The University of La Laguna participated in the First Forum of Spanish Universities in European Universities

A delegation from the University of La Laguna (ULL), headed by the STARS EU coordinator, José Sigut, took part on 4 and 5 November in the First Forum of Spanish Universities in European Universities (UEUE), held in Madrid and organised by the Ministry of Universities together with CRUE and the European Commission (EC).

The meeting, hosted at Universidad Rey Juan Carlos (URJC), brought together more than 175 representatives from Spanish universities that are part of European alliances, as well as institutional leaders and higher education experts. The forum was conceived as a space for dialogue and reflection to assess Spain’s progress in this European initiative and to strengthen collaboration among the participating institutions.

Established in 2024, the UEUE Forum aims to reinforce cooperation among Spanish higher education institutions through the structured exchange of knowledge, experience and good practices, with the goal of deepening the integration of the European Higher Education Area. It also acts as a support mechanism for aligning national policies in collaboration with national and European bodies.

Presentations and discussion panels

The opening session highlighted the strategic role of alliances as “instruments for transformation and cooperation among European universities”. The different working groups addressed the development of Joint Degrees, the future implementation of the “European Degree”, micro-credentials, and the role of university alliances in transforming higher education in Europe.

Another central topic discussed in the round tables—alongside the need to grant alliances legal personality—was the importance of developing a quality label for proposals submitted by alliances that did not receive the Erasmus+ funding they had applied for.

In the afternoon session, participants joined thematic workshops structured around three main areas: governance and sustainability; funding and administrative management; and student participation and communication.

The second day, Wednesday 5 November, focused on presenting good practices and defining future lines of cooperation. One of the key points discussed was the importance of linking university alliances with regional innovation ecosystems, with particular attention to initiatives in sustainability, digitalisation and entrepreneurship.

In the closing plenary session, participants agreed on the need to create a national coordination network among Spanish universities involved in European alliances, in order to share resources, exchange experiences and strengthen Spain’s position as a key factor in the European Union’s university policy.

STARS’ commitment to the European project

The delegation from the University of La Laguna, led by the Vice-Rector for Outreach, Internationalisation and Cooperation, Inmaculada Pérez, and the STARS coordinator at ULL, José Francisco Sigut Saavedra, also included José Manuel García Fraga, Vice-Rector for Academic Affairs; María Ruth Dorta González, Director of the Degree Programmes Office; and Carla García, STARS EU officer.

For ULL, “this forum has been an opportunity to highlight the work carried out within STARS EU, as well as to strengthen collaboration with other Spanish universities committed to the European Universities initiative.”