Bringing together 19 leaders from universities in 14 countries across the European Higher Education Area, the recently established EUA Thematic Peer Group on ‘Universities and democracy in times of polarisation’ met for the very first time on 26 March in Brussels, following up on their online meeting in late February. The group brings together HE experts from Belgium, Croatia, France, Georgia, Germany, Ireland, Italy, North Macedonia, Norway, Poland, Slovenia, Spain, Sweden, and Switzerland. Croatia’s representive is the University of Rijeka’s Vice-rector for Studies, Students and Quality Assurance, Prof. Irena Vodopija-Krstanović, PhD.
After their initial discussions on the growing societal and political polarisation across Europe and its impact on universities, the group engaged in a workshop organised by EUA’s Policy Coordination and Foresight team. The activities included an exchange on practical cases, exploration of current challenges with peers, discussion about the values at stake as well as opportunities and challenges for universities. With geopolitics and trust framed in the centre of the discussion, participants debated how to manage international partnerships in a shifting global landscape and the role of scientific diplomacy, as well as the question of if and when universities should take a public stance on certain issues. Prominent topics in the discussion included:
- Trust: in classrooms and between universities and society, as well as trust in democratic values themselves.
- Declining confidence in democracy among younger generations, which raises questions about universities’ responsibility to educate responsible citizens.
- The growing vulnerability of universities as institutions, i.e. how much political and reputational pressure universities can realistically withstand in contexts where shared European values are increasingly contested.
Through this initiative, EUA strengthens peer learning and the role of universities as spaces for democratic dialogue and responsible leadership. The group will continue its work throughout 2026 and its discussions will feed into a practical toolkit for university leaders.
Cover photo: EUA