On 20–21 October 2025, more than 50 representatives from the EU-CONEXUS partner universities gathered in Valencia to discuss the long-term vision define the EU-CONEXUS Strategic Plan 2026–2030. Participants of this two-day workshop included rectors, members of the academic and research councils, Work Package leaders, Management Board members, and student representatives.
Together, representatives from alliance‘s leadership, partner universities and different communities united by EU-CONEXUS aimed to refine and agree on the second-level objectives. They fall under the five main strategic axes:
- Mission & Identity
- Education
- Research
- Internal Community
- External Community
Reflecting on the diversity of participants in this session, EU-CONEXUS President Fernando M. Galán noted that the two days in Valencia captured the true spirit of collaboration within the alliance – a moment of shared purpose, candid dialogue, and renewed energy for the years ahead.
“I left the session feeling genuinely energized. The spirit was unmistakably one of building together: across roles and countries, people leaned in to make EU-CONEXUS more impactful and relevant. There was a shared willingness to create real synergies between activities and to align alliance priorities with institutional strategies (and vice versa). We looked back with healthy, critical eyes at what worked and what didn’t, and then looked forward with fresh ideas and renewed energy. It was intense, candid, and very productive — exactly what you hope for in a strategic conversation.
What stood out most was the commitment in the room. People didn’t just agree on a vision; they volunteered concrete next steps to get us there. That gives me great confidence that we’re moving as one towards a stronger, more coherent European University Alliance,” he said.
By the end of this two-day workshop, all five strategic areas had been discussed in depth. Discussions led to a list of key actions to be taken, and a consensus on the priorities for each line of action.
„During the past 6 years, the alliance and its partners have tested a lot of different activities and formats. This is an excellent reference point for defining which actions should be prioritised moving forward. We also have some remaining challenges – for instance, to synchronise national education system nuances between partner universities. This is a major obstacle for creating functional and mutually beneficial joint education opportunities.
As a united front, together EU-CONEXUS universities have been very successful in providing international learning opportunities, fostering unity within international campuses, and implementing innovative learning formats. Students are especially enthusiastic about mobilities, which allow them not only to experience new environments and make new connections, but also learn to work with new types of equipment and technologies that may not be available in their home university. All of this requires stable funding, and we are still on the way to secure it in the next stage. With this and other challenges in mind, this session was a valuable opportunity to share different viewpoints and turn our ideas into actionable objectives,“ Artūras Razbadauskas ,Klaipeda University Professor and EU-CONEXUS governing board president, noted after the session.
In the following stage, the strategic consultancy team will compile and structure these ideas and priorities into a cohesive draft of the EU-CONEXUS Strategic Plan 2026–2030, which will later evolve into concrete activity plans.
“These strategic alignment sessions are highly intensive, but their true value lies in the human element. By bringing participants together, we cultivate collective insight, strengthen collaboration, and share experiences in a way that virtual exchanges cannot fully replicate. Notably, we observed a remarkable level of motivation and engagement among participants, reflecting a genuine commitment to shaping the future of the EU-CONEXUS together. We believe that this dynamic interaction provides a solid foundation for strategic actions, ensuring the alliance remains aligned and achieves its key objectives over both the short and long term,” said Marta Janaszkiewicz, manager from company Management Solutions.
Through this and other strategic actions to unite the partner universities and other parties within EU-CONEXUS, the alliance is bracing itself for a new, uncharted yet aligned chapter of growth. Thank you to everyone who took part in this session and continue to work toward the shared future vision!
