at the University of Duisburg-Essen brought together participants from across Europe to discuss the future of the alliance. In its anniversary year, the focus was on strengthening collaboration in research, teaching, and societal engagement.
From 18 to 21 May 2026, the Aurora universities gathered at the University of Duisburg-Essen (UDE) for its annual conference. Over four days, researchers, students, and university leaders from across Europe met on the Duisburg campus to discuss the future of higher education, research collaboration, innovation, and societal engagement.
This year's conference carried special significance as Aurora celebrated its tenth anniversary. Since its foundation, the network has grown into a strong alliance of research-intensive universities committed to addressing societal challenges through collaboration in education, research and outreach. Today, Aurora connects more than nine universities, over 260,000 students and 800+ research groups across Europe.
Handover of the Aurora Presidency
A central moment of the opening ceremony was the handover of the Aurora presidency. Prof. Janette Walde, Vice-Rector of University of Innsbruck, acted on behalf of Prof. Veronika Sexl, Rector of the University of Innsbruck. She formally passed the presidency to Prof. Margrethe Jonkman, President of the Executive Board of Vrije Universiteit Amsterdam. The transition marked not only a change in leadership but also Aurora's continued commitment to strengthening European university cooperation.
The opening ceremony also featured a keynote address by renowned science journalist and chemist Dr Mai Thi Nguyen-Kim, who spoke about the role of science communication in building public trust in an increasingly complex information landscape. Her lecture, "Cutting through the noise: How to catch people's attention and build trust in the information age", set the tone for many of the conference discussions surrounding trust in science, communication, and the societal responsibilities of universities.
Trust in Science and European Cooperation
Throughout the four-day programme, participants explored key topics connected to the European Universities Initiative and Aurora's long-term strategic development. Discussions addressed challenges and opportunities in internationalisation, student participation, interdisciplinary collaboration, and the future of European higher education. Sessions such as "Aurora 2030 Midway: Achievements, Challenges, and the Road Ahead" reflected on the alliance's progress and future ambitions, including the continuation and further development of Aurora within the framework of European university cooperation.
Innovation, Student Engagement and Societal Impact
Beyond strategic discussions, the conference also highlighted innovation in research and teaching. One plenary session focused on how universities can better connect academic research with entrepreneurial approaches and societal impact, emphasizing interdisciplinary collaboration and new forms of knowledge transfer.
At the same time, student participation and representation played an important role throughout the programme, particularly in dedicated sessions on student engagement within the Aurora network. These discussions underlined the importance of involving students more directly in shaping the future of European university cooperation.
Overall, the conference reflected the diversity of Aurora's work - ranging from strategic development and trust in science to innovation, education and student participation - and reinforced the network's commitment to shaping a collaborative future for European higher education.
