YUFE Shaping the Future of European Higher Education
Young Universities for the Future of Europe (YUFE) is one of 65 alliances selected by the European Commission to create and test a new model of the European University—one that is inclusive, innovative, and open to diversity. YUFE’s goal is to develop a modern higher education system that combines academic excellence in teaching and research with interdisciplinarity and strong societal engagement.
The consortium comprises ten young, dynamic, and student-centered research universities, along with two non-academic partners active in the fields of higher education, labor markets, and entrepreneurship. Together, the alliance serves over 190,000 students and employs more than 32,000 staff members.
Working across borders, we develop joint education programmes, simplify mobility mechanisms for students and staff, and co-create a model of higher education that is European in scale and deeply rooted in local communities. We are building an alliance that actively responds to societal needs, supports lifelong learning, and promotes multiculturalism, multilingualism, and European integration.
A New Dimension of European Higher Education
The concept of European Universities was first proposed by French President Emmanuel Macron in his 2017 Sorbonne speech. In his vision, President Macron called for the establishment of a network of universities by 2024 that would allow young people to study abroad and learn in at least two languages.
The European Commission embraced the idea, incorporating it into the Erasmus+ programme for 2014–2020. In 2019, the first pilot call results were announced—17 alliances were selected, including YUFE. Nicolaus Copernicus University in Toruń initially participated as an associated partner, and since July 2020, it has been a full member of the consortium.
Since 2024, YUFE has operated as an international non-profit association, going beyond its initial project-based framework. This shift enabled the establishment of a central office in Brussels, which now works actively to strengthen the alliance and drive the transformation of European universities.
Currently, YUFE offers a wide range of opportunities for students, university staff, and local communities. Starting in the 2025/2026 academic year, the alliance will launch its first joint degree programme—YUFE Joint Bachelor in Urban Sustainability Studies—marking another milestone in deepening academic integration across Europe.
More information about YUFE’s current initiatives is available at yufe.eu.
We especially recommend watching the keynote speech by Dr. Dirk Van Damme, expert at the Center for Curriculum Redesign and former director at the OECD, who shared an inspiring vision of the future of European higher education during the YUFE Townhall in Rijeka:
Changing landscape for universities in Europe: a helicopter perspective.