is organising a cooperation seminar aimed at strengthening higher education collaboration between Austria and Jordan. The event, jointly prepared with the Jordan National Erasmus+ Office in May 2026, brings together representatives of universities from both countries to explore opportunities for...

EduCafé: Putting the STEM Education Strategic Plan into Action 14 April 2026 More information Why EDI Matters: Equ(al)ity, Diversity and Inclusion in European Universities 16 April 2026 More information Connecting Policy and Practice: what’s next for Higher Education in Erasmus+...

A new study conducted by the Academic Cooperation Association (ACA), together with the Agency for Mobility and EU Programmes (AMEUP, Croatia), the Erasmus+ National Agency for Education and Training (ANE+EF, Portugal), Fondacija Tempus (Serbia), the German Academic Exchange Service (DAAD,...

On 18 February, 17 higher education organisations and networks, including the Academic Cooperation Association (ACA) and its member organisation - DAAD, issued joint amendments to the European Commission’s proposal for the Erasmus+ programme (2028-2034), accompanied by a cover letter.    The...

On 12 and 13 February 2026, higher education professionals from across Norway gathered online for The Fundamentals: Conceptual debates, policy and programme frameworks, and targeted support, a two-part introductory session marking the launch of the newest Inclusion ACAdemy training series....

This winter, the European Education and Culture Executive Agency published the Erasmus Mundus Graduate Impact Survey 2024 (GIS). Conducted annually since 2007, the survey assesses the short- and long-term impact of Erasmus Mundus Joint Masters through graduates’ perspectives. The aim...

The latest annual statistical bulletin from the UK’s higher education data agency (HESA), provides an overview of student enrolments and qualifications for the 2024/25 academic year, covering higher education providers across England, Northern Ireland, Scotland and Wales.   The data shows...

With nearly two-thirds of Finland’s higher education institutions already engaged in the European University Alliances, national coordination and interoperability have become increasingly important. Currently, 23 of Finland’s 38 HEIs participate in the alliances, making structured national guidance both timely and...

In October 2025, the Flemish Government approved the Program Decree accompanying the 2026 budget, first in principle on 3 October and definitively on 24 October, after consultation with advisory councils, social partners and the Council of State. The decree introduced...

In a major political shift for the Dutch education sector, former chair of the Board of Maastricht University Rianne Letschert has officially been appointed Minister of Education, Culture and Science (OCW) in the new Dutch cabinet led by Prime Minister...

The German Academic Exchange Service (DAAD) is suspending its work in the Russian Federation. On 10 February, the Russian Ministry of Justice declared the DAAD an "undesirable organisation". As a result of this decision, the DAAD office in Moscow and...

EIT Higher Education Initiative deadline 4 March 2026 More information Institutional Reviews and Quality Assurance of European University Alliances 10 March 2026 More information Automatic Recognition Fest: Celebrating the EHEA Qualification Table 12 March 2026 More information Enhancing Europe’s sovereignty:...

The Academic Cooperation Association (ACA) and the Slovenian National Agency for European Community Programmes and International Mobility Programmes (CMEPIUS) jointly published a study, “National-level support for participation in European Universities Alliances: Insights from Higher Education Institutions and National Agencies” on...

The 23rd edition of ACA’s What’s New in Brussels brought together more than 200 participants to discuss the strategic and operational future(s) of the ongoing and future Erasmus+ programme. In his opening, ACA’s Vice-President Stephan Geifes highlighted 2026 as a...

On 22 January 2026, the German Academic Exchange Service’s (DAAD) liaison office in Brussels, the Academic Cooperation Association (ACA), the European Association for International Education (EAIE) and the Centre for International Education (CIHE) jointly held in Brussels the seminar “Reflecting...

A new Erasmus+ project, “Social Inequality in Higher Education Students’ Participation in Internationalisation Activities” (SEPIA), has officially been launched by a consortium comprising Tilburg University (coordinator), Oslo Metropolitan University (OsloMet), the Autonomous University of Madrid (UAM), and the Academic Cooperation...

As part of its ACAdemy training series, the Academic Cooperation Association (ACA) continues to deliver bespoke professional development activities for higher education practitioners and administrators working in internationalisation. Drawing on its extensive expert network and in-house expertise, ACA supports national...

On 28 January 2026, MEP Bogdan Zdrojewski (EPP), member of the CULT Committee and rapporteur for the European Parliament’s upcoming position on establishing the Erasmus+ programme for the period 2028-2034, hosted a hearing with representatives of the higher education sector....

On 29 January 2026, the European Commission adopted its first-ever EU Visa Strategy, alongside a Recommendation on attracting talent for innovation, marking an important step towards a more strategic and coordinated approach to mobility at EU level. Together, the two...

On 1 January 2026, Cyprus assumed the presidency of the Council of the European Union, marking the final chapter of the current presidency trio, following Poland and the Kingdom of Denmark. With this transition, the trio’s shared agenda, structured around...

The European Commission has launched a public consultation on its new Skills Portability initiative. This is one of the activities planned by the Commission as part of the initiative’s impact assessment, along with semi-structured interviews, focus groups, and expert workshops...

Negotiations between the European Commission and Japan have come to a conclusion, sealing the latter’s association to Horizon Europe 2021-2027. The agreement, expected to be signed in 2026, paves the way for even stronger ties with a key strategic partner...

The UK has launched a new International Education Strategy framing education as a core pillar of its global engagement and economic growth objectives. The document provides a timely national update of a topic thoroughly explored in the recently published ACA – EAIE...

Paving the Way for the European Degree? 3 February 2026 More information STOA workshop: Humanities and social sciences at the heart of Europe’s future 3 February 2026 More information Navigating recognition of qualifications in Transnational Education 9 February 2026 More...