What is CIVIS? Let's (re)discover together what makes us Europe's Civic University Alliance
Co-creating the university of tomorrow, today
Since its inception in 2019 as part of the European Universities initiative, CIVIS, together with a robust community of practice, has been on a mission to reshape the landscape of higher education across Europe anf beyond. With 11 member universities in Europe, 6 Associate member universities in Africa, and a growing network of partners, CIVIS is more than an alliance—it's a living, evolving community of students, academics, researchers, and staff, all united by a shared vision.
But what is CIVIS? A journey, a road trip, an aspiration. An alliance that thrives in the personal encounters and the professional development of each member, each civizen.
For CIVIS Executive Director, Marie Wittamer, CIVIS is a real, concrete tool to preserve a space for scientific and human values. And it is an endeavour for the long run, as stated by Professor Monique Scheer, member of the Steering Committee.
Inclusiveness, mobility, and borderless learning opportunities that foster a sense of purpose dynamize our activities, as founding member of the CIVIS Steering Committee, Professor Jean-Marc Pons, points out. And if someone is a living proof of the results of these efforts is Katerina Schnoina, co-chair of the CIVIS Student Council. “Anyone can participate… the CIVIS Student Council is highly intercultural”.
The journey is full of challenges, including funding, administrative hurdles and legal obstacles, but as CIVIS Secretary General, Professor Stefan Lang, points out the European Universities initiative is an opportunity to make Europe more competitive in the international sphere. It is also a joint effort with our Associate Members in Africa, as Professor Barnabas Nawangwe, Vice-Chancellor of Makerere University, tells us.
Who are the civizens?
Our people are our strength. And they write the CIVIS story every day through their commitment.
In CIVIS, members aren’t just participants—they’re civizens. This unique identity reflects a shared commitment to values, responsibilities, and dreams. It’s about belonging to a community that transcends borders and disciplines, where we aspire to collaborate and innovate together, in spite of the many challenges and barriers we find every day.
The civizens campaign
Cooking up civisness
To make CIVIS real, we count on outstanding ‘chefs’ and the best ingredients. Our academics, researchers and staff members spice things up every day to create challenge-based programmes, sustainable mobility, civic engagement and more. In the CIVIS kitchen, we tell you how we get it done!
Let’s go back to that magic moment during CIVIS Days 2024 in Salzburg, when the alliance took a creative approach to explaining its mission. In a metaphorical “CIVIS kitchen”, academics, researchers, and staff came together to “cook” a CIVIS project—mixing challenge-based learning, sustainable mobility, and civic engagement into a recipe for educational transformation.
Come to the kitchen and cook up some civisness with us!
Join the CIVIS Journey
CIVIS is not just a destination—it’s a journey. One that evolves with every project, every collaboration, and every civizen who joins the movement. As we strive for greater societal impact through science-driven education, we invite you to connect—or reconnect—with the fundamentals of our alliance.
Whether you’re a student, academic, or simply someone who believes in the power of education to change the world, there’s a place for you in CIVIS.
Join us. Be a civizen. Help shape the university of tomorrow, today!
Credits
Special thanks to Kerstin Fuchsberger, Petra Höpfner Petra and Eva Elise Lechelle for their support during the shooting at PLUS.
Student crew coordination: Prof. Alois Pluschkowitz (PLUS)
🎥 Tara Dirala, Leandra K. Sprenger & René Mehren
🔊: Katharina Kaser, Florian Mühlbacher & Verena Karl
🎬Concept, interviews & general production: CIVIS Communication Unit & Pop Productions
Footage from CIVIS Universities for the CIVIS Journey video: Université libre de Bruxelles, University of Tübingen, University of Salzburg, University of Bucharest, Université de Lausanne, Aix-Marseille Université.