EURECA-PRO Review Week 2025: A Milestone Moment in Nancy
Reflecting on a week of connection, collaboration, and commitment
From 12 to 16 May 2025, the EURECA-PRO Alliance gathered in Nancy, France for its annual Review Week. Hosted by Université de Lorraine, the week brought together representatives from all nine partner universities to connect, reflect, and collectively shape the strategic path toward a sustainable, competitive, and inclusive European future.
The overarching theme — Transitions Towards a Sustainable, Competitive and European Future — was explored through cross-cutting sessions, interactive workshops, governance meetings, and moments of informal exchange. With approximately 150 participants — researchers, students, and staff — the event served as both a strategic milestone and a collaborative forum to reassess our Alliance's identity, structure, and long-term vision. Crucially, Review Week 2025 marked a pivotal step in the evolution of our Alliance: from a funded project to a programme on the brink of institutional transformation.
From the heart of the Hasselt University delegation, this recap captures the people, progress, and shared ambition that defined Review Week 2025.
Inspiration and Insights
Throughout the week, a variety of sessions left lasting impressions on participants. Keynote speeches, such as the opening address by Janez Potočnik, challenged attendees to think beyond systems and structures: “He urged us to focus on human needs rather than consumption,” Elke Van Hellemont, European University Alliance Manager at Hasselt University, shared. “It reframed the energy debate in a powerful way.”
Meanwhile, the opening speech from Bernard Vanheusden, Hasselt University rector and President of the EURECA-PRO Board of Rectors delivered a strong call to action, as Chernelle Lambert, Education Policy Officer for EURECA-PRO, recalled: “It gave me the feeling of ‘Now is the time to act’ — a push to stop waiting and start doing.”
Quality Assurance: A Culture of Continuous Improvement
While the keynotes set the tone, it was in the many sessions and workshops that ideas were tested, challenged, and transformed into tangible next steps. A particularly impactful session focused on Quality Assurance — not just as a formal requirement, but as a shared culture. “The session really brought out the added value of peer learning within our alliance,” said Annick Hayen (Education). “We are growing towards a common quality culture, and that’s essential for our long-term cohesion. I realised how far we’ve come in aligning strategic goals across universities. We’re no longer just sharing updates — we’re co-creating a common vision.”
Elke Van Hellemont agrees: “What stood out to me in this workshop, was the openness. Our partners from Crete and Germany outlined in just a few slides the key issues with Quality Assurance within the consortium in an understandable way. We discussed not only our successes but also our challenges. That honesty is what will help us grow.”
"Seeing each other in person again really rekindled the sense of connection within the alliance,” shared Stefanie Kerkhofs, Head of the Doctoral School. “Not only during the official sessions, but also in the coffee breaks — these moments strengthen the human ties that drive our collaboration.”
This sentiment was echoed throughout the week, as participants emphasized the value of face-to-face interaction in building trust, sparking ideas, and accelerating progress. Juan Guerrero, a PhD student representative from Hasselt University, reflected on his first year in the alliance: “I discovered how such an alliance can become a melting pot for innovation. I'm excited to contribute to flagship initiatives and even start new collaborations in battery research with other partner universities.”
Breaking Silos: A Cross-Work Package Approach
One of the most appreciated aspects of this year’s Review Week was the deliberate focus on cross-work package collaboration. “It was refreshing to have a spotlight on transversal connections,” Stefanie noted. “You become more aware of what’s happening across the alliance and start to see overlap with your own work. Thanks to the Review Week, I now know I can reach out to our colleagues at ELLA to help identify lecturers from all partner universities for the Transversal Skills Week for PhD students in 2026. That’s a valuable link which I will definitely put to good use in the future.”
Internal meetings, from work package groups to executive boards, were complemented by flagship-oriented sessions that brought diverse stakeholders into dialogue. These cross-cutting moments not only fostered mutual understanding, but also planted seeds for new joint initiatives.
Strategic Focus: Communication, Outreach and Recruitment
As EURECA-PRO transitions towards a more institutional and integrated future, clear communication and smart outreach strategies are becoming increasingly essential. Sessions on internal and external communication, student engagement, and recruitment offered practical insights and fostered alignment between partners.
Hogne Ulla, responsible for International Marketing at Hasselt University, shared his experience: “For me the Review Week brought clarity on a number of areas. Most important were the streamlining and strategies on internal and external communication which both are key to our student recruitment efforts. Furthermore, I had the chance to network with someone from the Engineering Faculty of the Université de Lorraine, who knows our colleagues Bart Vermang and Karine Evers well. We discussed how to increase mobility on topics such as summer schools and cross-university workshops.”
This focus on visibility and cross-border collaboration is crucial to position EURECA-PRO as an attractive and distinctive European university, not only to students, but also to society at large.
A Defining Moment: Signing the Declaration of Intent
Undoubtedly, the highlight of the week was the formal signing of the Declaration of Intent to establish a legal entity for EURECA-PRO — a symbolic and strategic step towards deeper institutional integration. Rectors from the nine partner universities gathered to commit to a shared governance structure, ensuring a more sustainable and autonomous future for the alliance.
Britte Vanlessen (EURECA-PRO Project Manager) expressed her pride: “It was a very meaningful moment. We’ve worked hard to reach this point. Seeing the rectors united and aligned was both exciting and energising.”
| For more on this key milestone, read the full article here: Rectors Sign Declaration of Intent to Establish Legal Entity |
Moving Forward with Renewed Energy
As we look back on Review Week 2025, we also look ahead — with clarity, ambition, and a sense of shared purpose. Elke Van Hellemont emphasised this transition clearly: “We’re no longer just a project. We’re building something that lasts — a European institution with a strong identity and an even stronger community.”
The progress made during this gathering, from strengthened inter-university bonds to concrete steps in governance, mobility, and curriculum design, serves as a launchpad for the next phase of our work. Whether through continued development of our flagship initiatives or more regular cross-Work Package dialogues, the Hasselt University team returns home inspired and motivated.
“We move fast, we communicate openly, and we care deeply about our goals,” Mohamed Ghoneim (Research and Innovation Officer EURECA-PRO) reflected. “Review Week reminded us of the strength of our team and the value of working together.”
Elke Van Hellemont captured the energy of the week in one sentence: “One week, nine partner universities, eight cultures — packed with meetings, ideas, food, laughter, and a gala to remember.”
Reflecting on a week of connection, collaboration, and commitment
The 7th Review Week demonstrated that EURECA-PRO is a community driven by purpose and united by shared ambition. With major steps taken towards legal recognition, academic cohesion, and operational unity, our Alliance is charting a new course. As we continue to transition EURECA-PRO from project to programme to institution, we set a compelling example of what European university alliances can become.
Thank you to Université de Lorraine for hosting a memorable and impactful week. We’re already looking forward to continuing this journey, stronger, smarter, and more connected than ever.
