The European Campus of City-Universities (EC2U) Alliance Forum held in Turku in May brought together a record number of participants, highlighting the growing strength of European university collaboration.
The annually organised Forum is the flagship event of the EC2U Alliance, which consists of nine European universities and more than 60 local partners. It brings together students and staff from the Alliance’s member universities, representatives of cities, and other stakeholders from across Europe to exchange ideas and develop solutions to key societal challenges.
Approximately 520 participants attended the 2026 Forum, with around 460 taking part on site in Turku. In their welcoming speeches, both Marjo Kaartinen, Rector of the University of Turku, and Ludovic Thilly, Coordinator General of the EC2U Alliance, described the turnout as impressive and inspiring, especially as the previous Forum organised in Turku had been held online due to the COVID-pandemic.
A week of collaboration and exchange
Throughout the week, participants engaged in a wide range of sessions, workshops and meetings centred on the Forum’s theme Shaping European Futures through Quality Education. The programme also offered many opportunities for networking and informal discussions between participants from different universities, cities and partner organisations.
Students played an active role in the Forum by working together intensively on the Student Challenge, developing ideas and solutions in international teams.
The collaborative spirit of the event was also reflected in the playful Science Contest, where researcher teams from the University of Turku, Friedrich Schiller University Jena and Umeå University competed in solving a variety of scientific and general knowledge questions. After a closely contested semi-final, the competition was ultimately won by Umeå University. The recording of the competition is available on the YouTube channel of the EC2U Alliance.
A milestone event in many ways
In addition to representatives from the Alliance’s partner universities, the Forum welcomed participants from partner cities and associated organisations across Europe. The City of Turku played an active role in hosting delegations from the participating cities and helped provide all Forum participants with opportunities to experience the hospitality and welcoming atmosphere of the city.
The event also hosted a large delegation from Ivan Franko National University of Lviv involved in the Prometeus (Promoting Teacher Education and Innovative Pedagogy for Strengthening Capacities of Ukrainian Higher Education for Post-War Reconstruction) project. Representatives from the Lviv city administration also took part in the Forum.
In addition to the record number of participants, the Forum also marked an important milestone for the Alliance with the announcement of its first-ever President. Rector Marjo Kaartinen was appointed to this new role. The President’s duties include strengthening the Alliance’s position and visibility, chairing its governing bodies and representing the Alliance together with the Coordinator General when needed.
Looking ahead, the next EC2U Forum will take place in Umeå in April 2027. The upcoming Forum will continue to strengthen cooperation within the Alliance and further develop shared activities between universities, cities and partner organisations.
