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Newsletter Edition 288-04/2025

NEWS FROM ACA

The Future of Europe = the future of Erasmus+

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...

ACA @EGM Ancona 2025

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...

Marco Schouten appointed Director-General of Nuffic

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...

EUROPEAN POLICY

EU Preparedness Union Strategy

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...

Digital Europe: EUR 1.3 billion to drive skills and strategic technologies

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...

Switzerland moves towards reassociation to Erasmus+

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,...

NATIONAL EDUCATION AND THE GLOBAL CONTEXT

Harvard University challenges federal funding freeze in court

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...

NAWA launches new programme to support researchers at risk

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,...

Germany’s new coalition agreement on education, research and international cooperation

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,...

Erasmus+ students’ contribution to Estonian economy

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-India Cooperation Forum strengthens academic ties

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...

Dutch Senate approves education budget including major cuts to higher education

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...

CONFERENCES

Events

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'...

Newsletter Edition 287-03/2025

NEWS FROM ACA

The future of Europe = the future of Erasmus+

Equipping higher education staff with insights into I&D

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...

Teaching critical thinking in the age of AI

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...

ACA new study on national-level support to European Universities alliances

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...

Future4Alliances to support the sustainability of European Universities Alliances

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...

Reaffirming Internationalisation: Advocacy lessons from Estonia and Slovenia

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,...

EUROPEAN POLICY

Union of Skills

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...

European Parliament’s vision on the future EU education budget and European Universities alliances

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...

Have your say on EU funding for education, youth, and culture in 2028-2035

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...

Joint programmes: Practical guidance from Erasmus Mundus Master's Programmes

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...

NATIONAL EDUCATION AND THE GLOBAL CONTEXT

Slovenia’s position on the future Erasmus+ and the European Solidarity Corps

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...

U.S. funded projects under scrutiny across the globe

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...

U.S. education restructuring under the new Executive Order

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...

DAAD discontinues 13 programmes due to high-cost pressures

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...

Iceland's new government sets ambitious economic and social goals

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...

DAAD's strategy for expanding cooperation with India

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...

Responsible internationalisation on the Nordic agenda

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...

RIECS-Concept: Advancing citizen science infrastructure in Europe

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...

PROFFORMANCE+ Thematic Webinars: A platform for future educators

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...

CONFERENCES

Events

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...

Newsletter Edition 286-02/2025

IN FOCUS

The Future of Europe = the Future of Erasmus+

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...

NEWS FROM ACA

What’s new in Brussels? Key insights from ACA’s flagship seminar

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...

Examining inclusivity in higher education mobility

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...

EUROPEAN POLICY

EMA: Visa Experience Survey Report published

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...

A glimpse into the future: MFF communication & consultation and stakeholders’ gathering on the next Erasmus+

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...

Research careers pilot to be launched in 2025: Choose Europe

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...

Towards a European Framework for Science Diplomacy

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...

NATIONAL EDUCATION AND THE GLOBAL CONTEXT

Advancing internationalisation and strengthening science: post-election priorities for Germany

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...

Shifting policies in U.S. higher education and research

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...

Coimbra Group scholarships for international researchers

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...

Finland: survey results published on international degree students experiences

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....

Study highlights importance of international experience for German economy

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...

CONFERENCES

Events

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...

Newsletter Edition 285-01/2025

NEWS FROM ACA

ACA – A year in retrospect

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...

Celebrating a century of academic exchange

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...

IIE Launches International Partnership Landscape Survey

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....

Assessing the economic impact of Erasmus+ incoming student mobility

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...

Improving social dimension in mobilities

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...

EUROPEAN POLICY

European Universities alliances – which effects to date?

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...

Launch of the European Higher Education Sector Scoreboard

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...

European Commission’s evidence on a European degree (label)

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...

Towards the Union of Skills: Launch of new EU coordination groups and global trends

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...

Launch of the European Higher Education Interoperability Framework

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...

NATIONAL EDUCATION AND THE GLOBAL CONTEXT

Finland: significant drop in applicants for English-taught degree programmes 

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...

Economic impact of international students in Spain

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...

Germany: DAAD Strategy 2030 published

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...

CONFERENCES

Events

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...