Pre-seminar networking (optional ) - Meet colleagues before the seminar to network over a warm beverage 

Registration and light networking lunch

Welcome address: Gro Tjore, Deputy Director, Norwegian Directorate for Higher Education and Skills (HK-Dir) and, President, Academic Cooperation Association (ACA)

Plenary: New EU policy priorities and orientations: updates from the European Commission, the European Parliament and the Council  
This session features a series of keynote speeches by three prominent EU policy makers, offering valuable insights into both long-standing and emerging political priorities within the EU. The speeches will place European higher education within a broader political context, highlighting renewed expectations from EU policymakers for the sector. The speakers will explore how the new agenda can be aligned with opportunities presented by current and future EU-funded programmes, while also sharing key insights into the major milestones anticipated in 2025.  

Networking break

Flash update: synergies between education & research agendas in 2025

Panellists:
Joerg Niehoff, Deputy Head of Unit, ERA, Spreading Excellence and Research Careers, Directorate-General for Research and Innovation, European Commission 

Claire Morel, Head of Unit MSCA, Directorate-General for Education, Youth, and Erasmus+, European Commission

Dolores Volker, Head of HEI Initiative, EIT RawMaterials (TBC)  

Silvia Gómez Recio, Secretary General, Young European Research Universities Network (YERUN) 

Moderator: Irina Ferencz, Director, Academic Cooperation Association (ACA)

Parallel Sessions - Erasmus priorities and the European Universities initiative

The parallel sessions will offer the opportunity for exchanges with experts and peers on the priorities of the upcoming Erasmus+ programme. The thematic focus of the parallel sessions will be on two of the main priorities of the Erasmus+ programme, digitalisation and inclusion, while the third parallel session will focus on the European degree, with insights from representatives from the European Commission together with institutional representatives. 

Parallel Session 1: Digitalisation in the Erasmus+ programme: Education, mobility and skills  
The session will explore the evolving role of digitalisation within the Erasmus+ Programme and its impact on education, skills and mobility opportunities. The speakers will explore topics such as digital traineeship opportunities that enable students to gain practical experience remotely or through hybrid models, enhancing their skills, the creation of digital campuses, fostering virtual international collaborations, especially within the European University Alliances and Blended Intensive Programmes, combining online learning with short-term physical mobility, promoting accessibility and inclusivity. An institutional example will present their approach on the topic of leveraging digital tools to enhance their education offer, ensuring that they meet the demands of the digital age while expanding opportunities for their learners.

Panellists:
Svava Berglind Finsen, Policy Officer, Higher Education Unit, Directorate-General for Education, Youth, and Erasmus+, European Commission (TBC)  

Representative from Higher education institution (TBC)

Darwyn Bruelemans, Web Project Administrator, Erasmus Student Network (ESN)

Moderator: Angeliki Psychogyiou, Policy and Project Coordinator, Academic Cooperation Association (ACA)

Parallel Session 2: Inclusion
The session will investigate the uptake of the Inclusion & Diversity priority of the Erasmus+ programme in at the European level. The speakers will explore the possible impact of the Council’s "Europe on the Move” policy package on the higher education mobilities of students from disadvantaged backgrounds. An institutional example will present their approach to supporting inclusive internationalisation. 

Panellists:
Marta Gutierrez Benet, Head of Sector, Programme Manager, Erasmus+ Coordination Unit, Directorate-General for Education, Youth, and Erasmus+, European Commission 

HEI Representative (TBC)

Moderator: Martin Bogdan, Policy and Project Coordinator, Academic Cooperation Association (ACA)

Parallel Session 3: Progress towards a European degree


Moderator: Veronika Kupriyanova, Deputy Director, Academic Cooperation Association (ACA)

Please join us for a light networking reception.

Welcome coffee - Start Day 2 with a warm beverage and networking with other participants

Flash update: Key milestones for the international dimension post-2025 

Panellists:
Filip Van Depoele, Head of Unit, International Cooperation, Directorate-General for Education, Youth, and Erasmus+, European Commission 

Annica Floren, Deputy Head of Unit, Youth, Education and Culture, Directorate-General for International Partnerships, European Commission (TBC)

Moderator: Luis de Barutell, Advisor, Spanish Service for the Internationalisation of Education (SEPIE) 

Transition to parallel sessions

Parallel Sessions: From policy to practice: focus on geographic priorities 
Following the same interactive design of day one's parallel sessions, day two continues with three more sessions focused on the geographic priorities of Erasmus+: (i) the Mediterranean, (ii) Africa, and (iii) Ukraine. Each session allows participants to raise questions directly with each other and with the speakers, and interact with the practices shared.

Parallel Session 1: The Mediterranean

Panellists:
Georgiana Plesu, International Relations Officer, International Cooperation Unit, Directorate-General for Education, Youth, and Erasmus+, European Commission (TBC)

HEI Representative (TBC)

Parallel Session 2: Higher Education Cooperation with Africa

Panellists:
Claire Herrmann, Policy Officer, International Cooperation Unit, Directorate-General for Education, Youth, and Erasmus+, European Commission (TBC) 

Christel Vacelet, Head of International Relations, UCLouvain (TBC) 

Gerhard Volz, Head of the Department for International Cooperation in Higher Education, Austria's Agency for Education and Internationalisation (OeAD)

Moderator: Hilde Haaland-Kramer, Head of the Department for Global Cooperation and Capacity Building, Norwegian Directorate for Higher Education and Skills (HK Dir) 

Parallel Session 3: Ukraine

Panellists:
Adrien Olszak-Olszewski, Policy Officer, International Cooperation Unit, Directorate-General for Education, Youth, and Erasmus+, European Commission (TBC)

HEI Representative (TBC)

Moderator: Michael Hörig, Director, DAAD Brussels Office

Networking break

Plenary: Deep transnational cooperation and innovation: impact and sustainability  

The closing panel will discuss lessons learnt and good practice in university partnerships and alliances, including alliances outside of the European Universities initiative and those participating in the initiative.
 

Closing words and light lunch