2026

Understand migration, develop solutions, become a changemaker: As of today, the enrolment period opens for PATHS Forced Migration: Europe in a Global Context – a new, fully English-taught Master's programme developed jointly by six universities of the European university alliance ERUA. At Europa-Universität Viadrina, the European Border Regimes path begins. The programme starts in the winter semester 2026/27; enrolment is open until 31 July 2026.

On Friday, 5 June 2026, World Environment Day, a joint waste collection campaign will take place in Frankfurt (Oder) on the island of Ziegenwerder and in Kleistpark. Residents are invited to join the initiative of the European University Viadrina Frankfurt (Oder), the IMD Labor Oderland and the German Red Cross (DRK) and set a joint example for environmental protection, sustainability and community involvement.

What happens when 15 researchers from across Europe come together to write for four days? According to those who were there: sometimes a small miracle.

What began as a student idea in the cosmos of the ERUA university alliance ended in a week full of music, exchange and European spirit. For the first time, musicians from universities in Italy, France, Spain, Bulgaria, Germany and Lithuania came together at ERUAvision in the first week of May 2026. They presented their self-written songs at the Kleist Forum in Frankfurt, competing with the Eurovision Song Contest (ESC), which takes place this weekend in Vienna.

On 7 May 2026, Prof. Dr Eduard Mühle, President of the European University Viadrina Frankfurt (Oder), together with the directors of the partner universities of the European Reform University Alliance (ERUA), signed the notarial deed to establish an international non-profit association under Belgian law in Brussels. With this step, the Alliance is transforming its previously project-based cooperation into a permanent institutional structure. The aim is to secure the cooperation within ERUA in the long term and to develop it strategically - independently of temporary funding cycles.

The ERLab Bootcamp 2026 concluded with an impressive final event at the Gravity Building of Campus Founders. For one week, the Bildungscampus Heilbronn was transformed into a European innovation lab: as part of the ERLab Days, international students, academics, and innovation stakeholders from the European university alliance ERUA collaborated on real societal and economic challenges – developing solutions with genuine practical relevance.

The third edition of Catch-Up is out — and this one is something special. For the first time, all eight ERUA partner universities have contributed to a joint issue. That's not just a fun fact. It's a sign that ERUA is growing into a real community. The content lives up to exactly that: the new issue covers what's happening across the alliance in depth — told from the perspective of students who live and shape ERUA every day.

Shortly before the 70th Eurovision Song Contest is held in Vienna, the ERUAvision Song Contest will take place on Thursday, 7 May at 7.00 pm on the stage of the Kleist Forum. Solo artists and music groups from Italy, France, Spain, Bulgaria, Germany and Lithuania will create a musical evening with their self-produced songs. The audience can vote live or via livestream as well as a jury with judges from all participating countries will vote on the best performances.

Intense discussions in working groups, prominent public events and valuable opportunities for exchange were offered at the two-day networking event "Doing Democracy: Connecting Academia and Civil Society Across Borders" on 23 and 24 April 2026 in Frankfurt (Oder) and Słubice. The event was organised by the Viadrina and the Social Science Institute of the SWPS University of Warsaw as part of the European Reform University Alliance (ERUA).

The Viadrina has been a member of the European Reform University Alliance (ERUA) since November 2023. The alliance brings together eight European universities with a shared vision: greater internationalisation, closer cooperation, and a stronger European dimension in research, teaching and campus life. Two and a half years on, much of this vision has not only been initiated but already realised. ERUA is no longer an abstract, externally funded project; it is becoming increasingly tangible for both students and staff.

First ERUA Intensive Course hosted by Viadrina.