ENGAGE.EU Annual Conference: 3 days of cooperation, vision and European spirit in Toulouse

Workshops, governance meetings and collaborative sessions punctuated the event. Governance members and institutional representatives worked together to define ENGAGE.EU's long-term vision.
For the first time, participants from different Work Packages took part in cross-collaboration meetings, promoting synergy between projects and coordination of objectives within the network.

Before the official opening, the first strategic working sessions on Wednesday afternoon set the tone: commitment and team spirit.
The City of Toulouse  and his Deputy Mayor in charge of International and European Relations, Jean-Claude Dardelet, then welcomed the participants to a convivial cocktail reception in the prestigious Salle des Illustres, a symbol of Toulouse hospitality.

On Thursday morning, the opening ceremony brought together several prominent voices:

Together, they highlighted the crucial role that European University alliances such as ENGAGE.EU play in building a more connected, innovative, and socially engaged Europe.
A significant highlight of the opening ceremony was the official entry of the University of St.Gallen as an Associated Partner in Higher Education - a milestone that further strengthens the alliance’s reach and impact.

The programme also included a thought-provoking panel discussion on artificial intelligence and its impact on the world of work, featuring Andrea Glorioso (Policy Coordinator for the Future of Work, European Commission – DG Employment, Social Affairs and Inclusion, joining online), Yann Ferguson (Sociologist and Head of Science at LaborIA), Olivier Flébus (Digital & AI Leader, Advanced Innovation, at Schaeffler), and Julien Aligon (Associate Professor, IRIT, Toulouse Capitole University). This lively exchange bridged perspectives from policy, academia, and industry.

A rich exchange that brought together perspectives from the public sector, research and industry.

Video recordings of the presentations are available to participants on the ENGAGE.EU website.

ENGAGE.EU was also honoured to welcome representatives from four other European University alliances —ECIU, UNIVERSEH, CHARM.EU, CIVIS — who shared their experiences and success stories. Their contributions covered an inspiring range of initiatives, including funding opportunities, joint master’s programmes, transdisciplinary approaches, and micro-credentials. Recordings of these presentations are also available to participants for further reflection and learning:

One of the highlights of the event was the official launch of the ENGAGE.EU 2035 Strategy, presented by Wim Van de Donk, Rector of Tilburg University University and Chair of the ENGAGE.EU Governing Board.
A round table discussion moderated by Sabine Sainte-Rose then brought together Clémentine Bories (Toulouse Capitole), Wim Van de Donk, Josep Antoni Rom Rodriguez (Ramon Llull University) and Giuliana Manganaro (University of Mannheim, PhD student and member of the Board of Learners).

The session ended on a particularly moving note: ten participants, each representing a member university, shared their vision of ENGAGE.EU in 2035, each in their native language. Ten universities, eight languages, one shared ambition for the future.

The day ended on a festive note, with dinner in the University's main building, followed by a game inspired by the Eurovision Song Contest, a symbol of European unity and diversity.

The Toulouse team said they were honoured to have hosted such an event, rich in energy, ideas and human encounters.

As 2025 draws to a close, the alliance is already looking ahead to the next stage of the adventure: the next Annual Event, to be held in Barcelona and hosted by the Universitat Ramon Llull.