A growing community, a project moving forward: ENGAGE.EU Annual Conference hosted by URL

Opening at Blanquerna-URL and institutional reception at Barcelona City Hall

The conference officially opened on 21 October at Blanquerna-URL. The welcoming session featured speeches by URL Rector Carles Pérez Testor, Vice-Rector for International Relations and University Community Mar Vila, and General Director of Blanquerna-URL Jordi Riera. In his opening remarks, the URL Rector emphasised that ENGAGE.EU represents much more than an alliance of universities: “it embodies a way of understanding Europe, one based on cooperation, diversity, trust, and commitment to society.”

The first day focused on the working meetings of the alliance’s various groups and projects. During the session on the state of development of ENGAGE.EU 2.0, the coordinators of the seven work packages reviewed the alliance’s main achievements and challenges. This was followed by a presentation from Professor Cristina Giménez Thomsen, co-coordinator of WP7, who introduced the latest impact report, highlighting key results and future priorities for the project.

In the evening, participants gathered at the historic Saló de Cent of Barcelona City Hall for an institutional receptionhosted by the city’s Second Deputy Mayor, Maria Eugènia Gay. The event provided an opportunity to strengthen ties and foster collaboration among the universities that make up the European alliance.

Reflecting on the future of European university alliances at La Salle-URL

The second day, held on 22 October at La Salle-URL, began with welcoming remarks by its General Director, Josep M. Santos, followed by a keynote address from Josep M. Garrell, President of the European University Association, who reflected on the strategic evolution of European university alliances.

The programme also included two panel discussions dedicated to the main challenges and opportunities facing European universities. Topics addressed included joint programmes, micro-credentials, international mobility, and new forms of collaboration among higher education institutions.

Following the traditional group photo in the Jardí Castellers at La Salle-URL, participants continued with the scheduled working sessions. As part of these activities, members of the Governing Board and the International Advisory Board travelled to IQS-URL, where they were welcomed by its Director General, Salvador Borrós.

The day concluded with an institutional dinner at the Palau de Pedralbes, one of Barcelona’s most emblematic venues, offering participants the chance to continue exchanging experiences and exploring new opportunities for collaboration in a more informal setting.

Closing of the conference at Esade-URL

The third and final day of the ENGAGE.EU Annual Conference 2026 took place on 23 October at Esade-URL. The institution’s General Director, Daniel Traça, opened the day with a welcome addressing all participants.

The programme featured several sessions, including “Putting the ENGAGE.EU Strategy into Practice”, during which participants shared experiences on the implementation of the alliance’s strategy and its contribution to addressing future societal challenges. At the same time, the alliance’s governing bodies, namely the Governing Board, the Executive Committee, and the International Advisory Board, held strategic monitoring and working meetings. A cross-cutting session on research and societal engagement was also organised.

The closing ceremony featured Thomas Fetzer, ENGAGE.EU Coordinator; Mar Vila, Vice-Rector for International Relations and University Community at URL; Marion Fortin, Vice-President of the ENGAGE.EU Alliance at Université Toulouse Capitole; and Sabine Allain Sainte-Rose, General Secretary of ENGAGE.EU.

During the closing session, participants shared the main conclusions drawn from the meetings and activities held throughout the three-day conference. 

The closing ceremony also announced that the next edition of the ENGAGE.EU Annual Conference will be hosted by Universität Mannheim, which will take over the organisation of next year’s annual conference following this year’s edition at Ramon Llull University.

The successful hosting of the ENGAGE.EU Annual Conference 2026 further reinforces Ramon Llull University’scommitment to internationalisation and to active participation in European initiatives for university cooperation. For three days, the institutions of Blanquerna-URL, La Salle-URL, IQS-URL, and Esade-URL became the meeting point for the ENGAGE.EU community, an alliance of universities from across Europe working together to promote new approaches to learning, research, and innovation aimed at addressing the social, economic, and environmental challenges of the 21st century.