Católica participates in forum to discuss the strategies of Portuguese higher education institutions in European university alliances
Francisco Mendes-Palma, Director of Transform4Europe at the Universidade Católica Portuguesa, and Sara Magno, Project Manager at the same institution, participated in the 5th Meeting of the Forum of Portuguese Higher Education Institutions in European University Alliances (FOR.UE.PT) on 17 October at the University of Algarve.
Under the topic ‘The Future of European Alliances: Talent, Skills and Cooperation in the European Higher Education Area’, the event brought together more than 60 representatives from Portuguese universities and polytechnics integrated in European alliances, academic leaders, international cooperation programme managers and students to discuss the challenges and opportunities of higher education internationalisation in the current European context.
Twenty-four alliances were represented at this meeting, including Transform4Europe, of which Católica is a member, and 26 higher education institutions, reflecting the broad participation and diversity of Portuguese HEIs involved in this European movement.
The purpose and composition of FOR.UE.PT were presented, highlighting the role of this forum as a national platform for sharing and strategic coordination between Portuguese institutions involved in European alliances.
The meeting discussed the new coordination of FOR.UE.PT, which will now include the Polytechnic Institute of Cávado and Ave, the University of Aveiro and the Lusófona University, as well as the calendar of upcoming meetings, scheduled for May and the end of 2026, respectively, at the Universidade Católica Portuguesa and another institution to be designated.
At the round table ‘The Future of Europe - Union of Skills and European Alliances’, the debate focused on the skills, talent and innovation that Europe needs to retain and develop, questioning how to transform the concept of the Union of Skills into concrete and inclusive policies.
The meeting ended with the presentation of conclusions, which addressed structural issues such as the limited funding of alliances, the challenges associated with joint European degrees and programmes, and the need to strengthen communication and student engagement to raise awareness of the role and opportunities of European alliances. The importance of reducing the economic inequalities that still limit many students' access to international experience was also highlighted.
FOR.UE.PT's main goal is to facilitate a coordinated response to common challenges, promote mobility, and ensure sustainable funding, while also serving as a space for sharing best practices and deeper cooperation among national institutions that are part of European University Alliances.