The French Ministry for Higher Education and Research has recently published a national assessment analysing the transformative effects of European University Alliances funded under the Erasmus+ programme on French higher education institutions.
This report draws on qualitative feedback from universities involved in the first waves of alliances and provides a structured overview of the institutional changes observed at the national level.
Within this framework, La Rochelle Université, a founding and coordinating member of EU-CONEXUS, is referenced as a case study illustrating the progressive integration of the European University model into institutional strategy.
Institutional changes observed through EU-CONEXUS
According to the Ministry’s analysis, participation in a European University Alliance contributes to significant organisational and strategic developments.
In the case of La Rochelle Université, the report identifies several areas in which EU-CONEXUS has supported institutional evolution.
- Governance and coordination
The creation of a dedicated legal structure (AISBL) has facilitated more stable and professionalised forms of transnational cooperation, moving beyond a project-based approach. - Administrative and digital transformation
The development of shared digital tools and services, including Smart Campus initiatives, has supported greater interoperability between partner institutions and contributed to the modernisation of internal processes. - Strategic positioning
The university’s thematic focus on coastal sustainability is described as being increasingly aligned with European-level priorities, enabling closer links between local expertise and broader European objectives.
A collective national dynamic
The report underlines that the experience of La Rochelle Université is part of a wider transformation affecting several French institutions engaged in European University Alliances.
Alongside alliances such as CIVICA, 4EU+, CIVIS, FORTHEM and ECIU, EU-CONEXUS contributes to a broader reconfiguration of governance practices, academic cooperation, and institutional culture within the French higher education system.
These alliances are described as environments in which universities experiment with new models of cooperation, address administrative and regulatory constraints, and strengthen links between education, research, and society.
Added value identified by the Ministry
The Ministry’s assessment highlights several areas where European University Alliances generate added value for participating institutions:
- Education and training
The development of joint and flexible learning pathways encourages interdisciplinary approaches and supports student mobility within integrated European frameworks. - Research and innovation
Enhanced coordination of research support structures facilitates participation in large-scale European projects and strengthens international visibility. - Territorial engagement
Alliances reinforce connections between universities and their regional ecosystems, while situating these interactions within a European context.
Current perspectives: towards the European Degree Label
The report also refers to ongoing European-level initiatives, including pilot activities related to the European Degree Label.
Within EU-CONEXUS, these developments are approached as opportunities to test new forms of joint qualification delivery and recognition, while contributing to reflections led at the European level on the future of higher education degrees.
The national assessment confirms that European University Alliances are acting as catalysts for gradual but tangible institutional change within French higher education.
The experience of La Rochelle Université within EU-CONEXUS illustrates how sustained participation in such alliances can support long-term strategic alignment, organisational adaptation, and closer integration into the European Education Area.
Rather than representing a single model, this experience provides useful insights into the diversity of pathways through which universities engage with European cooperation and adapt their institutional frameworks accordingly.
Read the Full Report
For a detailed overview of the effects of European University Alliances on French institutions and the lessons drawn from the first years of implementation, consult the MESRE Report on French Universities in European Alliances.
