Transnational Cooperation, European Values, and Policies in Higher Education: Perspectives and Challenges

Drawing on the interdisciplinary expertise of partners from four CIVIS universities, this BIP proposes a dynamic learning journey that will empower students to think beyond national borders.

Through an interactive blend of online learning and face-to-face activities in Bucharest (Romania), participants will explore how European values, cooperation, and policies shape the future of higher education.

Beyond acquiring knowledge and skills, participants will join a network of peers and mentors with a similar interest in understanding and addressing contemporary challenges in higher education.

The activities will be carried out in a blended format, combining online and face-to-face activities to maximise the learning outcomes and ensure the transferability of the knowledge in the future activities of participants. 

1. During the virtual component, the participants will engage in online activities that include an opening session to discuss the program’s objectives and expectations, followed by four expert-led lectures on topics such as European values, citizenship, employability, and higher education policies.

These sessions will provide a foundational understanding of the themes, complemented by individual assignments involving literature review and critical reflection.

2. The in-person phase in Bucharest includes lectures and workshops led by academics from five CIVIS partner institutions. The sessions explore transnational cooperation, European university alliances, flexible learning pathways, and innovative pedagogies.

Practical learning is enhanced through field visits, providing students with experiences of regional integration and European Union impacts. The programme culminates in a student seminar for project presentations, encouraging academic exchange and peer collaboration.

After the completion of the course, students are expected to:

• understand ideas and theories relevant to transnational cooperation, European values and policies in higher education;
• operationalise concepts relevant to transnational cooperation and European values in higher education;
• critically analyse the relevant literature and draw informed conclusions;
• synthesise research findings and comprehensively present them;
• identify good practices and provide relevant examples for transnational cooperation and European values and policies.

The physical mobility section of the BIP will take place between 20-24 April 2026, in Bucharest, Romania:

20 April:

• The European University Initiative and Contemporary Challenges Facing European Higher Education - Prof. Sophia Papaioannou, NKUA
• one activity to discover the university's heritage (visit the Botanical Garden of the University and/ or the University’s Museum).

21 April:

• The impact of European Universities Alliances on the European Higher Education Area - Prof. Luciano Saso, SUR.
• European Education Area as a way to forest European Values - Prof. Javier Valle, UAM;
• Taking Transnational Cooperation Seriously in Higher Education: The Case of Global Awareness Education at the University of Tübingen - Dr. Glaucia Peres da Silva.

22 April:

• workshop: Flexible learning pathways and Innovative pedagogies - Prof. Romiță Iucu, Prof. Lucian Ciolan, and Assist. Prof. Alexandru Carțiș, Ph.D.(c), UB.
• field visit.

23 April:

• workshop: The Regulation of Cross-Border Mobility in the Context of European Integration - Prof. Bogdan Murgescu, UB & Dr. Gabriela Biliga-Nisipeanu.
• field visit.

24 April: a student project presentation seminar.

The course will run online between 2 March - 3 April 2026. 

• 2-6 March: Universities and Citizenship. The idea of European Higher Education - Prof. Amos Sigrid Karin, UT (2 hours).
• 9-13 March: Do “European values” exist”? The intersubjective way to foster a European Values Sphere - Prof. Javier Valle, UAM (2 hours).
• 16-20 March: The impact of European degrees on employability in Europe - Prof. Luciano Saso, SUR (2 hours).
• 23-27 March: Sharing Memories of European Integration and Historical Sense-Making - Prof. Bogdan Murgescu, UB (2 hours).
• 30 March - 3 April: discussions on the portfolios. 

Students will be assessed through a mixed approach, consisting of a portfolio comprising all assignments from the online lectures and a presentation of a team project they will work on during the face-to-face interactions in Bucharest.

The portfolio will demonstrate their understanding and application of the course material, while the presentation will provide an opportunity to demonstrate their knowledge on the topic and receive feedback.

Students will be evaluated in the PASS/FAIL system. Both components will be mandatory to graduate from the BIP.

Motivation Letter

CV

The applications will be evaluated based on the documents above, thus:

• the CV should provide a concise overview of the applicant’s academic background, relevant experiences, and achievements. Involvement in previous activities relevant for the topic of the BIP, including extracurricular activities, will be considered;
• the Motivation Letter should be clear and aligned with the theme of the BIP. Connections between the applicant’s academic and professional goals and the program's themes, (transnational cooperation, European values, and policies) will be considered.

• Prof. Bogdan Murgescu, University of Bucharest (Faculty of History/ ISDS), professor, vice-rector, member of Academia Europaea;
  
• Prof. Romiță Iucu, University of Bucharest (Faculty of Psychology and Educational Sciences/ ISDS), professor, UNICA EduLAB Group Coordinator;
• Prof. Lucian Ciolan, University of Bucharest (Faculty of Psychology and Educational Sciences/ ISDS), professor, vice-rector, Secretary General Elect of the European Educational Research Association;
• Prof. Sophia Papaioannou, National and Kapodistrian University of Athens (Faculty of History and Archaeology), professor, vice-rector of academic affairs;
• Prof. Luciano Saso, Sapienza University of Rome (Faculty of Pharmacy and Medicine), professor, Secretary General of the UNICA Network (former president of UNICA, former Deputy Rector at SUR);
• Prof. Javier Valle, Universidad Autónoma de Madrid (Faculty of Education and Teacher Training), professor, Coordinator of the Research Group on ‘Supranational Education Policy’ (GIPES);
• Prof. Karin Amos, Eberhard Karls Universität Tübingen (Institute of Education, Department of Social Sciences), professor and vice-president of academic affairs;
• Dr. Glaucia Peres da Silva, Eberhard Karls Universität Tübingen (Division III – Academic Affairs), Global Awarness Educator;
• Dr. Gabriela Biliga-Nisipeanu, UB, (Research Institute of the University of Bucharest), researcher;
• Assist. Alexandru Carțiș, Ph.D.(c), UB, CIVIS Head of Education Unit.