24 September 2024
Brussels, September 20, 2024
The Young Universities for the Future of Europe (YUFE) Alliance marked a significant milestone last Friday with a festive office warming ceremony at its new Brussels premises. The event was a celebration of the unity and collaboration among YUFE’s 10 partner universities, European Commission members, and stakeholders, who came together to commemorate the alliance’s achievements and look forward to a promising future.
In their welcome addresses, the YUFE President, the European Commission and the YUFE Secretary General underlined not only the importance of this day for YUFE, but also the Alliance as a whole. Daniel Mouchard-Zay, the newly appointed President of YUFE and President of Sorbonne Nouvelle, emphasized the importance of collaboration in shaping the future of higher education in Europe. Especially in times of political polarization, social unrest and wars at the borders of Europe, it is crucial that we jointly create a bright and hopeful future for Europe’s younger generation, stated Mouchard-Zay.
Ioana Dewandeler, Policy Officer Higher Education at the European Commission, expressed her strong support for European University Alliances like YUFE and underlined the transformative power of the initiative.
Also, Maria-Valerie Schegk, Secretary General of YUFE, shared her enthusiasm for the alliance’s progress, looking back on the accomplishments over the last five years since YUFE started, and celebrating the opening of the new office. The joint legal entity and new central office is a milestone, which will further enable the partners to create a YUFE that is here to stay, concluded the Secretary General.
The ceremony also included a celebratory toast, raising glasses to the future of YUFE and its new office as well as the smooth transition of leadership from former President Rianne Letschert of Maastricht University to Daniel Mouchard-Zay, and YUFE Vice President Jutta Gunther, President of University of Bremen.
The office warming coincided with the YUFE Strategic Council meeting, where distinguished representatives such as presidents, students, and vice presidents from the partner universities gathered to discuss key strategic priorities and future initiatives.
The opening of the new Brussels office and the leadership transition represent a new chapter for YUFE. With its dedicated team and expanded resources, YUFE is well-positioned to further its mission of creating a united European university experience. This commitment gives an important push for a bright and competitive future for the European Higher Education sector.
Office Opening
