Seven years into the European University Alliances, a fundamental question remains unresolved: What do we actually mean by “mobility”? As alliances strive to reach the ambitious target of 50% mobility among staff and students, the concept is being stretched to encompass an expanding range of formats. Yet this broadening raises critical questions about coherence, comparability, and value. 

This panel takes stock of the ongoing debate within the alliances and addresses two central tensions: physical versus virtual mobility, and quantity versus quality. How far can the definition be expanded without losing analytical clarity and strategic direction? And what kind of mobility should European university cooperation ultimately promote?