Circle U. Leaders Gathered in Belgrade to Shape the Alliance’s Next Phase

Hosted at the Rectorate of the University of Belgrade on 26 May 2026, the General Assembly provided an opportunity to reflect on Circle U.’s achievements so far while discussing priorities for the next phase of the European University Alliance. 

Reflecting on five years of the Circle U. seed-funding scheme 

One of the central discussions of the meeting focused on the evaluation of the Circle U. seed-funding scheme, which has supported projects across the alliance since 2021. 

Over five years, the scheme has: 

• received 235 applications,  
• funded over 60 collaborative projects,  
• engaged nearly 1,000 academics, researchers, students and staff,  
• and generated 111 concrete outputs, including workshops, courses, research activities, publications and collaborative networks.  

The evaluation highlighted how the scheme has helped strengthen inter-university collaboration and contributed to embedding Circle U. within partner institutions. Several projects have evolved into recurring educational initiatives, including the Entrepreneurial Change-making Programme, Circle U. Model UN (CU.MUN), and the Circle U.lympics. 

The report also underlined the growing international exposure and mobility opportunities created through the scheme. Around 137 mobilities were directly funded, while an estimated 800 additional mobilities emerged through related educational activities and Erasmus+ support. 

During the discussions, the alliance recognised the importance of the Circle U. seed funding scheme as a tool to enable collaboration. Leaders also reflected on how the scheme could evolve in the coming years.  

Open Campus ecosystem continues to expand 

The General Assembly also acknowledged the latest developments within the Open Campus, Circle U.’s shared digital and inter-university learning platform.  

The Open Campus has continued to grow significantly over the past year. As of May 2026, it includes: 

• 113 credit-bearing courses,  
• 52 non-credit educational offerings,  
• 34 Blended Intensive Programmes (BIPs),  
• and a growing portfolio of joint programmes and sustainability-focused modules.  

Several key milestones have already been achieved ahead of the alliance’s 2027 targets: 

• 36 bachelor sustainability modules have been developed across the alliance,  
• participation in summer and winter schools has exceeded growth targets,  
• and Circle U.’s first joint master’s programme, the MA in European Public Governance, is set to launch in September 2026.  

A discussion on academic freedom and European solidarity 

Alongside the General Assembly meetings, the University of Belgrade hosted a public discussion entitled “Universities Under Pressure: Academic Freedom, Democracy, and European Solidarity”, focusing on academic freedom and the societal role of universities in Europe today.  

The discussion took place in the broader context of the student protests and university mobilisations that followed the collapse of a canopy in Novi Sad. Since the beginning of the movement, the University of Belgrade and its community, students, academics, and staff, have played a visible role in public debate and democratic engagement in Serbia. 

The conference in Belgrade offered an opportunity for participants from across Europe to reflect collectively on the societal role of universities and the importance of safeguarding academic freedom in challenging contexts.