Dear colleagues,
Welcome to Gothenburg, and welcome to the 13th EUTOPIA Week!
As our Chair of the Board of Presidents reminded us, universities today carry an important responsibility not only to generate knowledge, but also to defend and renew the fundamental values that make dialogue, and democracy possible. Alliances such as EUTOPIA exist precisely because the challenges we face today transcend borders and require deep, sustained, and meaningful cooperation.
We gather here with a shared conviction: EUTOPIA is a long-term commitment to shaping the future of higher education in Europe and beyond. Over the years, we have built a growing community of students, academics, and professional staff. Together, we demonstrated what we can achieve when our institutions work collectively towards a common vision.
At the same time, we must be honest with ourselves. As we look ahead, we also face important questions about our future. How should EUTOPIA evolve, both in terms of the programmes we offer and the structures that support their design and delivery? How do we achieve our ambitions in a context of uncertainty regarding both European and national funding? And how do we respond to the increasing pressures and challenges facing higher education across Europe and around the world?
In this context, this week marks a crucial moment for our alliance. Six months before the conclusion of the EUTOPIA MORE phase, we have the opportunity to assess where we stand, celebrate what we have achieved—and of which we should be proud —but also reflect honestly on what has not worked as expected, where further investments are needed, and where deeper or different forms of collaboration are a neceesity.
Over the past year, we have defined the core elements of our strategy for 2027–2028, reflected in the submission of the EUTOPIA EDGE proposal. The acronym EDGE embodies two key priorities for our future: Embedding and Global. Embedding is essential to ensure long-term sustainability and integration within institutions. Global reflects our ambition to expand our impact and strengthen our engagement with partners across the world.
This is a mission for EUTOPIA, a mission that is shared by our global partners who have travelled from across the world to be with us today. We are grateful for your presence and commitment — thank you!   Yet there is a paradox: while we are encouraged to think globally, current European funding instruments do not always enable us to collaborate with international partners to the extent we would wish.
Regardless of these limitations — for which we continue to advocate in other fora — we are here this week to reflect on how our alliance should evolve to meet our 2027–2028 objectives and, more importantly, how it should grow over the medium-term. Our ambition is to make the EUTOPIA College and the EUTOPIA Global Institute realities at both the European and global levels.
In the coming days, key discussions will take place across our various governance bodies and communities: the Board of Presidents, Advisory Council, global partners, Steering Committees, Quality Council, and the Institutional Coordinators and Project Managers who work tirelessly every day to drive our alliance forward. Let me take this opportunity to thank them publicly for their dedication, professionalism, and commitment.
I cannot predict the outcomes of our discussions, nor should I. What matters is that we engage openly, constructively, and ambitiously. My hope is that we leave Gothenburg with renewed energy, a stronger sense of purpose, and a deeper unity of intent.
This year’s theme, “Health and Wellbeing“, is also very timely. It reminds us that the success of our institutions ultimately depends on the wellbeing of the people who make them thrive. As we shape the future of our alliance, we must ensure that the wellbeing of our communities remains at the heart of our efforts.
I wish you an inspiring and productive EUTOPIA Week.
Thank you, and enjoy the days ahead.
