Transform4Europe Expands Global Network with Three New International Partnerships and Católica Leads the Way
The Transform4Europe alliance (T4EU) significantly broadened its global presence during the 2025 Global Partnership Forum held in Kaunas as part of the Alliance’s Strategic Assembly and Policy Conference.
The event concluded with the formal approval and signing of three cooperation agreements with universities in Australia, the Caucasus, and Africa—marking a major step forward in the Alliance’s global engagement strategy. The new partnerships connect T4EU with the Australian Catholic University, Caucasus University in Georgia, and Universidade Católica de Moçambique.
Each institution brings distinct strengths to the Alliance, ranging from civic engagement and ethical education to doctoral development, community-based learning, and Europe–Africa cooperation. Joint roadmaps for 2025–2027 have been established with each partner, outlining collaboration in teaching, mobility, research, and outreach.
A crucial element behind this achievement has been the strategic leadership of Universidade Católica Portuguesa, which coordinated both the development of the Global Outreach Strategy and the organisation of the Global Partnership Fora.
By guiding the consultation processes, harmonising partner input, and facilitating negotiations with non-European institutions, Católica played a central role in shaping a coherent and forward-looking global cooperation model for the Alliance. Its diplomatic groundwork and longstanding international networks were instrumental in transforming strategic intentions into concrete agreements, paving the way for transformative collaborations that will benefit students, staff, and partner regions across continents.
Speaking about the new collaboration, Irena Melua, representative of Caucasus University, emphasised the significance of the agreement for the institution’s international vision: “For Caucasus University, this collaboration represents an opportunity to connect our region’s innovation and entrepreneurial spirit with the broader European academic community, to promote sustainable development, and to expand joint learning and mobility opportunities for students and staff.”
And added: “we believe that Transform4Europe embodies the essence of cooperation—uniting institutions that are diverse in geography yet united in their pursuit of excellence, inclusion, and transformation. We look forward to contributing actively to the Alliance’s mission of nurturing knowledge-entrepreneurs and creating tangible regional and global impact.”
The agreements signed in Kaunas open the door to wide-ranging initiatives, including joint microcredentials with Australian Catholic University in Law and Psychology, doctoral training pathways with Caucasus University, and strengthened Europe–Africa education initiatives with Universidade Católica de Moçambique.
These partnerships complement ongoing discussions with additional institutions proposed by several European partners, reflecting strong momentum in the Alliance’s global outreach efforts. An evaluation of the first agreements is planned for 2026, and the Alliance expects to formalise additional partnerships as it advances toward building a robust and diverse network of ten global partner institutions by 2027.
The Kaunas Forum confirmed growing international interest in collaborating with Transform4Europe, reinforcing its vision of a globally connected, socially engaged European University. As T4EU strengthens its global footprint, the Alliance reaffirms its commitment to building bridges between regions and addressing shared challenges—ensuring that students, researchers, and communities benefit from a truly interconnected academic future.