T4EU: Católica discusses the future of European universities
The Universidade Católica Portuguesa led a meeting on Outreach strategies for universities, part of the Transform4Europe trip to Brussels from February 21-22, 2024.
The debate addressed student skills, research, and knowledge transfer, focusing on a forward-looking vision for European universities. Advocating for openness, collaboration, and community engagement, the discussions emphasized the need for institutions to transcend conventional boundaries.
"The outcomes of this meeting are particularly significant for the strategic trajectory of T4EU in its outreach efforts, positioning the Universidade Católica Portuguesa at the forefront of these discussions", explains Francisco Mendes-Palma, Director Transform4Europe | UCP Office.
For Daniel Filipe Madureira Fonseca, from the Secretariat of the European Parliament, "the event not only proved to be an excellent initiative, but also essential for a debate in the context of international collaboration for a better response to the needs of the society of the future".
The participant, an alumnus of Católica Porto Business School, emphasised the importance of "sharing knowledge between researchers, companies and institutions in a world increasingly shaped by the quest for rapid and integrated development".
The event's speakers included Bernardo Ivo Cruz, Portugal Secretary of State for International Trade and Foreign Investment; Amanda Crowfoot, Secretary General of the European Universities Association; Jean Ehret, Professor from the Luxembourg School of Religion & Society; Bryan Wells, NATO Chief Scientist, and Alexandre Affre - Deputy Director General of BusinessEurope.
Alumni from T4EU's 10 universities and representatives from EU institutions were also present.