EUTOPIA joins Una Europa winter reception on governance in European University alliances

On 27 November 2025, EUTOPIA joined Una Europa and Circle U. in Brussels for a winter reception focused on governance in European Universities alliances. 

The event brought together alliance leaders, policymakers and higher education stakeholders to acknowledge how governance structures shape alliances’ ability to deliver long-term impact. From navigating national legislative frameworks to securing sustainable funding, the message was clear: strong governance is not an administrative afterthought, but a strategic lever.

The evening opened with a keynote address by Emily Palmer, Secretary-General of Una Europa, who framed governance as an enabler rather than a constraint. Effective leadership, she argued, is less about control and more about creating the conditions for institutions and communities to thrive.

"True leadership is not about directing every step; it's about creating the conditions for others to flourish."

This set the tone for a high-level discussion between Emily Palmer, Kevin Guillaume (Secretary-General, Circle U.) and Mattia Bellotti (Secretary-General, EUTOPIA). The conversation explored how alliances with different histories, ambitions and national contexts face shared challenges, yet respond to them in different ways.
  Discussions touched on key questions confronting all European Universities alliances today:

• How legal entities can support clearer and more resilient governance frameworks
• How to ensure ownership and engagement across partner institutions
• How to balance stability with the flexibility needed to adapt in a fast-changing policy and funding landscape

Rather than promoting a single model, the exchanges highlighted the value of governance principles that can be adapted to each alliance’s reality. The discussion echoed themes developed in Una Europa’s recently published reflection paper on alliance governance, which emphasises adaptability, transparency and responsivity as core pillars for building universities of the future.

The reception concluded with a networking session, offering participants space to continue the conversation informally and share experiences across alliances.