The University of Milan hosted the 2023 edition of the 4EU+ Annual Meeting. During the event the 4EU+ community looked at its achievements as well as at the future challenges and opportunities to create a truly integrated European University. The rich programme of plenary and parallel meetings engaged the 4EU+ Governance, Flagship representatives, working and task groups in discussing the ongoing 4EU+ journey to become one European University. Guest speakers contributed to the debate about the role of universities in the European society and the groundbreaking impact of the European Universities Initiative.
“#BuildingBridges. Becoming One European University”: this was the main focus of this year 4EU+ Annual Meeting hosted by the University of Milan from 7 to 9 November. Approximately 230 representatives among academics, staff and students had the opportunity to meet in person, to look back to the achievements of the last year of work and to jointly discuss the challenges and opportunities ahead to become one European University.
As reminded by Prof. Henrik C. Wegener, Rector of the University of Copenhagen during the handover ceremony which marked the start of the one-year term of the University of Milan as the Chair of the Alliance’s Governing Board: “We are working together because we chose to do so, because we have a lot in common – we are aspiring to become One Comprehensive Research-Intensive European University”.
The first day of work started with 10 parallel meetings followed by a guided tour under a sunny bright sky to discover the historical and artistic treasures of the Ca’ Granda, the University of Milan’s main historical building.
Elio Franzini (Rector of the University of Milan) and invited speakers Anna Scavuzzo (Deputy Mayor of Milan), Verónica Crego Porley (Consul General of Uruguay in Milan), and Claudia Colla (Head of the European Commission representation in Milan) jointly praised, at the subsequent reception, the continuous and virtuous journey of joint collaboration, growth and development of the eight 4EU+ universities during the annual meeting’s official welcome reception.
The second day, held in the Great Hall of Festa del Perdono Campus and live-streamed on 4EU+ YouTube channel, began with the opening address by Prof. Elio Franzini, Rector of the University of Milan during which he stressed the relevance of Alliances and of 4EU+ work: “I’d like to emphasize the critical importance of fostering alliances among European universities. These partnerships are more than just collaborative agreements, they are a cornerstone of progress and innovation in higher education. (…) In this vein, 4EU+ helps bridge cultural divides and promotes cross-border cooperation. It creates an environment where diverse perspectives and ideas can flourish, fostering tolerance and understanding in an ever-diverse Europe”.
Speakers participating to the opening part were also Elena Buscemi (President of the Municipal Council of Milan), Henrik C. Wegener (Rector of the University of Copenhagen), Tiziana Lippiello (Rector of Ca’ Foscari University of Venice and Delegate for International Affairs and Cooperation of CRUI – Conference of Italian University Rectors), and Michele Mazzola (Director of Office III - Internationalisation of Research of the Directorate General for Internationalisation and Communication of the Italian Ministry of University and Research).
Annual Meeting on YouTube
Watch the recording of the Open Session
The first session was entitled 4EU+ European Alliance and the European University Initiative. Isabelle Kratz, 4EU+ Secretary General, opened the session with the following words: “Let’s remember the European value we all share: democracy, liberty of expression, democratic access to education”. Her speech was followed by the interventions of Elia Montani (4EU+ Academic Council Student Representative), Marta Lis (Chair of the 4EU+ Student Committee) and Vanessa Debiais-Sainton (Head of the Higher Education Unit of the European Commission), who highlighted how “The EU goal with the European Initiative is precisely to feed the spirit of deeper transnational cooperation, for more cooperation and less competition, to build on our differences and make complementarity a strength”.
Prof. Maurizio Ferrera, Professor of Political Science at the University of Milan, delivered a keynote speech entitled Re-envisioning our common future. The key role of European universitiesand encouraged the 4EU+ Alliance to “develop and maintain reflective reason not only on its own mission and on the EU strategic framework, but also on the wider long-term vision of the European model, that is to contribute to the re-defining of the genetic normative project of European integration: peace and prosperity, unity and diversity and, of course, liberal democracy”.
Prof. Antonella Baldi, Vice Rector for Internationalisation at the University of Milan, introduced and chaired the second session which directly addressed the main theme of the annual meeting: #BuildingBridges— Becoming One European University. The session was divided into two Dialogues animated by students, academics and staff members. Through the Dialogues, Prof. Baldi anticipated, “we look at how we are making 4EU+ happen, how we are making our vision a reality, how we are ultimately creating a campus that is open, inclusive and European”. The first dialogue, in particular, explored interaction between the various academic communities within 4EU+, while the second focused on synergies between education, research and third mission activities.
The afternoon of 8 November was dedicated to 12 parallel meetings, followed by the 4EU+ General Assembly and a musical interlude by the Orchestra of the University of Milan.
On the morning of 9 November, seven parallel meetings were followed by a speech by Massimo Gaudina, Coordinator of the NEIA, the New European Innovation Agenda of the European Commission. After a Q&A session, the closing remarks by Antonella Baldiwrapped up the 2023 Annual Meeting and looked forward to the 2024 one which will be hosted by the University of Warsaw.
Further details are available on the website of the 4EU+ Annual Meeting.
Another @4EUplusAlliance Annual Meeting is over.. See you next year in Warsaw! #ciao 👋😊 #buildingbridges #4euplus #AnnualMeeting2023 pic.twitter.com/ahFMCiuT2j— Università degli Studi di Milano (@LaStatale) November 9, 2023
Another @4EUplusAlliance Annual Meeting is over.. See you next year in Warsaw! #ciao 👋😊 #buildingbridges #4euplus #AnnualMeeting2023 pic.twitter.com/ahFMCiuT2j