Celebrating Global Connections: University of Warwick hosts EUTOPIA Week 2025

European and global universities celebrate diversity of culture, language, and ideas through a week of student-led workshops and academic activities.

Taking place from 30 June to 4 July, EUTOPIA Week 2025 unites members of the EUTOPIA University Alliance—a dynamic network of ten European universities and six global partners—under the theme of Creating Global Connections. The common goal is to drive forward closer collaboration, foster interdisciplinary dialogue, and create opportunities for students and academics to connect across borders.

José Manuel Barroso, former President of the European Commission and former Prime Minister of Portugal, delivered the opening keynote on the challenges facing Europe and the opportunities for the higher education sector.

Faced with rising global populism, Mr. Barroso outlined the importance of sustaining faith in knowledge, education, and science. Mr. Barroso also detailed the vital role that European universities can play in building strong global alliances.

© University of Warwick, 2025

Professor Stuart Croft, Vice-Chancellor and President, University of Warwick, and Interim Chair of the Board of Presidents, EUTOPIA, said: “We welcome our EUTOPIA partners to the University of Warwick for an incredible week of conversations under the banner of ‘Creating Global Connections’.

“In Warwick’s 60th anniversary year, we are reaffirming our commitment to creating a better world through our world leading education, research, and innovation.

“The EUTOPIA alliance, with its emphasis on challenge-led research and student-centred education is well placed to navigate the increasingly uncertain world we find ourselves in. Together, we are uniquely positioned to tackle the challenges of today and move beyond them to foresee and prepare for the opportunities and solutions of the future.”

The EUTOPIA Week programme at Warwick features a rich mix of academic panels, student-led workshops, cultural exchanges, and networking events, all designed to foster collaboration across borders and disciplines. Topics will include AI in higher education, student mobility, and academic innovation.

A highlight of Warwick’s EUTOPIA week programme was a delegate dinner at Coventry Cathedral with a keynote speech from Taiwo Owatemi MP. Having sustained significant bomb damage during the Second World War, today, the Cathedral stands as a symbol of peace and reconciliation.

Taiwo Owatemi, Member of Parliament for Coventry North West, said: “Though the University of Warwick is still young, I’ve seen first-hand how deeply it’s embedded itself into the fabric of Coventry. From its role in developing the Very Light Rail and continuing Coventry’s legacy as a transport pioneer, to the way it works hand-in-hand with local communities and industry, Warwick shows how universities can be true engines of progress. That same spirit of collaboration is what makes initiatives like EUTOPIA so exciting — not just for our institutions, but for the places we serve.”

© University of Warwick, 2025
 

The EUTOPIA alliance reflects Europe’s shared history: the University of Warwick and the Technical University of Dresden are pillars of the EUTOPIA alliance—reinforcing shared values of resilience, collaboration, and peace.

Through EUTOPIA, Warwick continues to build bridges across borders, honouring the past while shaping a more connected and co-operative future.

Since co-founding the EUTOPIA alliance in 2017 alongside CY Cergy Paris University and Vrije Universiteit Brussel, Warwick has contributed to its growth and evolution into a shared vision and dynamic network of European universities and global partners.

At the heart of the EUTOPIA partnership is collaboration. Through the Connected Communities initiative, over 1,800 Warwick students have benefitted from international education experiences.

More than 50 collaborative PhD students have experienced joint supervision between Warwick and EUTOPIA partners, gaining access to two world-class research environments. A further 25 Warwick postdoctoral fellows have been through the EUTOPIA Science and Innovation Fellowship programme.

The University of Warwick has also launched joint degrees with Vrije Universiteit Brussel (Belgium) and the University of Pompeu Fabra (Spain) and are rolling out a EUTOPIA micro-credential to further enhance academic mobility and innovation.

The EUTOPIA alliance is the latest step forward in Warwick’s transformative approach to collaboration, innovation, and exploration. The University was founded in 1965, the Warwick Venice Centre opened in 1967, and sixty years later, hosting EUTOPIA week continues that bold tradition.

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For more information please contact:

• Dom Barker, Media & Communications Officer, dom.barker@warwick.ac.uk / 07824 540727

Photography:

• All photos credit: University of Warwick

See the original press release here.