The Guild of European Research-Intensive Universities is pleased to welcome the University of Luxembourg as our newest member. The University proudly joins this distinguished network, reaffirming our commitment to academic and scientific excellence, societal impact, and international collaboration. The Guild now comprises twenty-three member universities.
On 20 May 2025, The Guild marked ‘International Academic Freedom Day’ by launching an annual lecture and discussion on academic freedom in Brussels. Bringing together policymakers, university networks, and researchers, The Guild co-organised the event with its member Université PSL including one of its most famous institutions, Institut Curie.
On the 1st of April, the launch event of our latest insight paper “Universities in the face of the climate and nature crises: Redoubling our commitment to a sustainable future” focused on how universities can best foster a sustainable and just transition in Europe and beyond, and how policymakers can best nurture the capacity of universities to address the climate and nature crises.
In its insight paper "Universities in the face of the climate and nature crises: Redoubling our commitment to a sustainable future", The Guild calls on European and national policymakers to collaborate with higher education institutions to ensure evidence-informed knowledge for a safe, affordable, just and sustainable transition.
Prominent universities and research institutions from Africa and Europe are calling on the EU to enhance its strategic commitments to Low- and Middle-Income Countries (LMICs). They emphasize the importance of advancing research, innovation, and higher education collaborations as part of the Global Gateway's fifth investment priority.
The Guild underscores the importance of health research in maintaining the EU's global competitiveness and the well-being of its citizens. We look forward to the EU’s forthcoming initiatives, including the Life Sciences Strategy, the EU Biotech Act, the Pharmaceutical Reform's finalisation, and the European Health Data Space implementation.
The Guild welcomes the objectives of the Union of Skills strategy to boost high quality education and skills development, and to foster shared EU values.
In her Political Guidelines, President von der Leyen championed the creation of a 'Union of Skills' to address labour and skill shortages across the EU. To implement this vision, on 5 March the European Commission will present a new strategy focusing on improving basic skills, upskilling and reskilling of adults, circulation of skills across borders and ensuring Europe's leadership in talent attraction.
The Guild and other representatives from the research, development and innovation sector have published a joint statement urging the European Union to act boldly to compete on a global level.
Kulbir Shergill is the Director of Social Inclusion at the University of Warwick, responsible for the development and implementation of the Social Inclusion Strategy. Along with the Social Inclusion team, she is working in partnership with stakeholders across the university and with external partners to increase diversity of Warwick's community and support an inclusive culture. Her areas of focus include developing inclusive leadership skills and engagement, the development the INspire programme, and working closely with colleagues to develop the Inclusive Education Model for inclusive student experience.
The Competitiveness Compass will point in the wrong direction if it fails to build on R&I excellence and recognise a broader understanding of the skills needed to underpin Europe’s competitiveness.
The Guild member universities provide recommendations on how the European Commission can make the Erasmus+ student grant system more fair, simple and sustainable by calling for an ambitious budget for the next programme in 2028-2034 to make this happen.
To start the new year, The Guild’s Vice-Presidents assembled in Brussels for stimulating discussions with distinguished speakers on the future directions of the successor programmes for Erasmus+ and Horizon Europe.
On 8 January, The Guild had the pleasure of engaging in a productive first meeting with Roxana Mînzatu, the newly appointed Executive Vice-President for Social Rights and Skills, Quality Jobs and Preparedness.
