In 1925, the DAAD was founded as a student initiative to enable students at German universities to spend time abroad. Today, 100 years later, the DAAD, as an association of German universities and their student bodies, is the world's largest...

In early May, ACA issued a new EU policy input called “The future of Erasmus+ is the future of Europe”. Building on ACA’s first statement, which highlighted the importance and relevance of Erasmus+ for almost all EU priorities earlier this...

How can we ensure that digital transformation in higher education is not only innovative but also green, inclusive, and participatory? This was the central question driving the recent TCA event “Erasmus+ digitalisation: Why green, inclusive and participatory inputs are needed”,...

On 30 April 2025, ACA hosted a Study in Europe webinar on behalf of the European Commission, focusing on the development of national-level strategies for international student recruitment. Moderated by Raul Ranne, Senior Advisor at ACA, the webinar brought together...

In a move signaling the most significant reset of UK-EU relations since Brexit, the United Kingdom and the European Union have committed to pursuing a new "balanced youth experience scheme." The initiative, unveiled at a high-level summit in London, aims...

Earlier this spring, the European Commission published a Communication on the European Union's strategic plan to address critical challenges in science, technology, engineering, and mathematics (STEM) education. A key initiative of the Union of Skills, the STEM Education Strategic Plan...

At the ‘Choose Europe for Science’ event held on 5 May 2025 at the Sorbonne in Paris, the European Commission and the French government presented two major initiatives designed to boost Europe’s attractiveness to international researchers. The event came in...

Horizon Europe, the EU's flagship research and innovation programme for 2021-2027, is proving to be a major driver of economic and societal benefits. According to an interim evaluation published by the Commission, for every euro of costs to EU society, the...

On 12 May 2025, the Education Council adopted two complementary texts charting the way forward for a joint European degree:  A resolution on a joint European degree label, setting out the member states’ strategic vision and a roadmap towards the...

On 12 May 2025, UK Government’s Home Office published a white paper outlining government’s plan on immigration, which includes shortening the time international graduates can stay on and work from two years to 18 months. Next to this, the government...

NAFSA 2025, the leading global event for international education, takes place in San Diego from 27 to 30 May. This year’s conference is expected to draw approximately 8,000 participants from over 100 countries, reaffirming the sector’s commitment to international collaboration...

A new study by Nuffic, covering the period 2013–2022, shows that more international graduates are staying in the Netherlands after completing their studies. Five years after graduation, 25.3% of international students were still living in the Netherlands, up from 24.1%...

On 23 May 2025, the Trump administration rescinded Harvard University’s certification under the Student and Exchange Visitor Program (SEVP), effectively barring the university from enrolling international students for the 2025–2026 academic year. The Department of Homeland Security (DHS) also directed...

The Finnish National Agency for Education (EDUFI), a member of ACA, recently published an article (in English) on student mobility statistics in Finnish higher education. In 2024, 10,600 higher education students participated in international mobility, marking an increase of approximately...

The new coalition government comprising the Christian Democratic Union of Germany (CDU), the Christian Social Union in Bavaria (CSU) and the Social Democratic Party of Germany (SPD) took office on 6 May 2025. Prior to commencing their official duties, the...

Prime Minister Petteri Orpo’s coalition government has recently agreed on the General Government Fiscal Plan for 2026–2029. Following the Government’s mid-term policy review, significant funding cuts for higher education were proposed. Basic funding for higher education will be reduced by...

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...

On 12 May 2025, the German Science Council (Wissenschaftsrat) published a position paper called “Science and Security in Times of Global Political Upheaval”. This paper offers recommendations on how scientific cooperation can be organised responsibly during times of global crisis,...

On 4 June 2025, the PROFFORMANCE+ consortium will host Teacher Power! – Higher Education Policy in Action with PROFFORMANCE, an online event dedicated to excellence, innovation, and professional development in higher education teaching.  The event will highlight the core objectives...

YERUN 10th Anniversary 5 June 2025 More information Innovating Business Education for Responsible Global Mind 11 - 12 June 2025 More information QS Higher Ed Summit: Europe 2025 16 - 17 June 2025 More information EWP Convention 17 - 18...

Five ACA members with representation in Brussels—the German Academic Exchange Service (DAAD, Branch Office in Brussels), the Norwegian Directorate for Higher Education and Skills (HK-dir, NorCore), the Czech National Agency for International Education and Research (DZS, CZELO), the Swiss National...

The Erasmus Generation Meeting (EGM), Europe’s largest student-led conference, brought together over 1,000 participants from across Europe and beyond in Ancona, Italy, from 3–6 April 2025. Organised by the Erasmus Student Network (ESN), this year’s fourth edition centered on empowering...

The Board of Trustees of Nuffic, a member organisation of ACA, has announced the appointment of Marco Schouten as the organisation’s new director-general, effective 1 August 2025.  Schouten brings extensive leadership experience in international education and complex organisations. The Board...

The European Commission’s new EU Preparedness Union Strategy launched on 26 March outlines 30 actions to strengthen Europe’s ability to respond to emerging crises—from disinformation and cyber threats to natural disasters. Taking a broader cross-sectoral approach, education and youth are...

On 28 March 2025, the European Commission adopted the 2025–2027 work programme for the Digital Europe Programme (for more details, see  ACA Newsletter – Education Europe, November 2021). Under this work programme, EUR 1.3 billion is allocated to support the deployment...

On 2 April 2025, the Swiss Federal Council approved the draft EU Programmes Agreement (EUPA), marking a significant step towards Switzerland's potential reassociation with the Erasmus+ programme. The EUPA outlines Switzerland's participation in various EU initiatives, including Erasmus+, Horizon Europe,...

In April 2025, Harvard University initiated legal proceedings against the Trump administration, contesting the federal government's decision to freeze over USD 2.2 billion in research funding. The university's lawsuit, filed in the U.S. District Court in Boston, asserts that the...

The Polish National Agency for Academic Exchange (NAWA) has announced the launch of a new initiative titled “Researchers at Risk”, aimed at supporting scholars who are unable to continue their academic work in their home countries due to war, persecution,...

On 10 April 2025, the Christian Democratic Union of Germany (CDU), Christian Social Union in Bavaria (CSU), and Social Democratic Party of Germany (SPD) parties presented their new coalition agreement, outlining, among other, several policy directions in education, research, internationalisation,...

Estonia has expanded its analysis of Erasmus+ mobility by assessing the programme’s direct financial contribution to the local economy. According to ACA member, the Education and Youth Board of Estonia (Harno), students and educators arriving in the 2023/24 academic year...

Austria is among the top EU nations when it comes to Research and Development and success rates in European programmes such as Horizon Europe and Erasmus+. With the aim to initiate new collaborations, deepen existing partnerships, and enhance academic exchange...

On 8 April 2025, the Dutch Senate approved the government’s education budget, confirming substantial cuts to the higher education and research sector. The total reduction amounts to €1.2 billion, with over €500 million to be implemented immediately, including cuts of...

Raising the Bar in Erasmus+ Mobilities: AsCOLA Student-Centered Course Evaluation 6 May 2025 More information Berlin - Capital of Women Scientists exhibition 12 May - 2 June 2025 More information EADTU-EU Summit 2025: 'Interoperability in action: connecting European higher education'...

Five ACA members with representation in Brussels—the German Academic Exchange Service (DAAD, Branch Office in Brussels), the Norwegian Directorate for Higher Education and Skills (HK-dir, NorCore), the Czech National Agency for International Education and Research (DZS, CZELO), the Swiss National...

On 26 – 28 March 2025, another edition of the Inclusion ACAdemy has come to an end with a final conference in Tallinn, hosted by the Estonian National Agency (Harno). Around 60 participants from Czechia, Hungary, and Estonia have participated...

On 26 March 2025, education stakeholders gathered in Brussels for an evening of thought-provoking discussion at the EduCafé panel discussion “Teaching Critical Thinking in the Age of AI.” Organised jointly by the Czech Liaison Office for Education and Research in...

The European Universities alliances are running ambitious programmes spanning from educational innovation to joint research, with some concrete results and achievements to date. As the latest European Commission’s report highlights, looking into the future, “the alliances now need to accelerate...

The European Universities Initiative has gained substantial momentum since its launch in 2019, with 65 alliances now formally active across the Europe, and with eight others holding the Seal of Excellence. While progress has been made in the institutional cooperation...

Recently, the rationale and importance of the internationalisation of higher education has come under question by various governments (see ACA Newsletter – Education Europe, February 2025, December 2024). Despite decades of effort affirming the value of internationalisation of higher education,...

On 5 March 2025, the European Commission published a long-awaited communication on the Union of Skills, which aims to support the development of quality, inclusive and adaptable education, training and skills systems to increase the EU’s competitiveness by addressing skills...

In the recent meeting on 25 March, the European Parliament’s Committee on Culture and Education (CULT Committee) addressed two major issues for education: a revamped long-term budget for the Union in a changing world and a new vision for the...

On 12 February 2025, the European Commission opened a public consultation on EU funding for cross-border education, training and solidarity, young people, media, culture, and creative sectors, values, and civil society within EU’s next multiannual financial framework (MFF) (2028-2035).   This...

On 17 March 2025, the European Commission published a comprehensive new report, titled Planning and Delivering Jointness in Erasmus Mundus Master’s Programmes. This publication is based on data collected through surveys, interviews, and insights gathered during the Thematic Seminar of...

On 26 March 2025, the Government of the Republic of Slovenia adopted the Position of the Republic of Slovenia on the Erasmus+ programme and the European Solidarity Corps in the period beyond 2027. This position paper was prepared by the...

Higher education institutions worldwide started to feel the rippling effects of the funding shifts and restrictions introduced by the U.S. government under the Trump administration (see ACA Newsletter – Education Europe, February 2025, March 2025). A growing number of US-funded...

Following the recent changes in the U.S. higher education and research landscape (see ACA Newsletter – Education Europe, February 2025), the White House has issued a new executive order signalling the administration’s intent to close the U.S. Department of Education...

The German Academic Exchange Service (DAAD) has announced the discontinuation of 13 scholarship and university internationalisation programmes due to high-cost pressures, leading to the cancellation of approximately 2,500 scholarships annually.    DAAD President Prof. Dr. Joybrato Mukherjee has cited “sharply rising...

Following the parliamentary elections held in late 2024, a newly formed government has assumed leadership in Iceland, comprising the Social Democratic Alliance, the Reform Party, and the People’s Party. It aims to achieve economic stability and reduce interest rates while...

The German Academic Exchange Service (DAAD) has released a strategy paper aimed at further strengthening academic cooperation between Germany and India, presented at the Indo-German Forum in New Delhi. The paper highlights India’s growing significance in the global academic and...

On 11 March 2025, Finland released a set of recommendations (in Finnish) for responsible international cooperation, developed by a working group established by the Finnish Ministry of Education and Culture. The recommendations emphasise openness, reciprocity, and risk management in international...

Launched on 1 January 2025, the RIECS-Concept project aims to design a pan-European research infrastructure for citizen science. Funded under the Horizon Europe programme, the 36-month project has a budget of almost EUR 3 million and works on the conceptualisation...

Over the past two years, the PROFFORMANCE+ international webinar series has established itself as a dynamic platform for future educators across Europe. Engaging over a thousand higher education professionals from Austria, Croatia, Czechia, Georgia, Hungary, and Serbia, the series has...

Discover HEInnovate: Transforming Higher Education Institutions 10 April 2025 More information EURASHE 34th Annual Conference 14-15 May 2025 More information NAFSA 2025 Annual Conference & Expo 27-30  May 2025 More information YERUN 10th Anniversary 5June 2025 More information Innovating Business...

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...