In this episode of The Grant, I dive deep into the European university alliances through the lens of YUFE – Young Universities for the Future of Europe. Guest Mara-Valerie Schegk, Secretary General of the YUFE Alliance, shares her insider perspective on how YUFE evolved from a bold vision sparked by Emmanuelle Macron’s Sorbonne speech in 2017 into a vibrant, cross-border collaboration of 10 young universities. From joint degrees and lifelong learning initiatives to engaging citizens and nurturing early-career researchers, YUFE exemplifies how university alliances can drive systemic change in European higher education.

The episode also unpacks the broader landscape of the 65 European university alliances, spotlighting both the opportunities and the immense amount of alliances suddenly operating. We explore the tensions between Erasmus+ funding and the growing ambition of alliances to operate across research and education. Maria-Valerie and I offer candid reflections on funding sustainability, institutional commitment, and the strategic shift from project-based thinking to long-term integration. If you're curious about the future of European universities—and how they’re navigating complex Brussels dynamics—this conversation is for you.

Time codes:

00:01:49 Introduction

00:05:39 Fly in on university alliances

00:11:29 YUFE and Its mission

00:28:27 European universities alliances

00:38:30 The research funding challenge

00:53:44 The role and impact of alliances

01:04:37 Policy and future perspectives

01:16:32 The toughest challenge

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