Ulysseus International Networking Conference  Strengthens EU–Western Balkans Academic Cooperation 

Held immediately after the 10th Rectors’ Forum of Southeast Europe and Western Balkans on April 7, the back-to-back events marked a significant moment in fostering academic and political dialogue in the region.

The Ulysseus International Networking Conference served as a platform for strategic discussions on cooperation within the European Universities Initiative, focusing on both achievements and persistent challenges. Stakeholders examined how universities across the EU and Western Balkans can better align in their governance, cultural, and institutional capacities.

“Ulysseus is more than a project. It is a reminder that cooperation is not an exception, but a condition for relevance,” stated Prof. Vladimir Božović, Rector of the University of Montenegro. “Montenegro may be a modest point on the map, but it is a place that understands complexity, because we live it. And that, I believe, is a valuable perspective that we bring to the European conversation about innovation, inclusion and perseverance.”

Spotlight on Reform, Innovation and Inclusion

Conference panels showcased success stories and explored pitfalls in modernization initiatives across borders, with a particular emphasis on the need for quality assurance at both national and European levels. A high-level political exchange wrapped up the event, stressing the critical role of universities in the EU accession process of the Western Balkan countries.

Rector Božović highlighted the growing demands on academic institutions: “European universities are required to be faster, more open, more innovative, while remaining true to their academic essence… What gives me hope is that we are not approaching this task alone. We are part of something bigger – a network, a common space of ideas and initiatives.”

A European Network for a Shared Vision

Jeanick Brisswalter, President of Université Côte d’Azur and a Ulysseus partner, praised Montenegro’s integration into the alliance: “In 2024 we accepted the University of Montenegro with pleasure and entrusted it with an important role in the development of the Innovation Hub for Cybersecurity.”

Representatives from Ulysseus partner universities, European Universities alliances such as ACE2EU, Circle-U, YUFE, ACROSS, UNINOVIS, SUNRISE, EUPeace, the European Commission, and the Government of Montenegro all contributed to this vital dialogue.

About Ulysseus

Ulysseus is one of the 64 European Universities selected by the European Commission to become the universities of the future. Led by the University of Seville, the Alliance encompasses other seven universities in Europe: the University of Genoa, Italy; Université Côte d’Azur, France; 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.