News

National Funding for European University Alliances 

[] - Published on in Press Room, CHARM-EU European University

In a letter addressed to the Minister of Higher Education, Research Space, 56 university presidents and directors of higher education institutions are calling for sustained national support for European university alliances. Among the signatories, Philippe Augé reaffirms the University of Montpellier’s commitment to the European alliance CHARM-EU, a driving force for transformation, educational innovation, and international influence.

To the Minister of Higher Education, Research Space
Subject: Toward Sustainable and Enhanced National Support for Higher Education Institutions
that are members of a European university alliance

A Committed Approach

Alliances among European universities are now a major driving force for strengthening the internationalization of degree programs, the convergence of higher education systems, and transnational cooperation. They are part of a process of profound institutional transformation that goes far beyond a model based on one-off projects and enables the implementation of sustainable strategies to modernize, revitalize, and enhance the appeal of universities.
Since the first calls for proposals, French institutions have been heavily involved in this initiative, helping to make France one of the European countries best represented within these networks. To support this momentum, the French government, through the France 2030 Investment for the Future Program (PIA), has allocated approximately 100 million euros in national funding over 10 years to French universities participating in the European Universities initiative. This contribution has been crucial in enabling universities to manage the often rapid growth of their international activities and to co-fund the missions of their alliances. It has fostered investment in institutional development, pedagogical innovation, and the rollout of new mobility programs, working in close synergy with European funding programs such as Erasmus+.

The Strategic Role of European Alliances at the National Level

The qualitative evaluation report on six French institutions involved in a European university alliance, published in December 2025, highlighted the many positive effects of this initiative, which was launched following a speech by the President of the Republic in 2017. European alliances make it possible to:

  • A structured and inclusive internationalization of student and Professors pathways, promoting greater employability in an increasingly competitive and globalized environment.
  • Interdisciplinarity and educational innovation through the creation of joint programs, transnational virtual campuses, and diversified, flexible, and structured academic tracks.
  • Pooling educational and research resources to strengthen Europe's scientific competitiveness.
  • The organizational transformation of institutions toward more integrated and collaborative models.
  • Greater visibility for French higher education institutions on the international stage, which goes hand in hand with increased appeal and contributes to the global influence of France and its university system.
  • The development of a European identity and sense of belonging among students and staff, thereby strengthening the sustainability, resilience, and development of the European Union in the face of an unstable global geopolitical context and democracies under threat. Alliances of European universities offer a response to this fragmentation by developing alternative forms of transnational institutional cooperation, thereby contributing to a more united and integrated Europe that is better equipped to address the most pressing global challenges.

The efforts made by French universities within the framework of these alliances also contribute directly to other national priorities in higher education. They support France’s international appeal and the goal of better welcoming international students; they accelerate the transformation of educational programs and their adaptation to the skills of the future; and they support and strengthen the digital and ecological transition of institutions.
These efforts position France at the forefront of European developments in the areas of joint degrees, common standards, and integration into the European Higher Education Area.

Current Situation: A Challenge for the Next Phases of Funding

While France has demonstrated its national commitment by providing this significant financial support to French higher education institutions that were awarded grants through European calls for proposals between 2019 and 2024, this support is currently no longer guaranteed for future calls. The lack of projections regarding the maintenance or increase of national funding significantly undermines the ability of French universities to uphold their European commitments and to continue fully and sustainably implementing the transformations they have initiated. Without long-term national funding, universities will be forced to slow down, postpone, or even abandon investments that are crucial to the transformation they have undertaken.
Beyond the mere risk of a reduction in visible activities in the short term, this would also mean:

  • The loss of expertise and the emergence of new professions,
  • A lag in compliance with emerging European frameworks,
  • A lasting decline in the ability of French institutions to fulfill their commitments within alliances,
  • A setback for the internationalization and Europeanization of academic communities,
  • A Decline in the Appeal of French Institutions of Higher Education
  • The loss of momentum in research support as a supplement to Erasmus+ funding.

Thanks to this investment, French universities can undertake transformation initiatives: internationalization and overhaul of academic programs, scaling up of joint programs, adaptation of administrative processes, interoperability and modernization of digital infrastructure, and the gradual integration of European standards—all of which serve as a foundational link for building research and innovation communities. These investments are not intended to grow indefinitely, but they must continue to be supported for several more years, as institutional transformation is necessarily a long-term process.

Call on the Ministry to make a strong and lasting commitment

In this context, the presidents of higher education institutions that are members of a European university alliance strongly urge the Ministry to ensure the continuity and expansion of national funding for European alliances in order to enable French universities to address the strategic challenges facing higher education and research in France.
A strong and lasting commitment of this nature is not merely a financial issue: it would send a strong political signal from France, reaffirming its ability to be a leading player in the European Higher Education Area.

Conclusion

European alliances represent much more than mere cooperation initiatives: they constitute a strategic pillar of the development and modernization of French higher education. They require not only an ambitious European vision, but also sustained national support that is commensurate with current and future challenges.
The university presidents are calling on the Ministry to quickly confirm a significant financial commitment
for the new funding phase, so that French universities
can continue to play a leading role in building a robustly integrated European area of education and research.

Signatories:

  • Lamri Adoui, President of the University of Caen Normandy (AcrossEU Alliance)
  • David Alis, President of the University of Rennes (EDUC Alliance)
  • Philippe Augé, President of the University of Montpellier (CHARM-EU Alliance)
  • Yvan Auguet, President of the University of Perpignan Via Domitia (Across Alliance)
  • Karine Bergès, President of the University of Paris-Est Créteil (Aurora Alliance)
  • Mathias Bernard, President of Clermont Auvergne University (ARTEMIS Alliance)
  • Carine Bernault, President of the University of Nantes (EUniWell Alliance)
  • Frédérique Berrod, President of the University of Strasbourg (EPICUR Alliance)
  • Éric Berton, President of Aix-Marseille University (CIVIS Alliance)
  • Laurent Bordes, President of the University of Pau and the Pays de l’Adour (UNITA Alliance)
  • Régis Bordet, President of the University of Lille (NeurotechEU Alliance)
  • Mourad Abdelkrim Boukhalfa, President of the INSA Group (ECIU Alliance)
  • Hélène Boulanger, President of the University of Lorraine (EURECA-PRO Alliance)
  • Stéphane Braconnier, President of Paris-Panthéon-Assas University (4EU+ Alliance)
  • Philippe Briand, President of the University of Savoie Mont Blanc (UNITA Alliance)
  • Anthony Briant, Director of the École nationale des ponts et chaussées (EELISA Alliance)
  • Sabine Brun, Director of Bordeaux Sciences Agro (EU-GIFT Alliance)
  • Nathalie Charnaux, President of Sorbonne Paris Nord University (UNINOVIS Alliance)
  • Laura Chaubard, President of École Polytechnique (EuroteQ Alliance)
  • Christophe Clément, president of the University of Reims Champagne-Ardenne (
    INVEST alliance)
  • Christophe Collet, President of the University of Technology of Troyes (EUT+ Alliance)
  • Hugues Daussy, President of Marie and Louis Pasteur University (STARS EU Alliance)
  • Nathalie Drach-Temam, President of Sorbonne University (4EU+ Alliance)
  • Patxi Elissalde, Executive Director of the Higher School of Industrial Technologies and Advanc
    s (EU4Dual Alliance)
  • Frédéric Fotiadu, Director of INSA Lyon (ECIU Alliance)
  • Camille Galap, President of Paris-Saclay University (EUGLOH Alliance)
  • Laurent Gatineau, President of CY Cergy Paris Université (EUTOPIA Alliance)
  • Vincent Gouëset, President of the University of Rennes 2 (Emerge Alliance)
  • Jean-François Huchet, President of INALCO (EUniWell Alliance)
  • Vincent Jolivet, President of the University of Limoges (EUPeace Alliance)
  • Hugues Kenfack, President of the University of Toulouse Capitole (ENGAGE.EU alliance)
  • Pedro Lages Dos Santos, president of the University of Le Havre Normandy (
    EUNICoast alliance)
  • Arnaud Laime, President of Paris VIII University, Vincennes (ERUA Alliance)
  • Virginie Laval, President of the University of Poitiers (EC2U Alliance)
  • Franck Le Derf, President of the University of Rouen Normandy (INGENIUM Alliance)
  • Delphine Letort, President of Le Mans University (Colours Alliance)
  • Dean Lewis, President of the University of Bordeaux (ENLIGHT Alliance)
  • David Menier, President of the University of Southern Brittany (EMERGE Alliance)
  • Daniel Mouchard-Zay, President of Sorbonne Nouvelle University (YUFE Alliance)
  • Pierre-Alain Muller, President of the University of Haute-Alsace (EPICUR Alliance)
  • Christine Neau-Leduc, President of Paris 1 Panthéon-Sorbonne University (UNA-
    -Europa Alliance)
  • Pascal Olivard, President of the University of Western Brittany (SEA-EU Alliance)
  • Catherine Passirani, Vice President for International Affairs and Equality at the University of Angers (
    EU GREEN alliance)
  • Fernando Pedraza, Vice President for International Relations and Europe at
    the University of La Rochelle (EU-CONEXUS Alliance)
  • Denis Postel, President of the University of Picardie Jules Verne (Bauhaus4EU Alliance)
  • Vanessa Proux, Executive Director of SupBiotech (UNIgreen Alliance)
  • Vivien Quéma, Chief Administrative Officer of Grenoble INP – UGA (Unite! Alliance)
  • Philippe Roingeard, President of the University of Tours (NEOLAiA Alliance)
  • Caroline Rolland-Diamond, President of Paris Nanterre University (EDUC Alliance)
  • Claire Rossi, Director of the University of Technology of Compiègne (SUNRISE Alliance)
  • Vincent Thomas, President of the University of Burgundy Europe (FORTHEM Alliance)
  • Ioan Todinca, Vice President for the European Athena Alliance at the University of Orléans (
    , ATHENA PLUS Alliance)
  • Michael Toplis, President of the Toulouse University Community (UNIVERSEH Alliance)
  • Alain Trouillet, Vice President for Education, International Affairs, and European Affairs at the
    , Jean Monnet University – Saint-Étienne (Transform4Europe Alliance)
  • Luis Vassy, Director of Sciences Po (CIVICA Alliance)
  • Isabelle von Bueltzingsloewen, President of Lumière Lyon 2 University (
    Bauhaus4EU alliance)