"It was a valuable moment for us to come together and strengthen the sense of community among the nine universities of the Alliance, all of exceptional academic standing", stated Riccardo Zucchi, rector of the Università di Pisa.
Mobility and international exposure took centre stage at the meeting. As Circle U. approaches the halfway point of the “CU2030” project and its fifth anniversary, the alliance presented a detailed Mobility Report, examining achievements, strategic priorities, and persistent challenges. The Assembly also discussed the further development of the Circle U. ecosystem through the Open Campus and a stronger engagement with EU policy developments.
Towards more seamless and inclusive mobility
The General Assembly welcomed an update from Eivind Engebretsen, Dean of the Open Campus, who presented the latest developments in Circle U.’s digital campus. With eleven bachelor modules on sustainability already launched and additional joint programmes in development, the Open Campus is becoming a powerful engine for collaborative teaching and learning.
Read Eivind’s article on the latest updates for the Open Campus.
Positioning Circle U. in the European Policy Landscape
In a final key session, members of the General Assembly turned their attention to EU policy developments and Circle U.’s role as a policy actor. From the Union of Skills (pdf) and joint degrees to the policy engagement of the Alliance, the General Assembly discussed how Circle U. can better align with policy agendas, considering, for example, the need to focus on the development of specific competencies as outlined in the Union of Skills.
Circle U. Rectors and Presidents discuss global and regional challenges
Prior to the General Assembly, Professor Riccardo Zucchi, Rector of Università di Pisa, and Professor Julia von Blumenthal, President of Humboldt-Universität zu Berlin and President of Circle U., Presidents and Rectors of Circle U. member universities invited their peers to discuss the alliance’s role and position on geopolitical, political and social emergency situations.
The Rectors and Presidents also exchanged views on the ongoing developments in Serbia, particularly at the University of Belgrade. Circle U. reiterates its support for the academic community and the Rector of the University of Belgrade in their efforts to foster democracy and defend academic freedom.
