On 5–6 May 2025, leaders and representatives from the ACE²-EU Alliance and the Values and Mobility Action Management Group convened for their first face-to-face meeting at the Lietuvos Inžinerijos Kolegija HEI in Kaunas. This landmark event brought together key stakeholders from across the Transform4Europe Alliance to advance shared goals centred on European values and cross-border mobility in higher education.
The two-day meeting was a significant milestone in fostering collaborative action and strategic alignment within the Alliance. Attendees gathered for a welcoming session featuring coffee, registration and a group photograph, followed by an opening address from Dr Lina Girdauskienė, Director of Lietuvos Inžinerijos Kolegija HEI.
On the first day, the focus was on workshops designed to explore foundational and forward-looking themes. ‘Transform4Europe Alliance: Insights and Experiences in Promoting EU Values and Enhancing Mobility’, led by Tomas Mickevičius from Vytautas Magnus University (VMU), opened the discussions.
Subsequent parallel sessions divided attendees into two working groups. The EU Values subgroup addressed issues such as the prioritisation and relevance of core EU values, while the Mobility subgroup identified and addressed critical mobility gaps.
The afternoon sessions included workshops on embedding selected EU values into Alliance activities and developing outreach strategies to engage students and staff more effectively.
The day concluded with a joint session for both subgroups, titled ‘Looking Ahead: Reflections, Insights, and Future Priorities’, which fostered a unified vision and coordination across domains.
Participants enjoyed opportunities to network informally during a group lunch and an evening welcome dinner at the BLC Business Leaders Centre.
On the second day, the focus shifted to long-term planning. After morning coffee and registration, participants could either join a strategic planning workshop or explore the host institution’s study and research facilities. The afternoon sessions concentrated on reviewing implementation strategies and evaluating impact, and the day concluded with a tour of Kaunas, beginning at the iconic ‘Freedom Soldier’ sculpture in front of Kaunas Castle.
By bringing together academics, mobility coordinators and values ambassadors from across Europe, the event emphasised the ACE²-EU Alliance’s mission to strengthen European cooperation in education. Discussions and workshops paved the way for concrete initiatives rooted in inclusivity, sustainability, and excellence.
The Kaunas meeting is a testament to the ACE²-EU group’s commitment to shaping the future of European higher education through collaboration, shared values and meaningful mobility.
