In the past decades, socio-economic and political developments have led to a new elitism in higher education failing in the promise that globalization would lead to better opportunities for all. This has been the reason for the Young Universities for the Future of Europe (YUFE) alliance’s partners to come together with the aim to bring a radical change by becoming the leading model of a young, student-centred, non-elitist, open and inclusive European University based on the cooperation between higher education institutions, public and private sector, and citizens.In 2022, the YUFE Open Programmes will make Europe-wide higher education a reality for students from all backgrounds. Personalized academic curricula will be the backbone of an equitable, diverse and effective education system that recognizes and optimally fosters individual talents. The YUFE alliance will provide students with unique opportunities to be trained in an inclusive research- and work-based learning ecosystem leading to interdisciplinary and inter-sectoral knowledge and skills that will allow them to contribute to addressing current and future challenges in four YUFE Focus Areas.YUFE students will also have access to YUFE-wide extracurricular activities paired to an innovative recognition system based on YUFE Stars. YUFE Stars will be awarded for mobility (physical or virtual), language learning, professional training and job-shadowing, and community volunteering. The YUFE Star System will be an accessible and rewarding setting to fully pursue personal and professional development while experiencing the possibility to contribute as individuals a Europe-wide impact.YUFE will also enhance Europe-wide career and development opportunities for academic and administrative staff alike.In 2025, YUFE will be known across Europe as an exciting higher education choice, enabling students to experience seamless mobility between learning environments at home and abroad.
For the pilot phase, YUFE’s objectives and activities were organised under four flagships:• YUFE Student Journey• YUFE Staff Journey• YUFE Entrepreneurship and Innovation• YUFE in our Cities.These flagships constituted the building blocks of the YUFE pilot period, together laying the foundation for gradual development into a true European University. Next to them, governance, quality, sustainability and D&I were also central.
In 2019, the YUFE Alliance proposed to bring a radical change to the (European) higher education and research system through a transnational student-, staff and citizen-centred approach to learning and collaboration. In spring 2020, the COVID-19 pandemic overtook most of Europe right in connection with the start of the implementation phase. Nevertheless, the flexible, resilient and solid framework the Alliance had already built allowed us to progress even faster than originally planned.
<< Background >> In 2019, the YUFE Alliance proposed to bring a radical change to the (European) higher education and research system through a transnational student-, staff and citizen-centred approach to learning and collaboration. In spring 2020, the COVID-19 pandemic overtook most of Europe right in connection with the start of the implementation phase. Nevertheless, the flexible, resilient and solid framework the Alliance had already built allowed us to progress even faster than originally planned. << Objectives >> For the pilot phase, YUFE’s objectives and activities were organised under four flagships:• YUFE Student Journey• YUFE Staff Journey• YUFE Entrepreneurship and Innovation• YUFE in our Cities.These flagships constituted the building blocks of the YUFE pilot period, together laying the foundation for gradual development into a true European University. Next to them, governance, quality, sustainability and D&I were also central. << Implementation >> In YUFE, students and staff are co-creators of education, research and innovation. In the reporting period, YUFE has developed and launched a unique student-centred education, allowing learners to enrich their curriculum while also developing professional and civic skills across 10 partner universities, online and onsite. Also for staff, YUFE has put in place opportunities that allow them to contribute bottom-up to a potentially game-changing transformation for all learners and wider society. << Results >> With a total of 860 students enrolled in the YUFE Student Journey, results have exceeded the original target (500 students for the pilot phase). Similarly, in the YUFE Staff Journey next to achievements on the proposed activities (e.g. YUFE tracks for early career researchers), additional bottom-up initiatives arose from YUFE faculties (e.g. Law and Biology) and professional services departments. These results are the foundation for a full-fledged European University.