Building a higher education system of tomorrow
Funding for the next ECIU University phase announced
14.07.2026
With a grant of 7.2 million euros received, ECIU University, an alliance of the European Consortium of Innovative Universities (ECIU), will begin its next phase in November 2026. 11 universities are set to continue building the digital campus and pursuing innovation in higher education for the next two years.
The new strategic phase of ECIU University – ECIUn‑PLUS‑2 – has been secured, set to strengthen key ECIU University processes and continue pursuing an inclusive international community united around innovation, co-creation and sustainability.
Prof. Andreas Timm-Giel, President of Hamburg University of Technology: “The new funding phase of the ECIU University gives us, as Hamburg University of Technology, the opportunity to further consolidate the close collaboration we have built up with our European partners. We would like to jointly develop and test new teaching and learning methods, and also embed them in our university’s curricula.”
One of the first 17 European University Alliances, ECIU University started piloting in 2019, followed by the current phase (2022-2026). The 3rd ECIU University funding phase will last from 2026 to 2028, guided by the ECIU Long‑Term Mission Strategy (2026–2036) and aligned with the European Erasmus+ Call. During this time, the project aims to deepen the Alliance’s learner‑centred and research‑informed approach, supported by automatic recognition, inclusive guidance and rich mobility opportunities.
Strengthening institutional cooperation
By embedding shared tools, harmonised processes, expanded mobility schemes and long‑term strategic commitments, ECIU University will accelerate Europe‑wide impact and support the evolution of the Alliance into a fully integrated European University. The new phase will deepen institutional cooperation, upscale joint educational activities, and mainstream innovative pedagogies across partner curricula, substantially increasing the quality, attractiveness, and international competitiveness of European higher education.
‘ECIU University is a very ambitious undertaking. The upcoming phase will really impact how our member universities jointly design and deliver advanced training, with flexibility built into curricula and co-creation of studies alongside our regional stakeholders, equipping students with the relevant skills they need as we move into an increasingly more sophisticated environment of life and work,’ says Niall Power, director of ECIU University. ‘
Some of the other objectives include supporting lifelong learning through reskilling and upskilling, fostering more intensive mobility for community members, offering increased training for staff, and strengthening community-building activities.
Founded by ECIU (European Consortium of Innovative Universities) members in 2019 and co-funded by the EU, ECIU University is one of the first alliances to join the prestigious European University Alliances initiative, which now unites over 570 institutions.
https://www.eciu.eu/
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