Universität für Weiterbildung Krems (Donau-Universität Krems)

EU.ACE - European University for Academic Continuing Education

A strong Europe needs education, diversity, and equal opportunities. EU.ACE drives innovation and policy for lifelong learning within the European Higher Education Area.

Ideation Workshop in Lucerne

Objectives

EU.ACE is a dynamic university consortium dedicated to shaping innovative and flexible lifelong learning pathways as a core component of the Bologna Process and the European Higher Education Area. The consortium’s mission is to develop educational models that respond directly to the evolving demands of 21st-century society and labour markets, making lifelong learning a structural and strategic part of higher education in Europe. EU.ACE places a strong focus on three interlinked thematic priorities: the institutional anchoring of lifelong learning in the European Higher Education Area, the strengthening of employability through competence development, and the promotion of multilingualism and intercultural understanding. These overarching goals are explored through the concrete fields of health, education, smart communities, and STEAM (science, technology, engineering, arts, and mathematics), in which the consortium tests and implements future-oriented approaches. At the heart of EU.ACE’s work is a consistent learner-centred perspective. Continuing education and lifelong learning are understood as processes that must accompany individuals across all stages of life, adapting to changing personal, social, and professional realities. One of the consortium’s guiding questions is how universities can evolve into inclusive spaces for learning, knowledge exchange, and competence development—accessible to all, regardless of background or life phase. Equally important is the challenge of how to foster future-proof skills: those key competences that enable individuals to navigate, shape, and thrive in a rapidly transforming world. Through collaboration, research, and policy innovation, EU.ACE translates these questions into practical models and strategic frameworks. The goal is to strengthen academic continuing education as an essential pillar of the European Higher Education Area—and to actively contribute to shaping the universities of tomorrow.

Background

EU.ACE is built on the principles of the European University Alliance Initiative. The consortium’s goal is to implement pioneering projects that align closely with the strategic priorities of the European Higher Education Area. At its core is the question of how universities can contribute to building a sustainable, health-conscious, and intergenerationally just society. The consortium adopts a networked approach, with its activities carefully coordinated, mutually reinforcing, and designed to create strong synergies. At the heart of EU.ACE are pilot projects that explore innovative pathways for inclusive, sustainable, and lifelong higher education. EU.ACE brings together ten European higher education institutions, coordinated by the University for Continuing Education Krems (UWK). The initiative was launched in close partnership with Le Cnam in France. Both institutions are among Europe’s leading universities in the field of continuing higher education, with decades of experience, a strong commitment to innovation, and a clear focus on practical relevance. The geographical diversity of the consortium is reflected in its composition: Western and Northern Europe: CEU Madrid, TUAS Turku, Hogeschool Utrecht, HSLU Lucerne Extended Danube Region: University of Ulm, Andrássy University Budapest, University of Alba Iulia, University of Zenica This diversity represents Europe’s rich cultural landscape and the long-standing tradition of peaceful coexistence in the (extended) Danube region. The consortium brings together traditional research universities and universities of applied sciences—a combination that is particularly valuable for advancing continuing higher education. Multilingualism and intercultural exchange are integral to the consortium’s daily work and form a core element of its shared mission.

(Implemented) Activities

The work of the consortium is firmly anchored in the fundamental tasks of universities and actively contributes to their further development. We focus our attention on learning processes at all stages of life and are committed to breaking down existing barriers to access to higher education. We also promote the recognition of learning achievements already acquired - whether formal, non-formal or informal. In addition, we are systematically driving forward research in the field of academic continuing education and lifelong learning in order to develop viable solutions for the future. Another key aspect is the qualification of academic staff and university administration employees - with the aim of permanently anchoring the innovations developed. Concrete activities: -Creating the framework for joint programs (including Micro-Credentials)– Development, implementation, and accreditation of collaborative study programs (inc. Micro-Credentials) across institutions. -Joint Research Activities – Organization of conferences, joint publications, and collaborative research projects. -Living Labs & Society Engagement– Real-world experimental environments fostering innovation, interdisciplinary collaboration, and student involvement. -Cooperation Partnerships (Erasmus+) – Strengthening mobility, knowledge exchange, and capacity building across European higher education institutions.

Results

Our work is centered on making sustainable and impactful contributions to the strengthening of the European Higher Education Area, with a particular focus on lifelong learning. We aim to establish long-term structures that embed lifelong learning as an integral and natural part of higher education across Europe. In doing so, we place a strong emphasis on recognizing and addressing the specific needs and perspectives of learners – especially those enrolled in part-time or work-integrated study programs, as well as individuals pursuing education at various stages of life. Through innovative programs, targeted research, and structural change, we seek to enhance the visibility of these learner groups and ensure their concerns are meaningfully incorporated into institutional development processes. A truly inclusive European Higher Education Area requires flexible, accessible, and future-ready learning opportunities that support people throughout all phases of life.

Lessons learned

EU.ACE is a consortium dedicated to long-term collaboration, aiming to shape sustainable development within the European Higher Education Area (EHEA). The goal is to transform universities with a strong focus on equity, diversity, and lifelong learning. The consortium’s experience to date has led to several key lessons: - Cross-institutional collaboration generates synergies, fosters mutual learning, and accelerates innovation, especially in developing new formats, structures, and policy approaches. - Learners with non-traditional educational paths must be fully recognized as a core target group in university development, student support, and teaching. They should be structurally included in institutional strategies and EHEA-level policymaking. - Learners across all life phases—such as working professionals or individuals with caregiving responsibilities—require flexible, modular, and digitally supported formats to access higher education in a meaningful way. - Lifelong learning must be explicitly and strategically embedded in institutional missions. Only then can appropriate offerings be sustainably developed, expanded, and secured. - Sustainable structures for continuing higher education cannot be maintained without reliable public funding. Therefore, lifelong learning must become a formal and integral part of the Bologna Process. Only in this way can the EHEA live up to its promise of being inclusive, future-oriented, and accessible—not just for traditional students, but for all learners throughout life.

Visiting Turku University of Applied Sciences

Students from the EU.ACE consortium during their stay in Krems as part of a Blended Intensive Programme.

The EU.ACE Management Board during a meeting on Campus Krems

Further links