The Rector of the University of Girona (UdG), Josep Calbó, and the Vice-Rector for Academic Affairs and International Relations of Chemnitz University of Technology (TUC), Max Eibl, took part in the European Universities Rectors & Presidents High-level Meeting held in Brussels on 10 June. The event brought together university leaders from across Europe to discuss the future of university alliances and the strategic role of higher education in the European Union.
Calbó and Eibl attended the meeting on behalf of Across – European University for Cross-Border Knowledge Sharing, one of the alliances supported under the European Universities initiative of the European Commission. The event, held at Mont des Arts in Brussels, featured contributions from senior European policymakers and academic leaders, including Executive Vice-President of the European Commission Roxana Mînzatu.
Throughout the day, participants addressed some of the most pressing challenges facing European higher education. Key topics included the development of a “Union of Skills”, the creation of a future European Degree, and the role of universities in the context of the upcoming negotiations on the EU’s 2028–2034 budget.
The discussions also highlighted the diversity of approaches among the different European university alliances. While some alliances place research at the centre of their strategy, others focus primarily on educational innovation and teaching. This diversity reflects the flexibility of the model promoted by the European Commission, while also underlining the need to align long-term objectives.
Despite these differences, participants shared a common message: the importance of securing stable and sustainable funding for university alliances and for European higher education as a whole. Several policymakers stressed the need for stronger institutional support and encouraged universities to increase their advocacy efforts to ensure adequate resources for both teaching and research.
The meeting also featured two high-level panel discussions and a final participatory session, during which rectors and presidents exchanged experiences, results and future perspectives from their respective alliances. The exchange provided an opportunity to identify new avenues for cooperation and to reinforce the role of European Universities as drivers of innovation, cohesion and competitiveness.
The Brussels meeting coincided with a working visit by the Across Office and representatives of Chemnitz University of Technology (TUC) to the University of Girona. During their stay, the delegation held several coordination meetings with the UdG team to advance the implementation of Across initiatives. They were received by the Rector of the University of Girona, Josep Calbó, and met with Josep Vila, Vice-Rector for Internationalisation and leader of Work Package 3 (Research and Innovation), as well as Irene Compte, Across Coordinator at UdG, and other members of the alliance’s technical and management team.
In this context, the participation of UdG and TUC further strengthened the visibility of Across within the European higher education landscape, showcasing the alliance’s commitment to cross-border cooperation and to developing solutions tailored to the specific challenges faced by border regions.
