Abstract:

Contemporary academic education focused on the flow of thoughts, research and experiences at the international level, directs the planned strategies in the field of teaching and scientific and research development towards activities carried out in pan-European cooperation. The development of technology, as well as situations, in a way, forced by the global crisis of the pandemic, constantly profile areas of transformation in somewhat ossified university structures. Today's world generates the necessity to implement modifications not only in the area of concepts but especially in the area of educational practice, which will allow for the real implementation of innovations, creative strategies and long-term visions. Such a vision is the innovative concept of a European University — the idea of education above and beyond borders.

European Universities appeared as one of the pillars of future united Europe beyond 2024 in the vision of President Macron in 2018. European Commission decided to run two calls of pilot projects within Erasmus + creating in total 41 alliances of 260 universities from whole Europe.

European Universities are meant as transnational alliances that will become the universities of the future, promoting European values and identity, and revolutionizing the quality and competitiveness of European higher education.

This article presents different models and strategies of European University projects on selected examples of established alliances, showing the observations from the realization in initial phase and prospects of the future. Special attention is directed on alliances with Polish universities, demonstrating obstacles and opportunities of the initial phase of realization. Paper refers also academic society and governmental initiatives to integrate Polish universities in European alliances and support the process of enhancing the long-term effects of those projects.

Keywords:

Erasmus +, European University, education, virtual university, international education project.