Rethinking the role of universities in society
The Future of Universities Initiative explores how universities can better serve the common good in a rapidly changing world. Against a backdrop of environmental, technological and geopolitical upheavals, it examines what universities are best placed to contribute to society, how they can build public trust and what needs to change in the way they work.
Why: Rethinking the role of universities
Universities play a vital role in helping societies understand and respond to global challenges. However, their legitimacy and relationship with the communities they serve are under growing pressure. Market-driven funding models, competition and performance indicators increasingly shape academic priorities, while generative AI raises fundamental questions about the purpose and distinctive value of universities.
The initiative sees these challenges as an opportunity to rethink what universities are for and whom they serve. It starts from the conviction that their contribution lies not simply in producing or transmitting information, but in cultivating knowledge through collective inquiry, dialogue and encounters between different forms of expertise.
What: Putting knowledge at the service of the common good
The initiative aims to develop and test new ways for universities to cultivate knowledge as a shared endeavour and strengthen their contribution to society. Its central hypothesis is that universities can better fulfil their role by bringing research, teaching and engagement closer together.
Three principles guide its work:
How: Listening, experimenting and driving change
Running from 2026 to 2029, the initiative combines public dialogue, practical experimentation and policy engagement in three phases:
1. Listen and position (2026–2027): A Manifesto for Caring Universities, a Europe-wide survey and a workshop on desirable futures will gather perspectives on what society expects from universities. A conference in Bologna in May 2027 will bring these discussions into the wider European debate and develop recommendations for change.
2. Experiment with new models (2027–2028): At the EUI, university members and external partners will co-design and run a practical experiment to test new ways of connecting research, teaching and engagement. Non-academic knowledge holders will participate as co-teachers and co-researchers. Studies with Policy Leader Fellows and doctoral researchers will also explore the relationship between academic practice, professional experience and generative AI.
3. Learn and drive change (2028–2029): The initiative will evaluate the experiment, identify practices that could be sustained or adopted elsewhere, and bring its findings into European policy discussions. A final publication and practical toolkit will offer recommendations on university governance, working conditions, institutional incentives and collaboration with society.