For the newcomers and in a nutshell; What does ECIU University entail?
‘The European Consortium of Innovative Universities (ECIU) is a UT-led alliance of twelve universities across Europe and an associate partner in Mexico. Since its founding in 1997, ECIU has focused on fostering innovation and solving real-world challenges through collaboration between universities, industry, and society.’
How did the consortium develop further?
‘In 2019, the European Commission launched the European Universities Initiative to fund transnational university networks. ECIU responded by establishing the ECIU University, one of the first 17 alliances funded by the EU. Now in its sixth year (2025), ECIU University is expanding its operations. The alliance offers flexible online and blended learning experiences. Students from partner universities can participate in challenges, interdisciplinary projects addressing societal issues with industry collaboration, or micromodules; short courses enhancing technical and soft skills. These opportunities are available online, in hybrid formats, or with short physical exchanges.’
What is the role of the UT within the consortium?
‘UT is the coordinator of the project. ECIU is a Dutch foundation, hosted at UT, and is at the forefront of the European University Alliances initiative, consisting of 65 European Universities alliances with more than 570 higher education institutions of all types. ECIU is coordinator of this community, called FOREU4ALL, where all participants share best practices, lobby and create the future of European Education.’
What’s about the Forum?
‘The Forum is a opportunity to meet others, create opportunities for collaboration, and learn about challenge-based learning, innovation, and learn about the student experience. All ECIU universities (even Tec Monterrey, Mexico) is present at the Forum and together we learn, create and build up our alliance and activities further.’
What does the UT contribute to the Forum?
‘We try to share this Forum experience with new faces every year, always inviting individuals from every faculty, a few service departments and, of course, students. This year, two UT students are presenting – Nicolai Holtkamp, one of our ECIU Student Ambassadors, and Venise Alexandria Buque Taboa.'
What takeaways do you expect?
'The ECIU Forum is a space where colleagues from all the ECIU universities can collaborate, learn together and find opportunities to develop innovative ideas together. My hope is that our students and staff are open and willing to find new collaborations and deepen existing opportunities.’
What is the benefit for UT?
‘There are so many benefits. The UT has a very strong network in the ECIU. We work together in so many different spaces on so many different issues. The more we collaborate together and work together, the stronger our universities and our voices are. Not only can we benefit by learning together, we have a very strong lobby in Europe. Olga Wessels, the head of the Brussels Office, has developed the groundwork for ECIU to lead in many policy areas. European Universities are seen as an important voice and lobbying mechanism to the European Commission. The UT, coordinator of the ECIU European University alliance, is well represented and visible in our participation.’
Some pictures of the Forum with right Adina Imanbayeva from CELT, who shared a session on UT’s recently developed Course Creation Canvas which helps teachers design impactful and coherent learning experiences.
