Pictured: Presidents and Rectors of EMERGE Partner Universities, with the EMERGE Charter of Common Values (Credit: Arthur Ellis Photography)
A Collective Commitment to Inclusion, Engagement, and Borderless Education
EMERGE – Empowering the Margins of Europe through Regional and Global Engagement – brings together nine universities from across eight countries, uniting institutions located in Europe’s geographic, social, and economic peripheries. The alliance is committed to transforming the role of higher education through deep, transnational cooperation that places equity, regional impact, and global relevance at its core.
The launch event, held at the Irish World Academy of Music and Dance, brought together representatives from all EMERGE partners: University of Limerick in Ireland, Universidade da Coruña in Spain, Université Rennes 2 and Université Bretagne Sud in France, the University of Inland Norway, Univerzita Mateja Bela in Slovakia, Europa-Universität Flensburg in Germany, Neapolis University Pafos in Cyprus, and Democritus University of Thrace in Greece.
"I'm delighted to see this project, on which we've been working for over five years at Rennes 2 University, come to fruition. EMERGE is a project full of promise for our students and staff; it will help enhance our academic programs and mobility opportunities across Europe."
— Vincent Gouëset, President of the University of Rennes 2
The delegation from Rennes 2 University. Pictured (from left to right): Edwige Fusaro, Lucie Milcent, Vincent Gouëset, Anne Goarzin, Lucie Milcent, Delphine Tessier (Attachée de coopération scientifique et universitaire - the French Embassy in Ireland) and Rémy Barbier. (Credit: Arthur Ellis Photography)
During the ceremony, the leaders of each partner institution signed the EMERGE Charter of Common Values, affirming a shared vision of collaborative, inclusive, and regionally engaged higher education. The event also featured a welcome address by UL President, Professor Shane Kilcommins, a keynote address by UL Chancellor Professor Brigid Laffan and a panel discussion on the future of European university cooperation offered by representatives all partner institutions. Live performances by students of the Irish World Academy added a vibrant cultural dimension to the proceedings.
As a European University Alliance co-funded by the European Commission under the Erasmus+ programme, EMERGE is part of the broader FOREU4ALL framework, collaborating with other alliances to shape the future of the European Higher Education Area. EMERGE aims to deliver joint degrees, build shared digital and academic infrastructure, and expand student and staff mobility; particularly for those historically underserved by internationalisation.
Speaking on behalf of the alliance, Professor Colin Fitzpatrick, Vice President for Global and Community Engagement at the University of Limerick, described the launch as a celebration of shared ambition; one that recognises that collaboration is no longer optional but essential. “Together, we are not just imagining the future of higher education—we are building it,” he stated.
Learn more about EMERGE European University Alliance at: https://euemerge.eu/
