The European Education Area – CIVIS – Europe’s Civic University Alliance [Mergeți direct la conținut](#main) ![](https://civis.eu/build/assets/circle-12-DCoFnra7.svg) ![](https://civis.eu/build/assets/circle-03-DvaxLIQk.svg) ![](https://civis.eu/build/assets/circle-05-Dj7Wr3Es.svg) [ ![CIVIS – Europe’s Civic University Alliance](https://civis.eu/build/assets/civis-CCpvK1nT.svg)](https://civis.eu/ro) - [ Descoperiți ](https://civis.eu/ro/discover-civis-alliance) - [ Ce este CIVIS? ](https://civis.eu/ro/discover-civis-alliance/what-is-civis) - [ Activitatea noastră ](https://civis.eu/ro/discover-civis-alliance/our-work) - [ Misiune, Viziune & Valori ](https://civis.eu/ro/discover-civis-alliance/our-institutional-journey) - [ Guvernanță și Management ](https://civis.eu/ro/discover-civis-alliance/governance-andamp-management) - [ Cine este cine? ](https://civis.eu/ro/discover-civis-alliance/who-is-who) - [ CIVIS Association ](https://civis.eu/ro/discover-civis-alliance/civis-association) [Laboratoare deschise & Implicare civică ](https://civis.eu/ro/discover-civis-alliance/our-work/open-labs-civic-engagement) - [ Învățare ](https://civis.eu/ro/learn) - [ Programe Intensive Mixte (BIPs) ](https://civis.eu/ro/learn/blended-intensive-programmes) - [ Învățare flexibilă ](https://civis.eu/ro/learn/build-your-learning-path-with-our-modular-offer) - [ Programe de Masterat ](https://civis.eu/ro/learn/find-your-master-s-programme) - [ Staff weeks & Job Shadowing ](https://civis.eu/ro/learn/keep-on-learning-with-staff-weeks-andamp-job-shadowing) - [ Studiu în străinătate ](https://civis.eu/ro/learn/study-abroad-and-connect-with-civis-universities) [Discover the projects led by our students in 2025-2026 ](https://civis.eu/ro/discover-civis-alliance/our-work/student-led-projects/discover-the-projects-led-by-our-students-in-2025-2026) [CIVIS Museum University Forum ](https://civis.eu/ro/discover-civis-alliance/our-work/CIVIS-Museum-University-Forum) - [ Predare ](https://civis.eu/ro/teach) - [ Oportunități de predare ](https://civis.eu/ro/teach/civis-calls) - [ Inovați-vă predarea ](https://civis.eu/ro/teach/innovate-your-teaching) - [ Resurse pentru cadrele universitare ](https://civis.eu/ro/teach/resources-for-educators) [BIP-urile CIVIS: impact puternic și nivel ridicat de satisfacție, relevă un nou raport ](https://civis.eu/ro/the-civis-newsroom/civis-bips-strong-impact-and-high-satisfaction-new-report-finds) [Studenții CIVIS aduc muzica în lumea pacienților cu demență și a îngrijitorilor acestora ](https://civis.eu/ro/the-civis-newsroom/musicians-from-all-over-civis-come-together-in-madrid-to-promote-inclusiveness) - [ Cercetare ](https://civis.eu/ro/research) - [ Colaborări pentru cercetare ](https://civis.eu/ro/research/research-collaboration) - [ Cariere, Relații, Mobilități ](https://civis.eu/ro/research/research-careers-networks-and-projects) - [ Resurse pentru cercetători(-oare) ](https://civis.eu/ro/research/resources-for-researchers) [CIVIS launches new job space for early-stage researchers across Europe and Africa ](https://civis.eu/ro/the-civis-newsroom/civis-launches-new-post-doc-doc-job-space-to-connect-early-stage-researchers-across-europe-and-africa) [Provocări comune, soluții comune pentru Africa și Europa ](https://civis.eu/ro/the-civis-newsroom/facing-common-challenges-shaping-joint-solutions-for-africa-and-europe) - [ Conectați-vă ](https://civis.eu/ro/connect) - [ Buletine informative ](https://civis.eu/ro/connect/newsletters) - [ Zilele CIVIS ](https://civis.eu/ro/connect/civis-days) - [ Societate civilă ](https://civis.eu/ro/discover-civis-alliance/our-work/open-labs-civic-engagement) - [ Contactați-ne ](https://civis.eu/ro/contact) - [ Zona de presă și branding ](https://civis.eu/ro/connect/press-corner-branding-toolkit) [CIVIS Student Ambassadors Take Centre Stage in Newsroom Pilot ](https://civis.eu/ro/the-civis-newsroom/civis-student-ambassadors-take-the-lead-inside-the-newsroom-pilot-project) [Construind o alianță eficientă: cinci lecții învățate de la departamentele CIVIS ](https://civis.eu/ro/the-civis-newsroom/building-an-alliance-that-works-five-lessons-from-the-civis-units) [ Relatări ](https://civis.eu/ro/the-civis-newsroom) ro - [ en ](https://civis.eu/en/the-european-education-area) - [ de ](https://civis.eu/de/the-european-education-area) - [ fr ](https://civis.eu/fr/the-european-education-area) - [ el ](https://civis.eu/el/the-european-education-area) - [ it ](https://civis.eu/it/the-european-education-area) - [ es ](https://civis.eu/es/the-european-education-area) - [ sv ](https://civis.eu/sv/the-european-education-area) Menu - [Descoperiți](https://civis.eu/ro/discover-civis-alliance) [ Toggle submenu ](#primary-nav-sm-collapse-29) - [ Ce este CIVIS? ](https://civis.eu/ro/discover-civis-alliance/what-is-civis) - [ Activitatea noastră ](https://civis.eu/ro/discover-civis-alliance/our-work) - [ Misiune, Viziune & Valori ](https://civis.eu/ro/discover-civis-alliance/our-institutional-journey) - [ Guvernanță și Management ](https://civis.eu/ro/discover-civis-alliance/governance-andamp-management) - [ Cine este cine? ](https://civis.eu/ro/discover-civis-alliance/who-is-who) - [ CIVIS Association ](https://civis.eu/ro/discover-civis-alliance/civis-association) - [Învățare](https://civis.eu/ro/learn) [ Toggle submenu ](#primary-nav-sm-collapse-30) - [ Programe Intensive Mixte (BIPs) ](https://civis.eu/ro/learn/blended-intensive-programmes) - [ Învățare flexibilă ](https://civis.eu/ro/learn/build-your-learning-path-with-our-modular-offer) - [ Programe de Masterat ](https://civis.eu/ro/learn/find-your-master-s-programme) - [ Staff weeks & Job Shadowing ](https://civis.eu/ro/learn/keep-on-learning-with-staff-weeks-andamp-job-shadowing) - [ Studiu în străinătate ](https://civis.eu/ro/learn/study-abroad-and-connect-with-civis-universities) - [Predare](https://civis.eu/ro/teach) [ Toggle submenu ](#primary-nav-sm-collapse-31) - [ Oportunități de predare ](https://civis.eu/ro/teach/civis-calls) - [ Inovați-vă predarea ](https://civis.eu/ro/teach/innovate-your-teaching) - [ Resurse pentru cadrele universitare ](https://civis.eu/ro/teach/resources-for-educators) - [Cercetare](https://civis.eu/ro/research) [ Toggle submenu ](#primary-nav-sm-collapse-32) - [ Colaborări pentru cercetare ](https://civis.eu/ro/research/research-collaboration) - [ Cariere, Relații, Mobilități ](https://civis.eu/ro/research/research-careers-networks-and-projects) - [ Resurse pentru cercetători(-oare) ](https://civis.eu/ro/research/resources-for-researchers) - [Conectați-vă](https://civis.eu/ro/connect) [ Toggle submenu ](#primary-nav-sm-collapse-33) - [ Buletine informative ](https://civis.eu/ro/connect/newsletters) - [ Zilele CIVIS ](https://civis.eu/ro/connect/civis-days) - [ Societate civilă ](https://civis.eu/ro/discover-civis-alliance/our-work/open-labs-civic-engagement) - [ Contactați-ne ](https://civis.eu/ro/contact) - [ Zona de presă și branding ](https://civis.eu/ro/connect/press-corner-branding-toolkit) [ Relatări ](https://civis.eu/ro/the-civis-newsroom) ro - [ en ](https://civis.eu/en/the-european-education-area) - [ de ](https://civis.eu/de/the-european-education-area) - [ fr ](https://civis.eu/fr/the-european-education-area) - [ el ](https://civis.eu/el/the-european-education-area) - [ it ](https://civis.eu/it/the-european-education-area) - [ es ](https://civis.eu/es/the-european-education-area) - [ sv ](https://civis.eu/sv/the-european-education-area) The European Education Area ============================= The primary goal of the European University Alliances initiative is to build deep, long-term transnational cooperation among *Higher Education Institutions* (HEIs) across Europe, with the aim of enhancing the quality, inclusiveness, attractiveness, and global competitiveness of European higher education, while fostering a shared European identity and common values (European Commission, 2026). Both Swiss and British universities have seized the opportunity to participate in alliances as *associated partners*, despite not receiving any *Erasmus+* funding after the pilot phase. This poster explores the challenges and opportunities of integrating Swiss and British universities within the EUI using CIVIS as an example. Benefits for Swiss and UK institutions --------------------------------------- Participation in a European University Alliance offers far more than access to international networks. Alliances create an intensive and structured environment for **institutional transformation** **and innovation**. They provide opportunities to rethink academic content and teaching methods through collaborative course design, co-teaching and co-delivery of learning activities. Initiatives such as Collaborative Online International Learning (COIL) and Blended Intensive Programmes (BIPs) encourage experimentation with new pedagogical models and foster innovative forms of mobility. Alliances also help **reconnect Swiss and UK institutions with European partners**. For Switzerland in particular, years outside the Erasmus+ programme have reduced opportunities for systematic international engagement. Through alliances, academic, professional staff and students can participate in staff weeks, job-shadowing activities, seed-funding schemes, open labs projects and other collaborative initiatives that strengthen professional networks and facilitate the exchange of good practices. Research, while not formally at the core of the European Universities Initiative, also benefits from alliance participation. Alliances provide a framework for developing collaborations, sharing infrastructures and creating new mobility opportunities for early-career researchers and doctoral candidates. In the Swiss context, some of these opportunities have not traditionally been available through national mobility schemes. For the UK, it sped up knowledge and network building when the re-association to Horizon was formalised, providing contacts and EU project expertise for new early-careers recearchers (ECR), and opportunities to quickly expand existing networks for others. Participation also enables Swiss and UK institutions to remain **actively engaged in shaping the future of European higher education**. Alliances offer direct exposure to discussions on educational policy, quality assurance, joint degrees and the broader European Education Area. For Swiss and British institutions, this involvement represents an unprecedented opportunity to contribute to policy debates while ensuring that national perspectives and interests remain part of the conversation. Finally, alliances act as **accelerators for the development of joint programmes and joint degrees**. These initiatives often require institutions to rethink internal regulations and administrative processes, thereby driving change both at institutional and national levels. Benefits for European University Alliances ------------------------------------------ The contribution of Swiss and UK partners extends far beyond their own institutional gains. Because their participation is generally based on institutional commitment rather than direct European funding, Swiss and UK institutions often bring a strategic and **pragmatic** perspective to Alliance activities. Resources and investments are carefully assessed against institutional alignment and impact of the expected outcomes, encouraging a focus on sustainability, efficiency and impact. These partners can also act as "**critical friends**", challenging established assumptions and helping alliances refine their strategic priorities. Their different national contexts and governance models introduce additional perspectives that can stimulate innovation and encourage alternative approaches. Furthermore, Swiss institutions in particular operate under funding frameworks that differ from those of Erasmus+. This can create g**reater flexibility in determining priorities and allocating resources**, offering alliances additional agility when responding to emerging opportunities or challenges. Swiss and UK universities also strengthen the **international reputation and reach of alliances**. Many are among the world's leading higher education institutions and bring recognised expertise, strong research performance, international outlooks and high levels of institutional autonomy. Their participation reinforces the excellence, diversity and global visibility of European University Alliances. Challenges that remain ---------------------- Despite these benefits, participation outside Erasmus+ continues to present significant obstacles. Funding disparities remain one of the most important barriers. **Some activities, mobility formats and cooperation instruments are not equally accessible to Swiss and UK institutions**, limiting participation in some areas and creating additional administrative complexity. **Mobility constraints** can also affect activity planning. **Restrictions** related to eligibility and funding sometimes make it more difficult to organise events, attract participants or ensure balanced participation across the alliance. Funding rules differ between the different categories of partners. Although UK and Swiss partners are often considered full members with equal rights withing the Alliance, the Commission only recognised tham as associated members. The coexistence of **different statuses and participation rules** creates confusion regarding eligibility, leadership roles, budgeting and participation in projects. Considerable effort is often required to explain who can participate in which activities and under what conditions. Long-term planning is further complicated by the **uncertainty** **created by evolving European and national policies**. Political decisions can have immediate consequences for institutional participation, making stability a crucial condition for sustained investment and engagement. Finally, managing collaboration across large and diverse alliances requires significant **coordination efforts**. While this diversity is a source of strength, it can also make decision-making slower and more complex. Conclusion ---------- The CIVIS experience demonstrates that the participation of Swiss and UK institutions in European University Alliances is not a second-best solution but a **strategic asset**. These partners contribute academic excellence, innovation, international perspectives and policy engagement while helping alliances become more resilient and adaptable. The challenge for the future is therefore not whether institutions from outside Erasmus+ should be included, but **how funding mechanisms, governance structures and policy frameworks can evolve to ensure that their contribution continues to strengthen the European Higher Education Area.** ![](https://civis.eu/storage/files/florence-celine-eaie-poster.jpg) ![CIVIS – Europe’s Civic University Alliance](https://civis.eu/build/assets/civis-CCpvK1nT.svg) ------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------- Europe’s Civic University Alliance ![Co-funded by the European Union](https://civis.eu/build/assets/co-funded-by-the-european-union-DSKLW1us.png)Views and opinions expressed do not necessarily reflect those of the European Union or the European Education and Culture Executive Agency (EACEA). Neither can be held responsible for them. ### Persoane - [ Studenți ](https://civis.eu/ro/i-am-a-student) - [ Cadre universitare și cercetători ](https://civis.eu/ro/i-am-an-academic-researcher) - [ Personal administrativ ](https://civis.eu/ro/i-am-an-administrator) - [ Societate civilă ](https://civis.eu/ro/discover-civis-alliance/our-work/open-labs-civic-engagement) - [ Secțiune pentru presă și branding ](https://civis.eu/ro/connect/press-corner-branding-toolkit) ### Link-uri utile - [ Resurse ](https://civis.eu/ro/resources) - [ CIVIS Agora ](https://civis.eu/ro/civis-agora-the-operational-hub-of-the-civis-digital-campus) - [ European Universities initiative ](https://civis.eu/ro/european-universities-initiative) - [ Evenimente anterioare ](https://civis.eu/ro/past-events) - [ Contact ](https://civis.eu/ro/contact) [Buletine informative](https://civis.eu/ro/connect/newsletters) ### Social networks - [ ![](https://civis.eu/storage/files/instagram.svg) Instagram ](https://www.instagram.com/civis.eu/) - [ ![](https://civis.eu/storage/files/linkedin.svg) LinkedIn ](https://www.linkedin.com/company/civis-eu) - [ ![](https://civis.eu/storage/files/facebook.svg) Facebook ](https://www.facebook.com/CIVISEuropeanUniversity/) - [ ![](https://civis.eu/storage/files/youtube.svg) YouTube ](https://www.youtube.com/channel/UCdCm0FfreX81BuNH-znlRGQ) © 2026 – CIVIS – All rights reserved - [ Cookie Policy ](https://civis.eu/ro/cookie-policy) - [ Privacy policy ](https://civis.eu/ro/privacy-policy) Website by [Typi Design](https://typi.be) • Design by [Atelier Milky](https://ateliermilky.com) [ ](#top) Search