European University Alliances as integrated ecosystems
Programme:
Day 1: Cross-Alliance landscape & future directions
Location: ITC building Langezijds
Focus: Understanding the European Alliances system
Details Monday October 5
Location: ITC building Langezijds
- 09:00–09:30
Arrival & registration - 09:30–10:00
Word of welcome: Flavia Carvalho de Souza, Liv Hassinger and Anne Olde Loohuis, all University of Twente | ECIU University - 10:00–10:30
Icebreaker - 10:30–11:00
Coffee break - 11:00–12:30
Where are the alliances now? Katrin Dircksen (Secretary General of ECIU) and Daniela Craciun (Assistant Professor | University of Twente) - 12:30–13:30
Lunch - 13:30–15:00
Aligning Universities’ and Alliances’ strategic goals: Kristina Melcher (Leibniz University Hannover | EULiST) and Liv Hassinger (University of Twente | Institutional Coordinator of ECIU University) - 15:00–15:30
Coffee break - 15:30: Networking moment. Location: Lounge
Day 2: Alliances as integrated ecosystems: operational realities
Location: ITC building Langezijds
Focus: How Alliances function internally
Details Tuesday October 6
Location: ITC building Langezijds
- 09:00–10:30
How do operations, finances and administration of EUA work? Johannes Liedtke (Hamburg University of Technology | ECIU University) and Jonas Salz (YUFE Central Office) - 10:30–11:00
Coffee break - 11:00–12:30
- How alliances work: WP and institutional perspectives: Tom Berendsen and Kim Venema (both Saxion University | E³udres²)
- 12:30–13:30
Lunch - 13:30–15:30
Campus tour (13:20 in front of Langezijds; back at 15:30) - 15:30–17:00 How can a newly integrated partner contribute to the sustainability of an EUA? Mateusz Dworak (Medical University of Lodz | EduCare 5.0)
- 15:30- 17:00: Insigths from the R&I group: Maria Luisa Carosso (online | University of Twente | ECIU)
Day 3: Funding architecture of Alliances
Location: Citadel T300
Focus: Understanding the funding landscape
Details Wednesday October 7
Location: Citadel T300
- 09:00 – 10:30: Strategic approach to maximize funding opportunities: Irina Samson (Maynooth University | Arqus | online) and Ulrike Steiger (Universities of Education in Baden-Württemberg)
- 10:30–11:00: Coffee break
- 11:00–12:30: How can E+ projects support EUA ambitions? Frescia Mera (Bielefeld University | NEOLAiA)
- 12:30–13:30: Lunch
- 13:30 – 15:00: Cohesion between E+ KA1 and KA2 in the context of EUA: Miranda Bohnke (University of Twente | ECIU University)
- Strategic implementation of E+ projects: Sophie Ball (DCU | ECIU university)
- 15:00: City tour. We meet at 'Brandmonument' at 15:50. Tour departs at 16:00
Day 4: Regional & innovation ecosystems
Location: ITC building Langezijds
Focus: Connecting Alliances to regional, national, and European innovation spaces
Details Thursday October 8
Location: ITC building Langezijds
09:00–10:30: ECIU University Entrepreneurial Campus: Rainer Harms (University of Twente | ECIU)
Connected communities: connecting teaching, research, and innovation: Mateja Melink (University of Ljubljana | EUTOPIA)
10:30-11:00: Coffee break
11:00-12:30: The innovation and entrepreneurship strategy policy: strengthening innovation and entrepreneurship in EUA: Noelia López del Castillo (University of Alicante | T4EU) and Tim Jongman (University of Twente | ECIU University)
12:30–13:30: Lunch
13:30 – 15:00: Entrepreneurial education: connecting alliances to regional, national, and European innovation ecosystems: Anna Savostina (University of Duisburg-Essen | Aurora)
Connecting quadruple helix stakeholders for meaningful societal impact:
Sandra Evans (ERUA, the European Reform University Alliance)
15:00-15:30: Coffee break
15:45 – 16:15: DesignLab Tour
Day 5: Sustainable Alliances – governance, funding and embedding
Location: Citadel T300
Focus: Long-term sustainability & strategic embedding
Details Friday October 9
Location: Citadel T300
09:00 – 10:30: Impact of EUA: Carla Di Martino (University of Lille | NeurotechEU)
Young Leaders Academy experience: contributing to the longevity of EUA: Iris Ivaniš (University of Ljubljana | EUTOPIA)
10:30 – 11:00: Coffee break
11:00 – 12:30: The future of EUA: Laura Paternoster (ECIU) and Olga Wessels (FOREU4ALL)
12:30: Farewell
Via this campus link, route link, and campus map you can find more information about the UT campus and its buildings
Photos from the latest Staff Days at the University of Twente – an impression |
Organised by ECIU University and hosted at the University of Twente, the ECIU Staff Week 2026 will take place from 5–9 October. Over five days, we bring together higher education professionals from across Europe to explore the evolving role of European University Alliances as integrated ecosystems. And you can be part of it!
We offer you a unique opportunity to engage with the strategic, operational, and policy dimensions shaping the future of collaboration in European higher education. As European University Alliances continue to develop, they are no longer seen as isolated projects, but as integrated ecosystems that connect education, research, and innovation. This staff week is designed to provide participants with a comprehensive understanding of how these ecosystems function, how they are funded, and how they can be sustained and embedded within institutional strategies. By bridging Erasmus+ initiatives with research and innovation frameworks such as Horizon Europe, the programme highlights the importance of cross-pillar collaboration in achieving long-term impact.
The week is specifically tailored for professionals working at the intersection of internationalisation, European education and research & innovation programmes, and institutional strategy. Participants include alliance coordinators and work package leaders, Erasmus+ officers, research support staff, project managers, and policy professionals engaged in European higher education transformation. Whether participants are experienced in alliance work or looking to deepen their involvement, the programme offers valuable insights and practical perspectives
The programme is still very much under development, and we need your input to shape it. During these days, our main goal is to learn from each other. That is why we are looking for success stories and best practices.
