The Transform4Europe (T4EU) Alliance was formed five years ago – on 3 November 2020 in Saarbrücken – joining the European Universities initiative to forge a new dimension of international academic cooperation. The Alliance now celebrates this significant milestone, which also marks the beginning of a new, institutionalised stage of its development.
A key achievement solidifying the Alliance’s future has been its formal institutionalisation. During an official ceremony at Vytautas Magnus University in Kaunas, the rectors of the partner universities signed the founding document establishing the Transform4Europe association. This strategic step transforms T4EU from an EU-funded project into a permanent, international structure. The new association legally unites all 11 university partners, including Mariupol State University, as equal members. This move guarantees the ability to continue and expand cooperation for many years to come.
Hilkka Hiiop, Rector of EKA: “T4EU becoming a permanent alliance gives EKA confidence at a time when the new European Union budget period beginning in 2028 will push universities to prioritise science, technology, engineering and mathematics, but fortunately also the European Universities alliances. In a situation where EKA clearly cannot compete on equal terms in the STEM fields, it is increasingly important that we are part of a European Universities alliance. This helps ensure that art and creativity remain essential in shaping Europe’s future and continue to receive the necessary support and funding.”
‘We are testing various forms of cooperation – joint study programmes, diplomas, short-term mobility, educational paths, and research projects – with the aim of making them a permanent part of the offer at each of our universities. The institutionalisation of our cooperation is a key tool to achieve this goal’, commented Prof. Tomasz Pietrzykowski, Vice-Rector for International and Domestic Cooperation at the University of Silesia in Katowice, who led the team responsible for preparing the legal solution.
Looking back at the past 5 years, the Alliance’s transformation has exceeded initial expectations. ‘An important step in solidifying our cooperation is the establishment of the T4EU Joint Grants Office’, underlines Prof. Dominik Brodowski, Vice-President for Internationalisation and European Relations at Saarland University. ‘This international project office, funded from own resources of the alliance members, supports researchers in acquiring funds for research projects. This will further strengthen our scientific ties’.
Other key initiatives developed during the first five years include:
- the implementation of the T4EU Metacampus, a virtual platform offering joint courses,
- the launch of joint international study programmes,
- the introduction of new mobility formats, such as T4EU Weeks and Summer/Winter Schools,
- the Seed Funding Programme, which financially supports the implementation of joint educational projects,
- the Innovative Teaching Award, promoting innovation in didactics.
This 5-year milestone is a testament to the dedication of all institutions and individuals involved in building the shared European future of the Transform4Europe Alliance.
About the Transform4Europe Alliance
The T4EU Alliance is part of the European Universities initiative, aiming to change the face of European higher education by building international campuses, facilitating mobility, and offering joint study programmes. The Alliance now consists of 11 universities: Saarland University (leader, Germany), the University of Alicante (Spain), the Estonian Academy of Arts (Estonia), Sofia University St. Kliment Ohridski (Bulgaria), the University of Silesia in Katowice (Poland), the University of Primorska (Slovenia), Universidade Católica Portuguesa (Portugal), Jean Monnet University (France), the University of Trieste (Italy), Vytautas Magnus University (Lithuania), and Mariupol State University (Ukraine).
For more information, please visit: www.transform4europe.eu.
For more commentary on the significance of the legal entity for the T4EU Alliance, please refer to the full interview with Prof. Tomasz Pietrzykowski and Dr. Mauro Arturo Rivera León by Tomasz Janocha, available here: A Milestone for Transform4Europe Cooperation – Transform4Europe.
Media Contact: triin.kao@artun.ee
