Ulysseus Joins FOREU4ALL Community Engagement Workshop in Strasbourg

Representatives of the Ulysseus European University participated in FOREU4ALL’s third transversal workshop “From Campuses to Communities: Enhancing Engagement and Sense of Belonging in European Universities”, at the European Parliament in Strasbourg, France. The event brought together 140 representatives from over 50 European University Alliances to exchange experiences, discuss innovative approaches to community engagement, and strengthen collaboration around the Third Mission of universities.

Ulysseus showcased its community engagement ecosystem through a poster presentation featuring key initiatives, including Living Labs, Open Classes, Entre Camp, Science Shops, and other activities connecting universities with citizens, businesses, and regional stakeholders.

In addition, in the workshop sessions the Ulysseus delegate presented Ulysseus MILES, a recently launched recognition programme designed to encourage and reward active participation in Ulysseus activities. The initiative was recognised as one of the innovative projects that may be replicated across the Alliances, generated considerable interest and and sparking discussions on innovative ways to foster engagement and strengthen the sense of belonging within European University Alliances.

Key Insights from 58 Alliances

The workshop’s discussions centred on building a genuine European community and the role of universities in shaping this experience. Six key insights emerged:

• Community building takes time: A resilient community is the engine of European University Alliances—it cannot be rushed or treated as a project deliverable.
• Project periods are too short: Current funding cycles don’t allow alliances to meaningfully create, grow, and sustain communities.
• Diversity is a strength: Cultural and linguistic diversity should be celebrated and resourced, not merely managed.
• High-impact activities need support: Transformative initiatives require structural and financial commitment from leadership to move beyond pilot status.
• Community drives change: When alliances foster belonging, they attract active members and generate real impact.
• European values need space: Creating environments where shared values unite participants across borders requires sustained investment.
• As an outcome, 12 initiatives were prototyped as replicable models to foster student and staff engagement in alliances. These will be compiled and shared soon.

About Ulysseus

Ulysseus is one of the 73 European Universities alliances selected by the European Commission under its flagship initiative of the European strategy for universities. These alliances, co-funded by the European Commission, bring together almost 650 higher education institutions of all types from across Europe.

Led by the University of Seville, the Ulysseus European University Alliance encompasses seven other partner universities: the Université Côte d’Azur (France), University of Genoa (Italy), the Technical University of Košice (Slovakia), MCI | The Entrepreneurial School® (Austria), Haaga-Helia University of Applied Sciences (Finland), the University of Münster (Germany), and the University of Montenegro (Montenegro).