A look back at Una Europa 2026 « Defending the Values of Higher Education and Research: Inclusivity, Academic Freedom, and Democracy »
From the 27th to the 29th of May 2026, Paris 1 Panthéon-Sorbonne University had the honour of hosting, for the second time, the General Assembly of the Una Europa alliance. On this occasion, nearly 300 participants - including representatives from university management, academic staff, administrative staff and students from eleven partner universities - gathered at our institution to take part in over 80 working sessions.
A strategic meeting for the alliance’s future
Held under the theme ‘Defending the Values of Higher Education and Research: Inclusivity, Academic Freedom, and Democracy’, this General Assembly provided a key opportunity for reflection and cooperation for all members of the alliance.
The various working sessions enabled the further development of joint projects in the areas of education, research and societal engagement within Una Europa’s six interdisciplinary fields: Europe in the World, Sustainable Development, One Health, Data Science and Artificial Intelligence, Cultural Heritage, and Materials of the Future. They also facilitated the sharing of best administrative practices and discussions on the prospects for scaling up the alliance’s initiatives, with the aim of maximising their impact and benefits for students and academic communities.
This edition was of particular significance in Una Europa’s journey. With the Erasmus+ Una.Futura project due to come to an end in November 2026, and whilst awaiting the results of the next call for European funding, the partners were able to take stock of the achievements of recent years and engage in a collective reflection on the alliance’s strategic directions and future priorities.
Fostering exchanges and strengthening the Una Europa community
In addition to the working sessions, the event offered participants the opportunity to discover some of Paris’s academic and cultural heritage. A dedicated programme was therefore organised, including a tour of Notre-Dame Cathedrale, a visit to the Sorbonne Inter-University Library, a tour of the Latin Quarter exploring the history of Paris’s universities, and an immersive introduction to the French language in the Luxembourg Gardens.
The reception held on the 27th of May at the Réfectoire des Cordeliers also provided a wonderful opportunity for the representatives of the eleven member universities to socialese, allowing participants to continue their discussions in an informal setting and to strengthen ties within the alliance.
Strong support from staff and students at Paris 1 Panthéon-Sorbonne
The success of the General Assembly is down to the remarkable commitment of the staff at Paris 1 Panthéon-Sorbonne University and the Una Europa student ambassadors, who were actively involved throughout the preparation and running of the event.
Their professionalism, availability and dedication played a major part in the success of this international gathering. The university extends its sincere thanks to them.