2. 10. 2025
During the second half of 2025, the University of Warsaw hosted three key events as part of the 4EU+ ETERNITY project, all aimed at strengthening collaboration, innovation, and integration across the 4EU+ Alliance.
The first event, held on 12–13 June 2025, was the “Erasmus Mundus Working Seminar: From Joint Design to Implementation.” The seminar aimed to support teams from the 4EU+ Alliance in preparing competitive funding applications under the Erasmus Mundus Design Measures (EMDM) and Erasmus Mundus Joint Masters (EMJM) calls for 2026–2027. It focused on delivering practical, hands-on guidance and tailored expert advice to help participants refine their joint programme proposals and navigate key aspects of the Erasmus Mundus application and implementation process.
A total of 44 participants attended, including 5 trainers, 35 participants developing their competencies, and 4 members of the 4EU+ ETERNITY organisational team. Participants represented a mix of academic staff and administrative professionals from across the Alliance, all actively engaged in joint programme development.
The seminar combined expert presentations, interactive group work, case studies, and peer discussions. Sessions covered topics critical to designing and implementing joint study programmes, including consortium design, mobility tracks, financial planning, and navigating the EU funding portal. Participants also received individualised feedback addressing specific challenges in their proposals.
Beyond formal sessions, the seminar offered practical insights into the full lifecycle of an Erasmus Mundus programme, from concept development and application strategy to implementation, quality assurance, and student services. This approach ensured that participants gained both conceptual understanding and actionable skills.
From 22–25 September 2025, the University of Warsaw hosted two working meetings dedicated to the development of the European Degree initiative, a major step in implementing the 4EU+ Alliance’s educational strategy.
On 22–23 September, the 4EU+ Education Working Group convened under the theme: “Building the Future of 4EU+ Education: 4EU+ Strategy, European Degree & EU Policy.” The meeting brought together 15 participants, with hybrid participation available.
Discussions focused on the priorities of the education pillar of the 4EU+ Strategy and the finalisation of the action plan for this pillar. A key part of the programme was dedicated to the European Degree initiative, recognised as central to further educational integration within the Alliance. Following the meeting, the Education Working Group was formally established as the European Degree Expert Group, responsible for coordinating actions related to the development of a joint European academic degree within the 4EU+ ETERNITY project.
The Expert Group is coordinated by Dr Marta Jaworska-Oknińska (University of Warsaw) and Dr Josef Matoušek (Charles University), who lead both the substantive and organisational work for developing implementation tools and methodologies for the European Degree initiative.
On 24–25 September, a second meeting was held to plan the activities of the Expert Group. The focus was on developing a self-assessment form for joint study programmes, enabling academic teams to evaluate the alignment of their curricula with the European Degree Label criteria, as adopted by the European Commission and endorsed by the Council of the European Union in May 2025.
The final event, held from 24–26 September 2025, was the Communications Working Group Staff Training, aimed at enhancing the digital and communication skills of administrative staff supporting 4EU+ activities, particularly in maintaining the Alliance’s shared digital space.
The programme addressed topics such as user experience (UX) design using the 4EU+ website as a case study, the use of modern digital tools, including artificial intelligence (AI) in communications, crisis communication in academic environments, and strategies for engaging Generation Z.
Sessions were highly interactive, combining lectures, group workshops, practical exercises with digital tools, and case study analysis. Participants also completed a knowledge assessment in the form of a multiple-choice test. The training strengthened the digital and IT competencies of staff, particularly those responsible for communication, PR, and digital marketing, directly supporting the design and maintenance of the 4EU+ Student Portal. The portal is a central hub for information on educational offerings, mobility opportunities, and projects across all member universities.
Experts from the University of Warsaw provided training on digital solutions in use at the university, while representatives from the University of Copenhagen and the University of Geneva shared their experiences. This collaboration facilitated knowledge exchange, strengthened cooperation across the Alliance, and enhanced partners’ institutional capacity to co-design communication and IT solutions.
Funded by NAWA under the European Funds for Social Development Programme (FERS), 2021–2027, the ETERNITY project addresses a key priority and challenge for the Alliance: continuity. By ensuring sustainable follow-up to activities developed through both completed and ongoing projects, ETERNITY reinforces the 4EU+ Alliance’s long-term vision of building a truly integrated and innovative Comprehensive European University. The project is implemented in synergy with the 1CORE Erasmus+ project, further strengthening the Alliance’s capacity for collaboration and innovation.