01.09.2025 EUPeace in (academic) 2025: From Structures to Flagships

EUPeace is entering a decisive phase in 2025: from building structures to launching flagship actions. With the European Track, the first Teacher Education Handbook, new research networks, and Living Labs across nine regions, the Alliance is bringing its mission of peace, justice, and inclusive societies to life.

EUPeace, the European University for Peace, Justice, and Inclusive Societies, is moving into its most dynamic phase yet. While 2024 was mainly dedicated to building structures and working modalities, 2025 is the year in which the Alliance is bringing recurring formats to life, launching flagship actions, and deepening its societal and academic impact.

A Strong Start: Schools, Seminars and Brussels Spotlight

The year began with the first Teacher Education Winter School at Castle Rauischholzhausen near Giessen and hybrid seminars that engaged students and staff across borders. In March, EUPeace organised a high-level Bridge Dialogue Event in Brussels, debating the role of universities in strengthening European values.

Around the same time, the Living Peace Lab hosted a workshop on peer education in Sarajevo, while governance milestones such as the Strategy Forum in Adana allowed all bodies to refine the Alliance’s direction. With the launch of the Doctoral Mobilities Programme, we prepared the ground for our Doctoral and Mentoring Networks.

Education Flagships: Curricula, Teacher Ed, and Mobility

One of the most visible educational innovations in 2025 is the European Track (EUT), piloting in the Winter Semester 2025/26. Students throughout the EUPeace Alliance will be able to have both face-to-face and online courses (e.g. through the growing Virtual European Exchange Programme (VEEP)) offered by other EUPeace partner universities credited towards their European Track. International and intercultural experience are integral to the Track, which is designed to combine virtual and physical mobility across borders and universities. By year’s end, work will also have advanced on five joint programmes and the Alliance’s first lifelong learning courses (10–15 modules across partners).

Teacher Education continues to be a cornerstone: the first Handbook on Internationalising Teacher Education was published in April, and the year will bring not only schools and workshops but also the start of international internships for teacher students in October.

On mobility, the launch of the EUPeace Mobility Portal earlier this year centralised opportunities for students and staff, supported by the rollout of a Buddy System across all partner universities until October.

Doctoral Support and Societal Dialogue: Building New Communities

2025 sees the first steps of our Doctoral and Mentoring Networks alongside the first cohorts of EUPeace Doctoral Candidates that teach abroad. Key scientific exchanges will take place at the EUPeace Conference (September, Pilsen) and the Creative Spaces, fostering innovative collaborations across the Alliance’s Research Hubs.

Societal dialogue is being advanced through the rollout of Living Lab projects in all nine partner regions and the creation of Societal Dialogue Groups (SoDiGs). Early highlights included Bridge Dialogue events in Madrid and Adana, with more formats to follow.

Looking Ahead: Festivals, Conferences, and Integration

In the second half of the year, we organise quite a few events: the EUPeace Conference and Creative Spaces in September in Pilsen, the first Student Campus Festival in October and the Teaching Europe Conference in December (both in Limoges), and the Students’ Peace Declaration in Sarajevo. All these events further exemplify the diversity of topics and voices within EUPeace.

Meanwhile, Alliance integration continues: the Mid-Term Reporting will provide strategic insights, and the Code of Conduct will take shape. These steps are designed to strengthen institutional embedding and prepare long-term sustainability.

Towards a Lasting Impact

2025 is thus a year of transition: from building structures to embedding flagship actions in education, and outreach. With new tools such as the Online Repository, the Mobility Portal, and a maturing governance culture, EUPeace is shaping itself into a sustainable, recognised actor in the European higher education landscape.

As the Alliance’s motto reminds us: building peace, justice, and inclusive societies is not a one-off project but an ongoing mission — and 2025 so far marks a decisive chapter in that journey. We wish everyone an inspiring start to the academic year!