Why further invest in higher education in Europe? This important question is at the forefront of the ongoing political debates, as preparations of the new Erasmus+ programme (2028-2034) will soon reach a critical stage.   Capturing a key moment to raise...

The 21st edition of ACA’s annual flagship seminar, What’s new in Brussels? Recent developments in European policies and programmes, took place on 30-31 January 2025, in Brussels. This year’s event brought together 130 participants from 21 countries, as well as...

The Diversity and Inclusion in Erasmus+ iMplementation (DIEM) project is dedicated to making student mobility within higher education more inclusive, particularly for students with fewer opportunities. To achieve this, DIEM is conducting a survey to assess the challenges faced by...

The Erasmus Mundus Student and Alumni Association (EMA) published its Visa Experiences Survey Report (2023–2024), as part of the EMA for Equity initiative, highlighting the challenges faced by participants in their visa application procedures. The initiative aims to improve the...

The start of 2025 has been marked by the intensifying work on the EU’s next multiannual budget. On 12 February 2025, the European Commission published a Communication on “The Road to the next Multiannual Financial Framework”. The policy document outlines...

A new initiative called Choose Europe, aimed at addressing brain drain and precarity in research careers in Europe, is set to be piloted in 2025 with a budget of EUR 22.5 million, as outlined in the draft work programme for...

On 13 February, the European Commission published an expert report titled A European Framework for Science Diplomacy. The report relies on a thorough co-creation process involving 130 scientists, diplomats and other science diplomacy experts, with the aim to develop recommendations...

As the new Federal Government in Germany takes shape, key stakeholders in the academic and scientific community are urging decisive action to strengthen Germany’s position as a global leader in science, innovation, and international cooperation.  The German Academic Exchange Service...

Recent policy changes and proposed measures by the new U.S. administration have signalled significant shifts in higher education and research funding. President Trump's executive order, announced on 30 January 2025, titled "Ending Illegal Discrimination and Restoring Merit-Based Opportunity," directs federal...

The Coimbra Group is offering three scholarship programmes to support international researchers and strengthen academic collaboration. These scholarships provide short-term research stays at Coimbra Group institutions for scholars from Sub-Saharan Africa, Latin America, and European Neighbourhood countries.   These initiatives aim...

The National Union of University Students in Finland (SYL) and the National Union of Students in Finnish Universities of Applied Sciences (SAMOK) commissioned an online survey to explore international students' experiences and opinions about studying and their future in Finland....

A recent study by the German Economic Institute (IW), commissioned by the DAAD, underscores the growing importance of international experience for university graduates in Germany. As companies navigate major economic transformations—driven by demographic shifts, digitalisation, and decarbonisation—graduates with global exposure...

INTED2025 3-5 March 2025 More information KIWi Policy Talk on“After the election: What's at stake for Germany in international academic exchange?” 4 March 2025 More information Digital Universities Europe 2025 Conference 10-12 March 2025 More information EduCafé: Teaching Critical Thinking...

2024 was an eventful year for the Academic Cooperation Association (ACA), filled with important accomplishments and meaningful initiatives in the field of international higher education. In a year marked by significant political changes, ACA focused on supporting its members and...

In 2025, the German Academic Exchange Service (DAAD) commemorates its 100th anniversary, celebrating a legacy of supporting around three million students and scholars worldwide since its inception in 1925. As an organisation for academic exchange, the DAAD is using its...

ACA associate member the Institute of International Education (IIE) has recently launched the International Partnership Landscape Survey, a global initiative led by the IIE Center for International Partnerships and designed to assess the state of international partnerships in higher education....

In December 2024 and January 2025, ACA organised two methodological seminars to discuss different approaches to evaluating the economic effects of credit and degree student mobility (in the latter case during studies, as well as post-graduation). Both seminars were attended...

On 22 and 23 January 2025, the Institute for the Development of Education hosted an inspiring training in Zagreb within the ECEM project, as the third in a series of trainings and was focused on Community-Engaged Learning, with a spotlight...

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...

In January 2025, the European Commission launched the first edition of the European Higher Education Sector Scoreboard (EHESS), a key tool of the European Higher Education Sector Observatory (EHESO).   EHESS is an interactive data visualisation platform designed to monitor progress...

On 19 December, the European Commission published a report on the final outcomes of the Erasmus+ policy experimentation projects: European degree (label) and institutionalised EU cooperation instruments.  This 168-page staff working document provides a detailed overview of the consolidated conclusions...

As the work on the Union of Skills Strategy is intensifying ahead of its launch on 5 March 2025, two political groups were set up within the European Parliament and the European Commission, respectively, to support the internal decision-making, coordination...

In January 2025, the European Digital Education Hub – EDEH (for more details, see ACA Newsletter – Education Europe,  June 2024) launched the European Higher Education Interoperability Framework.   The aim of this framework is to provide European higher education institutions with...

The Finnish National Agency for Education (EDUFI) published the outcomes of the first joint application period in 2025, collecting applications from domestic, EU/EEA/Switzerland and international students to English-taught programmes starting in autumn 2025 by Finnish higher education institutions, including those...

A new study called “The economic impact of international students in Spain” was published in late 2024. Led by Spanish Education Programs (SAP), with the support of ACA member SEPIE, this study focuses on students from abroad who choose Spain...

On 23 January 2025, the German Academic Exchange Service (DAAD) published the DAAD Strategy 2030, in the year that marks the 100th anniversary of the organisation. Serving as a compass, the strategy analyses the current conditions for international academic cooperation...

INTED2025 3-5 March 2025 More information Digital Universities Europe 2025 Conference 10-12 March 2025 More information Centre for Global Higher Education Annual Conference 3-4 April 2025 More information EURASHE 34th Annual Conference 14-15 May 2025 More information NAFSA 2025 Annual...