On 20–21 November 2025, the European University Institute (EUI) hosted the first European Degree Forum, an initiative of the European Commission.
The Forum provided a unique platform to explore the added value of a common European degree label, examining its potential to enhance mobility, strengthen recognition across borders, and raise shared standards of quality. Participants showcased successful joint programmes, debated current administrative and regulatory obstacles, and reflected on how to make a future European Degree inclusive and accessible to learners from all backgrounds.
A central theme throughout the event was Europe’s ability to attract and retain talent. Speakers highlighted how a joint European Degree could foster excellence, reinforce cooperation between universities, and generate new opportunities for students, researchers and staff.
A key outcome of the Forum will be the development of the Florence Pledge, a shared commitment among participating institutions and stakeholders. The Pledge will outline common principles and guide coordinated action as the European Degree initiative moves forward.
The two-day event was hosted across two key EUI venues. The opening ceremony took place in the Badia Fiesolana church, where EUI President Patrizia Nanz and Pia Ahrenkilde Hansen, Director-General of the European Commission’s DG Education, Youth, Sport and Culture, delivered the welcome addresses. Jelena Dzankic, Professor at the Robert Schuman Centre for Advanced Studies, joined the panel on ‘the stakeholders’ view’, where she highlighted the successful work of the CIVICA Alliance.
In the afternoon, participants moved downhill to Palazzo Buontalenti, home of the Florence School of Transnational Governance, where a series of interactive breakout sessions encouraged practical dialogue and collaborative problem-solving. These labs explored core ambitions of the European degree label, such as its added value for industry and society, its ability to attract and retain talent, and making it inclusive and accessible to all. The sessions were facilitated jointly by academics and practitioners with a view to transform abstract challenges into concrete scenarios and workable next steps.
The Forum also benefitted from the engagement of the EUI’s own learning community. Master’s students, PhD researchers, and fellows participated actively leading the discussions during the breakout sessions. Their participation emphasised the central role that learners play in shaping the future of transnational education and ensured that the voices of emerging scholars and practitioners were represented in the debate.
Reflecting on the outcomes of the Forum, Professor Josephine van Zeben, Provost for Education and Academic Staff Development, said: “The Forum demonstrated that Europe has both the ambition and the collective intelligence to shape a truly transnational learning space. What stood out in Florence was the depth of collaboration across sectors and generations, united by a commitment to designing a European Degree that genuinely serves learners and society. Hosting the Forum also reaffirmed the EUI’s role as a convener for Europe’s higher education community and our shared belief that this initiative is an investment in talent, quality, and the future of Europe’s knowledge community.”
Led by the European Commission, the Forum gathered policymakers, universities, national authorities, and European university alliances to advance the vision of a joint European Degree label. For the EUI, the Forum reaffirmed the Institute’s commitment to cross-border collaboration, academic excellence and societal impact.