Previous editions

IN FOCUS

What’s New in Brussels? 25 – 26 January 2024

Are you ready to immerse yourself in the evolving landscape of the Erasmus+ programme and European policies in higher education? Join us for the 2024 edition of the "What’s New in Brussels?" seminar, our flagship event dedicated to shedding light...

NEWS FROM ACA

ECEM: Supporting civic engagement with service learning

The ECEM project consortium (see for more details ACA Newsletter – Education Europe, May 2023) met in Berlin earlier this October to cover two activities: a transnational project meeting and Learning through engagement lab, an activity conducted by the project...

Polish-Spanish networking meeting

On 20 October, representatives of 12 Polish and 10 Spanish universities met in Warsaw University of Technology’s main building to discuss international cooperation and support for academic mobility. This was the first event of its kind held during the Spanish...

The HIBLend approach

The HIBLend project (for more details see ACA Newsletter Education Europe - February 2023) team is prepping to launch the official HIBLend Community of Practice (CoP) in early 2024, a multidisciplinary community of practitioners, involving higher education actors interested in...

Meet ACA's newest team member

October at the office of the Academic Cooperation Association, started with an exciting addition – Nikolina Đurić, ACA’s new Junior Communications Officer has joined the team, ready to help realise ACA’s Communication Strategy. Nikolina has 8 years of combined volunteer...

EUROPEAN POLICY

European Universities: call for proposals and discussions on the future funding model

On 3 October, the European Commission published the fifth Erasmus+ call for proposals to support the rollout of the European Universities initiative. The aim of this call, with the total budget of EUR 189.2 million, is to enable an expansion...

EU ‘higher education package’ 2024

On 17 October, the European Commission adopted its Work Programme for 2024. The new Work Programme puts a strong focus on simplifying rules for citizens and businesses across the European Union, and contains a limited number of new initiatives that...

The EU and the US commit to step up academic cooperation

The 27th EU-US Summit took place in Washington D.C. on 20 October 2023 to review the transatlantic partnership and to identify areas for further cooperation. The EU-US Summit Joint Statement reaffirmed the parties’ commitment to strengthen their partnership both through...

NATIONAL EDUCATION AND THE GLOBAL CONTEXT

Wissenschaft Weltoffen 2023 is out in English

Germany’s most comprehensive account of internationalisation in higher education, providing the latest Facts and Figures on the International Nature of Study and Research in Germany and worldwide was recently published by ACA member DAAD and the DZHW. The Wissenschaft Weltoffen 2023, funded by the German Federal...

THE World University Rankings 2024 by subject released

On 26 October 2023, the Times Higher Education (THE) World University Rankings 2024 by subject was released. This ranking measures performance across 11 key subjects based on data from THE’s World University Rankings 2024assessing research-intensive universities from 108 countries and...

Polish strategy for the internationalisation of science and HE

ACA member, the National Agency for Academic Exchange (NAWA) recently participated in a meeting, hosted by the Polish Ministry of Education and Science, to discuss the development of a national strategy for the internationalisation of science and higher education. The...

DFG recommendations on “Dealing with Risks in International Research Cooperation”

The German Research Foundation, Deutsche Forschungsgemeinschaft (DFG), recently introduced recommendations to enhance the transparency and evaluation of risks in international research cooperation projects, particularly those involving researchers from authoritarian countries. Instead of imposing specific "red lines" or restrictions on certain...

Internationalisation of universities of applied sciences

ACA member, the German Academic Exchange Service (DAAD) is funding again (for more details see ACA Newsletter – Education Europe, October 2020) 16 projects on internationalisation of universities of applied sciences in the context of the DAAD programme UAS.International. The selected...

CONFERENCES

Events

DigiEduHack 2023 06-13 November 2023 More information Profformance+: Impact and mission with and for society 07 November 2023 More information Alliances for Society: CHARM-EU Conference 2023 07 November 2023 More information Conference "MSCA: Diverse Research Careers to tackle Global Challenges"...

NEWS FROM ACA

Expert discussions on the long-term impact of Erasmus Mundus

In September, ACA organised two expert workshops on the impact of Erasmus Mundus with national and European experts as part of an ongoing study on the 20 years of Erasmus Mundus. This study is conducted under a service contract by...

ACA @33rd EAIE Conference and Exhibition – Rotterdam, the Netherlands

The Academic Cooperation Association is excited to be part of the 33rd Annual EAIE Conference and Exhibition, taking place 26 – 29 September in Rotterdam, the Netherlands. This year’s conference theme is ‘Connecting currents’ and the event will take place...

EUROPEAN POLICY

The II Forum of European Universities Alliances in rear view

Opened by a high-level panel – including Jaume Collboni, Mayor of Barcelona, Joaquim Nadal, Head of the Department for Research and Universities of the Government of Catalonia, Joan Subirats, Minister for Universities in Spain and Margaritis Schinas, Vicepresident for Promoting...

The UK’s association to Horizon Europe and Copernicus

On 7 September, the European Commission and the UK Government concluded negotiations and reached an agreement in principle on the association of the UK to Horizon Europe and Copernicus under the Trade and Cooperation Agreement. From the 2024 Work Programmes...

Preliminary Results of the XV ESNsurvey

The Erasmus Student Network (ESN) published the preliminary results of the fifteenth edition of ESN survey conducted over the summer. The survey collected responses from 17,855 exchange students, 1,856 full-degree students, and 3,064 non-mobile students across Europe and beyond. This...

Mid-term review of Erasmus+ and European Education Area

On 15 September 2023, the European Commission opened a public consultation on the mid-term review of the current Erasmus+ programme and the final evaluation of the 2014-2020 programme. The public consultation is open until 8 December 2023. The overall aim...

A bumpy road towards the EU budget 2024

The annual negotiation and legislation processes for the EU budget 2024 are in full swing. On 8 September, the Council of the European Union formally approved the position reached by the Ambassadors of the member states to the European Union...

Iliana Ivanova appointed as the new European Commissioner

EU member states have appointed Iliana Ivanova as the new EU Commissioner for innovation, research, culture, education and youth by common accord with the President of the Commission, Ursula von der Leyen. The appointment follows the resignation of Mariya Gabriel...

NATIONAL EDUCATION AND THE GLOBAL CONTEXT

Flemish Inter-University Council (VLIR) publishes its 2024 “election memorandum”

In the context of the upcoming regional and federal elections in Belgium in 2024, Flemish universities presented their commitments and expectations in their Election Memorandum issued by the Flemish Inter-University Council (VLIR) earlier this month. A key demand is the...

OECD: Education at a Glance 2023

On 12 September, the OECD’s Directorate for Education and Skills issued the Education at a Glance 2023 report. The report has a broad focus on several education-related themes, ranging from early childhood to adult education. The set of indicators relevant...

CEEPUS IV Programme ready to start in 2025

As previously announced, the CEEPUS Joint Committee of Ministers has met in Warsaw to agree on the upcoming IV Programme starting from 2025. Their main objective for the 15 participating countries, coordinated by the Polish chairmanship, was to develop the...

CONFERENCES

Events

The contribution of education to the promotion of common European values and democratic citizenship 03-04 October 2023 More information Erasmus Days 09-14 October 2023 More information Science for Policy in Europe Conference 10-11 October 2023 More information European Universities -...

IN FOCUS

ACA @33rd EAIE Conference and Exhibition – Rotterdam, the Netherlands

The Academic Cooperation Association is excited to be part of the 33rd Annual EAIE Conference and Exhibition, taking place 26 – 29 September in Rotterdam, the Netherlands. This year’s conference theme is ‘Connecting currents’ and the event will take place...

NEWS FROM ACA

Not to be missed – new policy briefs with key insights on student mobility

Over the summer, the European Network on International Student Mobility: Connecting Research and Practice (ENIS network), in which ACA is active through both Secretariat and ACA members expert colleagues, released its first set of policy briefs (5). The briefs, touching...

New CEEPUS Agreement (IV)

The next seven-year agreement of the Central European Exchange Program for University Studies (CEEPUS) will be signed by the Joint Committee of Ministers, CEEPUS highest body, on 19-20 September in Warsaw, Poland. CEEPUS promotes academic exchange in the field of...

NAWA's international collaborations and work

ACA Member, the National Academic Exchange Agency (NAWA) has recently launched some exciting collaborations and earned notable recognitions. One significant project is the International Multilateral Partnerships for Resilient Education and Science System in Ukraine (IMPRESS-U). IMPRESS-U is the result of...

EUROPEAN POLICY

New European Bauhaus under Horizon Europe

The European Commission proposed New European Bauhaus (NEB) to become a sixth mission of the Horizon Europe programme, next to the five other missions covering adaptation to climate change, cancer, climate neutral and smart cities, and the restoration of our...

New EU package to bolster research careers

In July, the European Commission presented a set of measures to strengthen the European Research Area (ERA), aiming to promote attractive and sustainable research careers and further bolster Europe’s attractiveness on the global stage, among others. The suggested measures include:...

NATIONAL EDUCATION AND THE GLOBAL CONTEXT

New student visa restrictions in the UK

Following an announcement made by the Home Office in May 2023, the UK Government published on 17 July changes to the Immigration Rules which affect international students studying in the UK. From January 2024, international students in the UK will...

Finnish higher education: New government initiative and support for international integration

Since June 2023, Finland has a new government led by PM Petteri Orpo of the conservative National Coalition Party (NCP). The government is a coalition of four parties including the NCP, the nationalist Finns Party, the minority-language Swedish People's Party...

South Korea aims for a 30% increase of incoming students

The South Korean government has presented a rebrand of an earlier Study Korea 3.0 plan, now called Study Korea 300K project, which is expected to “stimulate the regional economy and enhance the global competitiveness of domestic universities as well as...

ARWU 2023 league tables released

On 15 August 2023, ShanghaiRanking Consultancy released its Academic Ranking of World Universities (ARWU) 2023. The rankings list the top-1000 universities from across the world based on a set of six indicators focusing primarily on research excellence. ARWU purports to...

Change of leadership in Norway and spotlight on responsible internationalisation

On 4 August, Sandra Borch assumed the role of Minister of Research and Higher Education in Norway. Representing the Center Party, Ms. Borch had previously held the position of Minister of Agriculture and Food. She takes over from Mr. Ola...

CONFERENCES

Events

EAIR Forum Linz 2023 3-6 September 2023 More information Atelier pratique en ligne : Recherche de partenaires & Mise en réseau 4 September 2023 More information EU-Africa Conference: Applied Sciences as drivers for regional innovation ecosystems in Africa 5 September...

NEWS FROM ACA

PROFFORMANCE Project Wins Prestigious Award for Digitalization

The PROFFORMANCE project has won the EURASHE 2023 PHE Star Award for Digitalization during the European organization's annual conference in Bucharest. The project, presented by Jan Beseda (Centre for Higher Education Studies, Czech Republic), was recognized for its innovative assessment...

Learning through Engagement Lab

ACA is part of the consortium of the Enriching Communities through Engaged Mobilities project (ECEM) which is hosting the "Learning through Engagement Lab", taking place from the 5 to 7 October 2023, in Berlin. The event is targeted to students/student...

DAAD supporting research on academic freedom

In November 2022, the German Academic Exchange Service (DAAD) announced the winners of the first Fundamental Academic Values Award funded by the Federal Ministry of Education and Research (BMBF). This year, the awards were presented during the scholarship holders’ meeting...

The ACA Secretariat welcomes new colleague

This July, the ACA Secretariat was strengthened with the addition of a new colleague to the team. Leon Cremonini, recently hired as Senior Researcher Manager, has been active in higher education policy reform in both Europe and globally for two...

Roundtable on students, early-stage researchers and academics at risk

On 29 June, DAAD Brussels and the European University Association (EUA) organised a joint roundtable at the EUA's premises in Brussels to discuss support for students, early carreer researchers and academics at risk. The event brought together interested parties from...

European Parliament tackles Erasmus+ implementation

On 6 July, MEP Milan Zver, the Erasmus+ rapporteur at the European Parliament's Committee on Culture and Education, hosted a meeting on the Erasmus+ 2021-2027 programme implementation in Brussels. The meeting provided an opportunity to exchange experience between various stakeholder...

EUROPEAN POLICY

Updates on ERA and Horizon Europe

Earlier this month, the European Commission announced a comprehensive set of measures in the framework of the European Research Area (ERA). Designed to promote attractive and sustainable research careers, these measures will contribute to the priority action expressed in the...

European Universities Alliances - 2023 Selection Results

On 3 July 2023, the European Commission unveiled the selection results of the recent Erasmus+ call for European Universities alliances. 30 alliances were selected under the 2023 Erasmus+ call, further supporting the rollout of the European Universities Initiative. Amongst the...

NATIONAL EDUCATION AND THE GLOBAL CONTEXT

Germany: New strategy on cooperation with China

Following the common policy of the EU towards China, the German Federal Government has published a new Strategy for China defining new parameters under which Germany’s interests will be upheld in its cooperation with China who is defined simultaneously as...

Netherlands: What next?

On July 14, the online consultation for the proposed legislation concerning a more balanced and coordinated approach to internationalisation in Dutch higher education was launched (‘Wet internationalisering in balans’). This phase of online consultation is one of the standard steps...

CONFERENCES

Events

Erasmus+ mid-term review: university and student perspectives on student mobility 14 September 2023 More information II Meeting of European Alliances 14-15 September 2023 More information II Forum of Universities for the Future of Europe 14-15 September 2023 More information 33rd...

NEWS FROM ACA

DAAD: Re-elected leadership, new E+ inclusion strategy and review of recent milestones

The recent DAAD General Assembly in Bonn has re-elected the current DAAD President Joybrato Mukherjee and Vice President, Muriel Helbig for another term from January 1 2024 to December 31 2027. Mukherjee, currently serving as President of Justus Liebig University...

Advancing Higher Education in Switzerland

In the recently released "Movetia Jahresbericht 2022" report, the Swiss agency for exchange and mobility and ACA member, Movetia, has outlined its significant strides in fostering international cooperation and mobility in education. A key highlight of these efforts is the...

PROFFORMANCE+ Webinar Spotlights Student Assessment Innovation

On June 6, 2023, the second PROFFORMANCE+ thematic webinar, focusing on “Assessment of Students' Learning”, engaged over 120 higher education educators from the EHEA. Showcasing innovative practices, the event sparked discussions about transforming assessment methods and student learning journeys. The...

HE community discussed Digital Pedagogies

The picturesque town of Bled played host to an inspiring conference co-organised by ACA and its Slovene member organisation CMEPIUS, from the 7 to 9 of June. The event, titled ‘’Fostering Digital Pedagogies through International Cooperation’’, brought together an international...

20 years of Erasmus Mundus – have your say!

In light of the 20th anniversary of the Erasmus Mundus programme, NTT DATA (coordinator), the Academic Cooperation Association (ACA), the German Academic Exchange Service (DAAD) and Tipik are conducting an EU-funded impact study on Erasmus Mundus. Erasmus Mundus is the...

IHES final conference in Brussels

A wide range of experts and stakeholders have meet in Brussels on 15 June 2023 to discuss the final outcomes of the IHES (Internationalisation in Higher Education for Society) project and future outlooks of the IHES concept, supporting societal engagement...

Welcoming universities – how to provide quality support to international academics?

The UniWeliS project consortium organised a symposium “Welcoming universities: Towards high-quality support for international academics in Central-Eastern and South-Eastern Europe” on 21 June in Bratislava, Slovakia. The event was held under the auspices of the Slovak V4 Presidency and organised...

EUROPEAN POLICY

Nomination of next Commissioner for research & education

In mid-June, the incoming Bulgarian government put forward the candidacies of Iliana Ivanova and Daniel Lorer for Bulgaria’s open slot in the college of EU Commissioners. The post became vacant in May, following the resignation of then Commissioner for innovation,...

Stronger Cooperation with Latin America and the Caribbean

The European Union has published “A New Agenda for Relations between the EU and Latin America and the Caribbean” (LAC) outlining a strengthened cooperation between the two blocks in several areas: Renewed political partnership Strengthening a common EU-LAC trade agenda...

EC: DIGITAL Europe Programme 4th call is out

The 4th call under the DIGITAL Europe Programme, was recently launched to support Advanced Digital Skills, focusing on the shortage of sector specialists, using advanced digital technologies and ICT specialists, and especially on girls and women and semiconductors disciplines. The...

Piloting European Fellowship scheme for researchers at risk

The European Commission published a new call to develop a suitable structure for a fellowship scheme for researchers at risk that would address the currently fragmented and limited support to this group of academics at EU level. The proposed action...

Proposed EU Facility for Ukraine

On 20 June 2023, the European Commission president Ursula von der Leyen proposed a regulation to establish the Ukraine Facility – a dedicated financing instrument meant to provide coherent, predictable as well as flexible support for the period 2024-2027 to...

The European Universities Initiative update and EU plans for higher education in 2024

With the ongoing Erasmus+ mid-term review, which will inform the further implementation in the remaining programme period, and will prepare the next programme generation, the European Universities Initiative (EUI) has been one of the central topics discussed in different fora...

NATIONAL EDUCATION AND THE GLOBAL CONTEXT

2024 edition of QS World University Rankings released

On 27 June, the 20th edition of the QS World University Rankings was released, referring to the academic year 2023/24. This is also the edition with the largest coverage to date: 1 500 higher education institutions in 104 countries, based...

Internationalisation at Home and Blended Intensive Programmes: are they a good match?

A recent online panel discussion held by Nuffic Connects, involving Sake Jager of the University of Groningen, Reinout Klamer of The Hague University of Applied Sciences, and Dinand Warringa from Hogeschool Windesheim, offered several key insights into the practice and...

Dutch higher education sector awaits new internationalisation plans

Dutch higher education is internationally known for its excellent quality, accessibility, and wide range of English-taught programmes. Due to many years of growing international student numbers, some programmes and research universities in the Netherlands now face crowded lecture halls, high workload...

CONFERENCES

Events

Journée Erasmus+ Enseignement supérieur 2023 03 July 2023 More information EURASHE Summer Cocktails 2023 04 July 2023 More information II Meeting of European Alliances 14-15 September 2023 More information II Forum of Universities for the Future of Europe 14-15 September...

IN FOCUS

European learning mobility framework – ACA's policy input

In May, ACA members published their joint policy input feeding into the European Commission’s call for evidence on the revised European Learning Mobility Framework (for more details, see ACA Newsletter - Education Europe, February 2023). This statement is based on...

NEWS FROM ACA

Going green with Erasmus+

The European cooperation programmes for education, youth and sport all place high emphasis on sustainability as a priority. They encourage beneficiaries to find eco-friendly ways to participate in international activities and call for applications that address climate change. ACA member...

Register for the IHES conference in Brussels

On 15 June 2023, the final conference of the IHES project will take place in the Catalan delegation in Brussels. A wide range of experts will discuss how to further advance the links between higher education, civil society and regional...

Report on Inclusion & Diversity in National Agencies

Just recently the SALTO Inclusion and Diversity (Education and Training) resource centre published a research report on the needs and challenges of national agencies related to the topic of inclusion and diversity. The objective of this research was to provide...

NL: growth of new international degree students stabilises

In the new annual report, Nuffic presents data on incoming degree student mobility in the Netherlands in the academic year 2021-23, covering yearly growth in total numbers, new enrolments, countries of origin, and fields of study, amongst other parameters. The...

The Inclusion ACAdemy moves forward

Over the month of May, participants of The Inclusion ACAdemy engaged in thought-provoking and informative sessions led by experts in the field of providing inclusive support. Valerie Mertens from the SIHO centre presented tools and resources for supporting students going...

ECEM project meeting in Porto

In the framework of the recently kicked-off Enriching Communities through Engaged Mobilities (ECEM) project, partners met in Porto on 11 and 12 May to discuss how to use service learning to boost the civic engagement on the one hand, and...

EUROPEAN POLICY

Competitiveness Council debate

In parallel to the Education Council meeting, the Swedish Presidency facilitated on 23 May a policy debate on knowledge security and responsible internationalisation as part of the latest Competitiveness Council meeting. This topic was defined, in the preparatory note that...

Key takeaways from the Education Council meeting

At the May meeting of the Education, Youth, Culture and Sport Council, EU ministers approved two documents aiming to further advance the European Education Area (EEA) and to make automatic mutual recognition in education and training a reality. The Council’s...

European University Alliances – ongoing assessments and knowledge sharing

The European Commission recently published a report analyzing the intermediate progress achieved in 2021-2022 by the 17 European University Alliances funded under the Horizon 2020 Science with and for Society IBA-SwafS-Support-1-2020 call – Support for the Research and Innovation Dimension...

Mobility Scoreboard 2022/2023

At the end of April, EURYDICE published the third edition of the Mobility Scoreboard - Higher education background report, covering the years 2022-2023. This is the last report responding to the mandate given by the Council of Ministers in 2011,...

NATIONAL EDUCATION AND THE GLOBAL CONTEXT

Reduction of mandates of external board members in Sweden

At the end of April, the Swedish Government announced a decision to reduce the mandate of government-appointed external university board members from 36 to 17 months. This unexpected decision was justified in terms of helping universities to limit potential foreign...

22nd Student Survey in Germany – SiD

The German Center for Higher Education and Science Research (DZHW) and the AG Hochschulforschung at the University of Konstanz developed and published with the cooperation of the the German National Association for Student Affairs (DSW) the 22nd Student survey in...

CONFERENCES

Events

Fostering digital pedagogies through international cooperation 7-9 June 2023 More information EUF Open Space: Supporting changemakers in European higher education 7-9 June 2023 More information Career assessment for researchers at risk 8 June 2023 More information IHES Final Conference 15...

NEWS FROM ACA

What can international higher education do for society?

The final conference of the Internationalisation in Higher Education for Society (IHES) project will take place in Brussels on the 15 June 2023, hosted by the Catalan Delegation. The rich programme will include discussions on the potential of internationalisation for society, an...

Estonia finalising the EU funded Dora Pluss programme for higher education

The Dora Pluss programme (2016-2023) aimed to improve Estonia’s visibility and attractiveness as a destination for study and research, and to enhance the global competitiveness of the Estonian higher education sector. The programme was implemented with the support of the...

Ulam programme: calls for applications open!

The call for applications for the 5th edition of the Stanisław Ulam programme, aiming to increase the internationalisation of Polish universities and scientific institutions, is open. The ULAM NAWA programme allows recognised as well as promising scientists coming to Poland,...

Fostering digital pedagogies through international cooperation

From 7 to 9 June 2023, the Academic Cooperation Association (ACA) in cooperation with its member Centre of the Republic of Slovenia for Mobility and European Educational and Training Programmes (CMEPIUS) are organising the event ‘Fostering digital pedagogies through international...

Poland’s Focus on Ukraine

Between 3 and 4 April, together with the University of Gdansk, NAWA has hosted over 300 guests representing academic community worldwide during the 2nd edition of the Focus on Ukraine conference, devoted to supporting Ukraine in the context of the...

The Alumni Farnesina network in Italy

Alumni Farnesina is a network recently created by the Ministry of Foreign Affairs and International Cooperation, in association with Uni-Italia, for all the international students who were awarded a scholarship by the Italian Government to study in Italy. The aim...

USA – Austria: Erasmus+ Higher Education Cooperation Seminar

The OeAD is organising a bilateral Erasmus+ contact seminar for US universities on 30 May 2023 in Washington DC. The US institutions interested in enhancing cross-Atlantic collaboration with Austrian university partners are invited to join. The goal of the event...

ACA @EGM 2023

The Erasmus Student Network held the second edition of the Erasmus Generation Meeting (EGM) in Bucharest, Romania, in early April. Attended by over 1,000 participants, the event brought together student mobility alumni, as well as representatives of partner organisations, EU...

Boosting international students’ economic integration in Germany

In the DAAD recent position paper, an ambitious goal was set to double the number of international higher education graduates entering the German labour market every year based on a joint effort of policymakers, universities, and business. This number is...

The uptake of micro-credentials by German higher education institutions

Following the adoption of the Council recommendation on a European Approach to micro-credentials in June 2022, the discussion has gained further momentum in Germany and other parts of Europe. To assess the progress achieved so far, DAAD conducted a second...

EUROPEAN POLICY

Feasibility study on a joint European Degree is out

Earlier this month the European Commission released the study, carried out by PPMI, exploring the feasibility of a joint European degree in the European context. The research for the study, involving stakeholder consultations, surveys and case studies, had been conducted...

Digital Education: focus on skills and enabling factors

On 24 March 2023, the European Commission adopted two multiannual work programmes under the Digital Europe Programme, allocating a total of EUR 1.284 billion in funding, out of which EUR 553 million is available in 2023. The main education work...

Attractive and sustainable careers in higher education and research

The European Commission Directorate General for Education, Youth, Sport and Culture (DG EAC) has opened an online consultation for its planned European framework for sustainable and attractive careers in higher education. This framework was proposed in the European Strategy for...

NATIONAL EDUCATION AND THE GLOBAL CONTEXT

New proposed framework for international student enrolment in the Netherlands

The Dutch education policymakers and stakeholders have been discussing lately various options aiming to better regulate international student enrolment in Dutch higher education. As part of this process , Robbert Dijkgraaf, the Minister of Education, Culture and Science issued a...

Outgoing mobility in 2022 on the rise in Finland

Recent statistics have shown an increase in the number of mobility periods Finnish higher education students completed abroad in 2022 compared to the year before. There were 6200 long-term mobility periods, i.e., study exchanges or traineeships with the minimum duration...

Nordic experience with automatic recognition of diplomas and study periods abroad

On 12 April, the Swedish Presidency and the Mission of Norway to the EU organised a joint seminar on automatic mutual recognition in higher education, in Brussels. The seminar provided an opportunity to present Nordic processes for recognition, as well...

Online learning in HE internationalisation and electronic study data transfer across borders  

With the digitalisation of higher education underway and increasingly affecting international education and collaboration, several funding schemes have been put in place to support projects within digitalisation, digital campuses, on-line learning as well as virtual/blended mobilities for individuals. The resulting...

CONFERENCES

Events

Erasmus Goes Digital: Lessons learnt 2021-2022 3 May 2023 More information EduCafé 10 May 2023 More information Strategic dialogue on European Universities 10 May 2023 More information Virtual Mobility for All - Teaching and Learning in a Connected World, 1st...

IN FOCUS

University autonomy - a key enabler of successful transnational cooperation - under pressure

This article is written by Enora Bennetot Pruvot - Deputy Director for Governance, Funding and Public Policy Development, EUA. Autonomy remains a necessity for institutions’ ability to fulfil their core missions. University Autonomy in Europe IV: The Scorecard 2023, published...

NEWS FROM ACA

European citizens panel on learning mobility

On 24 March, ACA Director Irina Ferencz participated as an expert in the second session of the European Citizens' Learning Mobility Panel. The citizens’ panel is part of a broader consultation strategy, which aims at gathering feedback from all interested...

EUF, ESN and ESU: Erasmus review 2021-2022

In light of the ongoing evaluation processes of the current and previous Erasmus+ programme, the European University Foundation (EUF), the European Students Union (ESU) and the Erasmus Student Network (ESN) organised on 23 March an event dedicated to the Erasmus+...

Spotlight on joint programmes and Erasmus Mundus

The Erasmus Mundus programme has played a significant role in the development of joint programmes at European and national level since its establishment nearly 20 years ago. The Erasmus+ third application round under the current programme generation shows that the...

Digitalisation in International Higher Education: Forward Looking Perspectives

Interoperability, blended mobility, virtual exchange and digitalisation strategies...these are just a few of the hot topics discussed at the Digitalisation in International Higher Education: Forward Looking Perspectives conference, co-organised by the Czech National Agency for International Education and Research (DZS) and the Academic Cooperation Association (ACA), 1 –2 March...

The Inclusion ACAdemy kicks off!

The Inclusion ACAdemy is a new, tailor-made training series on inclusion and widening participation in international programmes, designed for higher education institutions (HEIs) from Austria, Croatia, Finland, Germany, Iceland and Slovenia. The training series has been created for HEIs in...

Internationalisation and professional development of staff

In March, ACA’s member OeAD organised the Bologna Day 2023 dedicated to the transversal topic of internationalisation explored from the perspective of professional development. Hosted by the Paracelsus Medical University in Salzburg, the event brought together 160 participants including 40...

DAAD strengthens academic cooperation with the Middle East and North Africa

With the new "Ta'ziz Partnership" programme, the German Academic Exchange Service (DAAD) is promoting academic cooperation between German universities and their partners from the MENA region. 47 projects selected for 2023 will receive around EUR 4 million. A total of...

EUROPEAN POLICY

Erasmus+: budgetary and implementation updates

The European Commission has published the new ECHE monitoring guide for Erasmus+ national agencies. This document provides the general quality framework for European and international cooperation activities funded through the Erasmus+ programme. All higher education institutions based in EU member...

Skills for the green transition for a competitive Europe

During the week of 20–24 March, several meetings with Directors-General for schools, vocational education and training and higher education were held in Stockholm as part of the Swedish Presidency of the Council of the EU. Skills supply, green transition, recognition...

New evidence on the European Universities Initiative

On 22 March 2023, the European Commission published a new study exploring the state and effectiveness of national funding for the European Universities Initiative (EUI). The report was prepared by experts from the Center for Higher Education Policy Studies (CHEPS)...

NATIONAL EDUCATION AND THE GLOBAL CONTEXT

Interregional cooperation on recognition of higher education qualifications

The Global Convention on the Recognition of Qualifications concerning Higher Education came into force on 5 March 2023, becoming the first legally binding United Nations instrument on higher education, fostering international mobility and opening up increased opportunities for students and...

New Finnish Higher Education Partnership Programme is launched

The new Finnish Higher Education Partnership (HEP) development cooperation programme emphasises equal partnerships between higher education institutions, increases mobility and promotes closer collaboration between administrative staff, teachers and students. Launched in February 2023, the new HEP programme will further enhance...

New Academic Freedom Index showing decline in 22 countries + more funding for the Hilde Domin programme

Early in March, Academic Freedom Index 2023 update was released, assessing the academic freedom on a global scale as of December 2022. According to the report, in 22 countries, academic freedom deteriorated significantly compared to ten years ago, while only...

Slovakia: Full public health insurance for scholarship holders

As of 1 January 2023, the Slovak parliament has approved an amendment to the Act on Health Insurance, regulating the public healthcare insurance for general healthcare provision in Slovakia. Scholarship holders within national/EU scholarship programmes or a programme that is part of an international agreement, residing...

CONFERENCES

Events

Geflüchtete an österreichischen Hochschulen 12 April 2023 More information Erasmus+ Salon 1: Is the future of Erasmus+ students living in tents? 17 April 2023 More information Rethinking Learning Modes and Learning Paths 20-21 April 2023 More information Preparing universities of...

NEWS FROM ACA

Nuffic: New outgoing student mobility data

On 21 February, Nuffic published a new analysis on outgoing mobility of Dutch higher education students. The study was conducted by Saoradh Favier and Anneloes Slappendel-Henschen, based on the outgoing degree and credit mobility data collected from various sources including...

ACA’s members discuss in-depth most pressing HE topics

In February, ACA continued with a series of thematic peer group meetings organised for the association members on several topics of common interest. The European policies and programmes thematic peer group convened its ninth meeting on 15 February. The main...

PROFFORMANCE+ Thematic webinar series for higher education teachers

The PROFFORMANCE project partners will organise a series of webinars for higher education teachers and professionals across Europe. This project and its successor PROFFORMANCE+ aim to improve the quality of teaching and learning through the support of higher education teachers....

What’s New?

As usual around this time of the year and finally in the physical format again, ACA conducted its flagship seminar What’s New in Brussels? Latest Developments in European Policies and Programmes. This year's programme focused on the translation of the...

Fostering high-quality blended student mobility in higher education

On 13 and 14 February 2023, ACA hosted the kick off meeting of the HIBLend project in Brussels. The aim of this three-year project funded under the Erasmus+ programme is to raise interest in and enhance the capacity of higher...

DAAD finances scholarships for hydrogen research

Accompanying the EU's Green Deal, and the German government's National Hydrogen Strategy, German Academic Exchange Service (DAAD) has launched a new scholarship programme called "ERA Fellowships - Green Hydrogen." The programme supports national and international research stays, internships and expert...

EUROPEAN POLICY

Charting the way towards more encompassing learning mobility in Europe

The European Commission has launched a call for evidence on the European learning mobility framework, accompanied by a public consultation on the same topic. Views on the upcoming initiative can be expressed between 8 February and 3 May 2023 via...

Recognition of qualifications and learning periods abroad

The European Commission published a report assessing the progress made by member states in the automatic and mutual recognition of higher education and upper secondary education and training qualifications and the outcomes of learning periods abroad. This report follows the...

NATIONAL EDUCATION AND THE GLOBAL CONTEXT

Germany plans to recruit 15% of its university research staff from abroad by 2025

On 8 February, the German Federal Government published its new research and innovation strategy: Zukunftsstrategie Forschung und Innovation. This strategy aims to provide a response to the multiple new and existing challenges ranging from climate change and digitalisation to the...

Earthquakes in Türkiye and Syria: HE response

On 6 February 2023, Türkiye was hit by two major earthquakes, with magnitudes of 7.7 and 7.6 respectively. The earthquakes also affected neighbouring countries, causing severe casualties and injuries in Syria especially, and damaging buildings in Lebanon, Iraq, Cyprus, and...

Swiss non-association to Horizon Europe and Erasmus+: lose-lose situation

The Swiss Federal Institute of Technology Lausanne (EPFL) has released new data showing the negative effects of Switzerland’s continuing non-association to Horizon Europe. Since 2021, Switzerland is no longer associated with European programmes. Swiss researchers can still participate in collaborative...

“Students at Risk” scheme in Finland

The National Union of University Students in Finland (SYL) and the National Union of Students in Finnish Universities of Applied Sciences (SAMOK) have received financing of EUR 85 000 from The Centre for Peace Mediation of the Finish Ministry of Foreign Affairs for...

No Covid, no longer online-only courses

China recently lifted its temporary rules that were put in place during the COVID-19 pandemic, allowing foreign universities to offer online courses to students within the country. Like many other countries, it recognised the need for students to continue their...

Germany: Adaptations to the research programme Digital.Sicher.Souverän

The Federal Ministry of Education and Research (BMBF) has adapted the research programme on IT security “Digital.Sicher.Souverän.“ (Digital.Secure.Sovereign.) to new developments and threats and complemented it with the BMBF's newly published “Agenda Cybersecurity Research” (in German). In the new publication,...

CONFERENCES

Events

Digitalisation in International Higher Education: Forward Looking Perspectives 1-2 March 2023 More information TORCH Annual Forum: Sharing Common R&I Policies and Strategies 8 March 2023 More information Polonium Foundation- Science Polish Perspectives Meetup in Brussels 9-10 March 2023 More information...

NEWS FROM ACA

DAAD: Positive news for HEIs and the post-Covid recovery

With the national accompanying programme "European University Networks (EUN)–National Initiative", ACA member, the German Academic Exchange Service (DAAD) supports German universities participating in the EU initiative “European Universities”. The third funding round of the program, which started in January 2023...

Mobility rates and internationalisation index of Swiss HEIs

Movetia's latest publication: “Mobility Rates and Internationalisation Index of Swiss Higher Education Institutions” addresses a wide range of questions, such as which Swiss higher education institution has the highest mobility rate or which internationalisation factors are most encouraging for student...

Swedish HEIs in the European Universities Initiative, opportunities and challenges

Recently, the Swedish Council for Higher Education (UHR) has been tasked by the government to map and analyse the conditions of Swedish HEIs’ participation in the European Universities Initiative (EUI). The report will entail an evaluation of the ongoing EU...

Finland: Impact assessment of EDUFI trainee programmes 2015–2018

An impact assessment was recently conducted by ACA member, EDUFI, on its international trainee programmes. These programmes enable international traineeship opportunities yearly for around 200 Finnish higher education students and recent graduates. As in the previous assessment of 2017, the EDUFI...

EUROPEAN POLICY

European Universities Initiative – focus on outcomes and way forward

As the European Commission just published the results of its European joint degree label and legal status calls, the European Universities Initiative continues to be in the spotlight at the start of the new year. Six of the ten selected...

Swedish EU Council Presidency – room for education?

Sweden assumed the Presidency of the Council of the European Union at a difficult time for member states and the Union as a whole as the geopolitical and economic situation in Europe has been strongly affected by Russia’s war against...

The EIT Campus has been officially launched!

The European Institute of Innovation & Technology (EIT) has recently launched the EIT Campus, a new initiative aimed at fostering innovation and entrepreneurship among students and young professionals across Europe. The EIT Campus is designed to provide rich educational and...

NATIONAL EDUCATION AND THE GLOBAL CONTEXT

Hungary: explainer on the frozen funds

At the end of December 2022, the European Commission informed the Tempus Public Foundation (TPF) – ACA’s member and the organisation that serves as the national agency for the Erasmus+ programme in Hungary – that based on the Council Implementing...

Norway’s bumpy road towards tuition fees for international students

Following the Norwegian government’s budgetary proposal to introduce tuition fees for degree students from countries outside the EU/EEA and Switzerland starting from autumn 2023, approved in the Parliament last December, the higher education sector is widely debating its implementation. As...

Taliban’s ban on women’s access to higher education

On 20 December 2022, Neda Mohammad Nadeem, Minister of Higher Education of Afghanistan, issued a letter to the HEIs across the country to impose an indefinite ban on Afghan women’s access to higher education. Taliban government justified this decision based...

International student admissions in Estonia – the impact of Covid-19 and the war in Ukraine

A total of 1484 international degree students were enrolled to Estonian higher education institutions (HEIs) this academic year, which is 15% less than last year. Likewise, the total number of international degree students who currently study in Estonia dropped from...

Education exports are economically significant in Finland

The objective of the Education Finland programme, which operates within the Finnish National Agency for Education (EDUFI) and boosts Finnish education exports, is to increase the value of education exports to EUR 1 billion by 2030. According to a recent...

UK introduces a financial package to address rising costs

UK’s Department for Education has announced the provision of additional GBP 15 million (around EUR 17 million) funding to help students struggling raising with living costs. This will come on top of the GBP 261 million (around EUR 297 million)...

CONFERENCES

Events

What's New in Brussels 2023 2-3 February 2023 More information IUA In-Person Event, Researchers Share Your Views on Enhancing the Success of Ireland’s New Funding Agency 02 February 2023 More information EDEN NAP Webinar - Students’ Wellbeing In Open and...