"Erasmus+ is a programme that is highly conducive to European identity and the values of the EU, as well as generating visible results for students and teachers. We support any development in its favour. As far as the alliances are concerned, [...] it is normal for there to be debates about the terms and conditions of support. We will participate in the next calls for projects, however competitive they may be", says Aurelien Krejbich, Executive Director of Civica, the European university of social sciences, on 08/06/2025.

In an interview with News Tank, he looks back at the Global Forum of the European university alliance Civica held at IE University (Madrid) on 06 and 07/05/2025, and discusses future alliance projects.

"For Civica, this forum was an opportunity to raise its profile, disseminate scientific knowledge, develop partnerships and, more broadly, promote European alliances. It was also an opportunity to share ideas and take a stand on the major issues facing higher education and research, thanks to the joint presence of several of our presidents and rectors".

The alliance is currently preparing the next Erasmus+ phase, 2026-2028, around the two axes set by the Commission: deepening and continuity. "After six years of implementation, Civica has developed a range of courses and a mobility programme that is going from strength to strength.

We are going to focus on the activities that have been the most successful or have the greatest potential: these include joint courses at bachelor, master and doctoral levels, mobility programmes for teacher-researchers, calls for research or student projects, and solidarity with universities or academics under pressure".

"An opportunity to raise Civica's profile"

What was the aim of the alliance with the Civica Global Forum?

The Civica Global Forum represented an important moment for Civica as it was the first major event aimed at the general public. The aim was to forge links between partners, the general public, teacher-researchers and students, around Civica and its scientific priorities.

As far as non-academic partnerships are concerned, the forum aimed to create an open meeting place including civil society, businesses, international and non-governmental organisations. It provided an opportunity to speak out and exchange views on the major issues facing higher education and research in the social sciences and, more broadly, the contemporary world.

The Civica Global Forum was organised by our partners at IE University, who lead the work package dedicated to non-academic partnerships and, more generally, outreach, which is an important objective of this European programme. This is why the Global Forum was held in Madrid at the impressive IE Tower.

How does this forum contribute to Civica's outreach mission to civil society and non-academic partners?

For Civica, this public forum was an opportunity to raise its profile, to disseminate scientific knowledge, develop partnerships and, more broadly, promote European alliances. We also shared ideas and took a stand on the major issues facing higher education and research, thanks to the joint presence of several of our presidents and rectors.

The forum was also an occasion to forge links with non-academic partners: representatives from the business world and other organisations have been widely involved in the panels in order to embody this dialogue between universities and civil society on major issues of our time, such as climate change and artificial intelligence.

These are excellent opportunities to exchange ideas and discuss potential cooperation. A number of colleagues from other alliances and the wider world of higher education were also present.

For example, Civica has developed academic partnerships, notably through Civica for Ukraine, built with five Ukrainian universities. This programme opens up a range of our activities to our Ukrainian partners, both for students and teacher-researchers. It is both structuring and emblematic, as Civica wishes to contribute, in its own way, to the major challenges facing European higher education.

During the leadership panel, which brought together our Rectors and Presidents, we benefited from the presence of the Rector of the Kyiv School of Economics, who contributed to the discussions and shared his vision. Civica is built around strong values: academic freedom, university autonomy, diversity and the defence of free research.

These principles have guided our action through the crises we have faced: the Covid-19 pandemic, Brexit - which did not prevent the London School of Economics from remaining in the alliance - or the government pressure put on certain universities, such as the Central European University, which was forced to relocate to Vienna in Austria. Today, we are committed to Ukraine.

"Deepening and continuity"

What are the alliance's future projects?

We are currently preparing the next Erasmus+ phase 2026-2028 around the two axes set by the Commission: deepening and continuity.

After six years of implementation, Civica has developed a range of courses and mobility programmes that are going from strength to strength. We will be concentrating on those activities that have been the most successful or have the greatest potential. These include joint courses at bachelor, master and doctoral levels, mobility programmes for teacher-researchers, calls for research or student projects, and solidarity with universities or academics under pressure.

Civica is also pursuing its commitment to scientific structuring beyond Erasmus+, thanks to the Civica Research Hub, to help teams participate in programmes supported by Horizon Europe. We are building a digital library in the social sciences, co-piloted with the LSE and Sciences Po. We also want Civica to be a driving force on issues related to digital technology and open science.

Are you working on joint degrees and legal status?

Civica wants to support and develop mobility within the alliance and the creation of joint content in order to create the conditions for the development of a joint degree. The alliance brings together leading players in the field of international recruitment and already has a strong portfolio of double degree programmes. We are closely following the recent discussions and decisions on the European Degree label. We will, of course, be active in this area.


As far as the future legal status of the alliances is concerned, Civica brings together small institutions with private, quasi-private, or even intergovernmental status, which gives us a certain degree of management agility. The work programme has been implemented mainly through a robust multilateral consortium agreement. The creation of a legal entity is a subject that we are exploring from a long-term perspective, also linked to the question of the economic and scientific model. It's a tool, but not an end in itself.


"The time has now come for the alliances to consolidate their positioning"

The Commission's next multi-annual budget is currently being discussed. What do you think the future Erasmus+ will look like, and what role will the alliances play in it?

Erasmus+ is a programme that is highly conducive to European identity and the values of the EU, as well as generating visible results for students and teachers. We support any development in its favour.

As far as the alliances are concerned, the momentum created by Civica is solid, and we will play an active part in the next stages. The European Commission and the European Parliament have sent out clear messages of long-term support, which we are following very closely. It is normal for there to be debates about the terms and conditions of support, and we will participate in the next calls for projects, however competitive they may be.

Civica has benefited greatly from this experimental approach over the past six years, as it is stimulating and encourages innovation. The time has now come for the alliances to consolidate their positioning, clarify their offerings and find their institutional place in European higher education and research.

Read the full article on News Tank