YUFE Celebrates a New Chapter: Opening a joint Brussels Office

The YUFE Alliance celebrated a significant milestone on Friday, September 20, 2024, with a festive office-warming ceremony at its new Brussels premises. The event was a celebration of the unity and collaboration among YUFE’s 10 partner universities, European Commission representatives, and stakeholders, who came together to honour the alliance’s achievements and look forward to a promising future.

In their welcome addresses, YUFE President Daniel Mouchard-Zay, alongside representatives from the European Commission and YUFE Secretary General Maria-Valerie Schegk, highlighted the importance of this moment, not just for YUFE, but for the European higher education landscape as a whole. Mouchard-Zay, also President of Sorbonne Nouvelle, emphasised the importance of collaboration in shaping the future of higher education in Europe. He stressed that in times of political polarisation, social unrest and conflicts at Europe's borders, it is crucial to jointly work towards a brighter, more hopeful future for the younger generation.

Ioana Dewandeler, Policy Officer Higher Education at the European Commission, expressed her strong support for European University Alliances like YUFE and emphasised the initiative's transformative potential.

Maria-Valerie Schegk, YUFE's Secretary General, reflected on the alliance's remarkable progress over the past five years. She celebrated the opening of the new office as a major milestone, noting that the creation of a joint legal entity and central office would further solidify YUFE's position and long-term impact. 

The ceremony also featured a celebratory toast, as attendees raised their glasses to the future of YUFE, its new office, and the seamless leadership transition from former President Rianne Letschert to Daniel Mouchard-Zay, and YUFE Vice President Jutta Gunther, President of the University of Bremen.

The office-warming coincided with the YUFE Strategic Council meeting, where university presidents, students, and vice presidents from partner institutions convened to discuss key strategic priorities and future initiatives.

The opening of the new Brussels office and the leadership transition mark a new chapter for YUFE. With its dedicated team and expanded resources, the alliance is poised to further its mission of creating a united European university experience, driving a competitive and promising future for European Higher Education.