This year’s YUFE Townhall, the largest annual event of the European University Alliance YUFE, was held at the University of Rijeka from 15 to 17 February. More than 100 participants from all partner YUFE universities took part in an interesting programme dedicated to various discussions on innovative approaches and innovation in European higher education.
The three-day conference started with a formal reception held at the Sugar Refinery Palace in Rijeka on Wednesday, February 15, where the participants were welcomed by the hosts, i.e. University of Rijeka Rector Prof. Snježana Prijić-Samaržija, Ph.D., and Director of the YUFE Alliance Dr. Daniela Trani. As the University of Rijeka takes great pride in its friendly working relations with the local and regional authorities, all participants were also greeted by Mrs. Sandra Krpan, Deputy Mayor of Rijeka, and Mr. Petar Mamula, Deputy Prefect of the Primorje-Gorski kotar County.
As YUFE Alliance grows, this edition of the YUFE Townhall was the perfect opportunity to officially welcome our newest member, Sorbonne Nouvelle University. On that occasion, the President of Sorbonne Nouvelle University, Prof. Jamil Jean-Marc Dakhlia, Ph.D., held a lecture on the topic of ”What is the role of an arts and humanities university in Europe? A reflection from Sorbonne Nouvelle”.
The guiding thought of this year’s YUFE Townhall was the question of impact, i.e. the presentation of the real and tangible ways in which YUFE and other European university alliances are changing the everyday life of higher education and science. Special focus was also placed on the future development of these initiatives, as well as the review of expectations, potential and long-term plans related to the European universities initiative.
To discuss the impact of the European Universities Initiative on higher education and the broader societal landscape, this year’s YUFE Townhall hosted representatives of other European university alliances and networks (AURORA, EUTOPIA, CIRCLE-U, Arqus, YERUN), representatives of the European Commission, European University Association, European Students’ Union, ambassadors, and other European and Croatian institutions and higher education authorities.
All participants, including YUFE universities’ leaders, staff, students, and external stakeholders, shared their thoughts on issues of mutual importance, outcomes, and results of YUFE, shedding some light on the important questions:
- contribution to the European Strategy for Universities
- engagement with diverse (external) stakeholders
- examples of European University Alliances’ impact on different stakeholders
- combining the European focus with the local dimension of community engagement
- needs and expectations from the European higher education
- long-term future of European universities.
