Madrid, 22 May 2023. The President of Crue Spanish Universities, Juan Romo, participated this Monday in the Franco-Spanish Conference on European Universities, organised by the French Institute and the French Embassy in Spain. During his speech, Romo stressed that ‘it is crucial to think about the future funding’ for this initiative, since from 2027 it will not come from Erasmus+, so funding possibilities from other European programmes as well as other national and regional funding programmes should be sought.
‘The general assessment of the alliances is positive, but there are concerns about funding’, said Crue’s President, who also pointed out that this initiative is a ‘strategic project of great importance’ and recalled that 31 Spanish universities currently participate in European alliances. In this framework, collaboration with French universities is particularly relevant as joint participation with Spanish universities has reached 20 alliances. Romo was accompanied at the opening ceremony by the Spanish Minister for Universities, Joan Subirats, the French Ambassador to Spain, Jean-Michel Casa, and the President of France Universitès, Guillaume Gellè, who participated online.
The President of Crue highlighted other challenges facing European Universities, such as the development of joint degrees, the research dimension of alliances, the European quality seal, internal and external communication of projects and internationalisation towards Africa and Latin America. Regarding research, he stressed that it is an obligation of all institutions to improve it for the collective welfare.
For his part, the Minister for Universities, Joan Subirats, stressed the importance of European alliances, mobility for attracting talent, and the promotion of micro-credentials and the international promotion of industrial doctorates.
