The SEA-EU Governing Week officially began today on the campus of Kiel University (CAU), bringing together representatives from the nine member universities of the European University Alliance for a day of institutional engagement, strategic debate and key governance meetings.
Although today marked the formal opening of the Governing Week, several important preparatory meetings took place the day before. These included the Vice-Rectors meeting, the Technical Working Group session, and the Co-Creation Councils gatherings. Each of these meetings provided a space for reflection, exchange, and strategic alignment. They were described as highly fruitful, ensuring that the voices of all member universities were heard and considered in the discussions that would follow throughout the week.
The opening session today featured welcoming remarks from representatives of both Kiel University and the city. Ralph Schneider, Vice-President of CAU, offered a presentation of the university and the region, highlighting the transformative influence of coastal life on the university’s character and values. In his words, “If you are living at the sea, it widens your horizon and makes you more open,” a reflection that resonated with the mission and identity of SEA-EU as a European Coastal University.
The Mayor of Kiel followed with a speech stressing the vital interdependence between the city and the scientific community. “We need each other,” he affirmed, pointing to the city’s strong commitment to research and higher education. He also celebrated the recent success of the “Science Comes to Town” project, awarded in partnership with two SEA-EU universities, as a concrete example of the meaningful collaboration between local institutions and the alliance.
As part of the morning session, Irene de Andrés, Communications Manager of SEA-EU, presented a video showcasing the alliance’s most recent milestones. The audiovisual piece offered a visual journey through the achievements of the past months and served as an energising prelude to the governance sessions ahead. Marcela Iglesias, General Coordinator of SEA-EU, then took the floor to provide an overview of the alliance’s evolution, the implementation of its current governance model, and the impact of recent activities across work packages.
Before the lunch break, all participants were invited to join a guided tour of the Kiel University campus. The visit offered insight into the institution’s historical roots, academic infrastructure and the ways in which it engages with its local and international environment. Shortly afterwards, a group photo was taken to symbolise the unity and diversity of the alliance, bringing together academic leaders, coordinators and professionals from all nine partner universities.
The afternoon was marked by three of the most significant meetings in the SEA-EU governance calendar: the Rectors’ Council, the Students Council and the Executive Committee. The latter involved a highly productive session in which representatives engaged in dynamic discussion on several aspects of the project’s current trajectory. Among the topics addressed were proposals to improve internal communication and streamline reporting mechanisms, along with reflections on how to better align the project’s key performance indicators with evolving priorities. The debate also included analysis of the new governance structure introduced in this phase of the alliance and how it affects the internal coordination and functioning of teams across institutions.
A central part of the session focused on the progress made toward the implementation of joint degrees. Participants discussed the remaining steps required for full implementation, especially regarding quality assurance and internal harmonisation. The meeting also included the presentation of two key digital tools: a centralised online application portal and a dedicated SEA-EU Moodle platform, both of which are designed to support and facilitate transnational teaching and learning within the joint programmes.
As the day drew to a close, the sense of collective commitment and shared vision was palpable. The opening day of the Governing Week in Kiel reaffirmed the strategic direction of the SEA-EU alliance and highlighted the energy, professionalism and ambition of its members as they continue building a truly transnational, inclusive and future-oriented European University.
