Shaping Europe: The Role of Universities in the Weimar Triangle
Trilateral Conference on European University Alliances
24-25 September 2026 at University of Warsaw
Organisers: University of Warsaw, French Embassy in Poland (FEP), German Embassy in Poland (GEP)
Partners: German Academic Exchange Service (DAAD), French Embassy in Germany / Institut français de Pologne, Polish National Agency for Academic Exchange (NAWA), Campus France
24th SEPTEMBER 2026
Venue: UW’s Historical Main Campus, Krakowskie Przedmieście 26/28, Old University Library building
| 11:30 − 13:00 |
Historical Main Campus Tour
The tour starts at the entrance to the Old University Library building |
| 13:00 − 14:30 |
Registration and welcome light lunch |
| 14:30 − 14:50 |
Welcome Addresses
- Prof. Alojzy Z. Nowak, Rector of the University of Warsaw
- Prof. Andrzej Szeptycki, Undersecretary of State, Ministry of Science and Higher Education
- Étienne de Poncins, Ambassador of the French Republic to Poland
- Miguel Berger, Ambassador of Germany to Poland
|
| 14:50 – 15:10 |
Keynote: The geopolitical dimension of the European University Alliances, Prof. Emmanuelle Garnier, President of the University of Toulouse Jean Jaurès |
| 15:10 − 16:40 |
Panel I: Quo Vadis, European University Alliances ?
- Directorate General for Education, Culture, Youth and Sport/Direcrorate General for Research and Innovation, European Commission (TBC)
- David Itier, Head of Unit for European Strategies, French Ministry for Higher Education, Research and Space
- Prof. Andrzej Szeptycki, Undersecretary of State, Ministry of Science and Higher Education
- Lisette Andreae, Head of Unit for European Higher Education Area, Internationalisation, Federal Ministry of Research, Technology and Space Research and Higher Education Ministry
- Prof. Beatrix Busse, FOREU4ALL General Forum Chair, and EUniWell Alliance
|
| 16:40 – 17:00 |
Coffee break |
| 17:00 – 18:30 |
Panel II: Fostering cooperation within the Academic Weimar Triangle
- Dr. Wojciech Karczewski, Director General, NAWA
- Dr. Klaus Birk, Director of the Projects Department, DAAD
- Katarzyna Aleksy, Director for Higher Education Programmes Department, FRSE
- Carle Bonafous-Murat, Permanent Delegate of France Universités in Brussels
- Prof. Zygmunt Lalak, Vice-Rector for Research and IDUB Programme Manager, University of Warsaw
|
| 18:30 − 20:30 |
Reception
Venue: Kazimierzowski Palace, 1st floor |
25th SEPTEMBER 2026
Venue: Faculties of Applied Linguistics and Modern Languages, Dobra 55 Street
| 8:45-9:00 |
Welcome and organisational information for the day |
| 9:00 − 11:00 |
Parallel Session I: Mobility programmes and degrees shaped for the Weimar Triangle
Moderator: Prof. Maciej Raś, Vice-Rector for Student Affairs and Quality of Teaching and Learning, University of Warsaw
- Input 1: FORTHEM Alliance: Bernhard Altheim, Head of the European Affairs Office, Université Bourgogne Europe and Dr. Barbara Curyło, Coordinator of the FORTHEM Alliance, University of Opole
- Input 2: UNA Europa Alliance: Maria Niewiara, Jagiellonian University, Joint Programmes Coordinator
- Input 3: UNIVERSEH Alliance: Prof. Andrea von Hülsen-Esch, Vice-President French-German University / HHU Düsseldorf
|
| 9:00 − 11:00 |
Parallel Session II: Fostering Synergy: Collaborative Research Models in European University Alliances
Moderator: Dr. Elena Del Giorgio, Secretary General, 4EU+ Alliance
- Input 1: UNITE! Alliance: Dr. Andreas Winkler, Secretary General, TU Darmstadt
- Input 2 : ARQUS Alliance: Prof. Patrycja Matusz, Vice-Rector for Internationalisation, University of Wroclaw
- Input 3: Isabelle Schöninger, Conference of the Director of French Economic Schools (CDEFI), Executive Director
|
| 9:00 − 11:00 |
Parallel Session III: Fostering Excellence: Early-Career Researchers in European University Alliances
Moderator: Prof. Sabine Bottin-Rousseau, Vice-President, Sorbonne University, 4EU+ Alliance
- Input 1: EPICUR Alliance: Michael Zacherle, EPICUR Project Coordinator, Karlsruher Institut für Technologie (KIT)
- Input 2: CIVICA Alliance: Aurélien Krejbich, CIVICA Executive Director, Sciences Po
- Input 3: EUNICE4U Alliance: Prof. Mariusz Głąbowski, Vice-Rector for International Cooperation, Project Manager of EUNICE4U, Poznan University of Technology
|
| 9:00 − 11:00 |
Parallel Session IV: Virtual Bridges – Digital Campuses
Moderator: Dr. Robert Dąbrowski, Vice-Chancellor for IT, University of Warsaw
- Input 1: ERUA Alliance: Prof. Eduard Mühle, Rector Europa-Universität Viadrina
- Input 2: EUonAIR Alliance: Prof. Mariola Ciszewska-Mlinarič, Vice-Rector for International Cooperation, Kozminski University
- Input 3: YUFE Alliance, Maria-Valerie Schegk, Secretary General
|
| 11:00 – 11:30 |
Coffee Break |
| 11:30 – 13:00 |
Parallel Sessions Conclusions |
| 13:00 – 14:30 |
Farewell Lunch |
