Education and Research Key to Building a Sustainable Future — U!REKA Connects Organised a Gathering of European Higher Education Institutions at Metropolia
U!REKA Connects opening ceremony at Metropolia. Photos: Jacky Law
The importance of European higher education collaboration was highlighted in Helsinki on 21–22 May. The U!REKA Connects 2025 event gathered nearly 400 participants from across Europe. This year, the annual flagship event of the U!REKA University Alliance was organised by Metropolia University of Applied Sciences.
The two-day U!REKA Connects programme emphasised the role of education and research as promoters of sustainable development, accelelators of climate-neutral and smart cities, and reinforcers of common European values.
Mona Roman, Metropolia’s Research Director and the lead coordinator of the U!REKA European University Alliance, said the event made visible what international cooperation is at its best. “U!REKA Connects 2025 crystallised the unique team spirit with which this alliance is being built. The spirit is primarily seen as a willingness to work together across borders for European education and culture. The event demonstrated that when experts from different fields come together around a common goal, new ideas and solutions emerge for Europe’s current challenges,” she explained.
Education Builds Common European Values
On the opening day, the significance of European University Alliances and U!REKA as drivers of Europe’s competitiveness, democracy, and green transition was explored. Joint discussions with stakeholders addressed, among other things, the development of European degrees and campuses, as well as the crucial role of higher education institutions in achieving climate goals.
Susanne Conze, Head of the Higher Education Unit at the European Commission, shared how European alliances are at the heart of implementing the new Union of Skills initiative. She also emphasised the Commission’s strong support for the alliances.
Connects Culminates with Awards — Sustainability, Innovation, and Collaboration Highlighted throughout the Day
The second day focused on how higher education institutions can promote green transition, circular economy, and climate-neutral urban solutions through joint education and research. Workshops and discussions shared practical examples of how alliances develop common European education and enable interregional RDI (Research, Development, and Innovation) collaboration.
The day also highlighted innovation activities, co-creation, and the importance of digital education in renewing European higher education. Partner universities were particularly impressed by Metropolia’s Turbiini pre-incubator and Hymy village platform.
The successful event culminated in the presentation of the U!REKA awards, which recognised actions aligned with U!REKA values — co-creation, boldness, and inclusion. The main awards were given to students from Frankfurt, teachers who co-created the joint sustainable development course across U!REKA universities, and Erasmus+ Inclusive Comprehensive International project participants from Amsterdam and Metropolia Universities of Applied Sciences.
The Future is Made Together
U!REKA Connects 2025 was more than a conference. The event demonstrated how European higher education institutions strengthened their commitment to cooperation, shared values, and building a sustainable future. Education and research are a decisive force in constructing a smart, democratic, and sustainable future. By working together, European universities are a driving force capable of solving the grand challenges of our time.
How do co-creation, courage and inclusion feature in European higher education collaboration?
Listen to the podcast episode: Promoting European Values
More information
Mona Roman
Research Director
Metropolia University of Applied Sciences
mona.roman [at] metropolia.fi (mona[dot]roman[at]metropolia[dot]fi)
