The University of Granada to Host International Workshop on Project Management and Impact in European University Alliances

The University of Granada, in collaboration with Arqus, will host an international workshop on 16–17 April 2026, bringing together around 140 participants from across the European Universities Initiative. The event will focus on how project management structures within university alliances can be more effectively aligned with measurable impact.

The two-day workshop, titled “Aligning Project Management and Impact: A Practical and Strategic Dialogue for European University Alliances”, will bring together members of the FOREU4ALL Community of Practice, particularly those working in the areas of project management and impact. By connecting these fields, the programme aims to strengthen coordination, promote the exchange of good practices and support the long-term sustainability of European University alliances.

In addition to in-person participation, plenary sessions will also be streamed online to ensure wider accessibility across the initiative.

Connecting strategy, management and impact

As European University alliances implement ambitious and long-term transformation agendas, ensuring that management practices are closely linked to impact objectives has become increasingly important. However, these two dimensions often remain disconnected in practice, limiting strategic coherence and reducing the visibility of results.

The workshop in Granada will create a shared space for project managers and impact specialists to exchange experiences and explore how their work can mutually reinforce the strategic goals of alliances.

Glória Nunes Rodrigues, leader of the ENLIGHT Impact Task Force and co-organiser of the workshop, notes: “By bringing together project management and impact professionals, we aim to create the conditions for European University alliances to operate in a more coherent, strategic and sustainable way.”

Similarly, Jonas Salz, Project Coordinator at the YUFE Alliance and co-organiser of the event, emphasises the importance of common frameworks: “By bringing our communities together, we are working to establish a shared language, clearer responsibilities and aligned processes that support both accountability and long-term ambition.”

A collaborative programme for peer learning

The workshop programme combines plenary discussions, training sessions, interactive workshops and peer-learning activities. Participants will work together to clarify roles, expectations and shared definitions related to project management, impact and performance reporting within alliances.

They will also explore synergies between management practices and impact approaches, supporting strategic alignment and continuous improvement, as well as engage in co-creation activities aimed at developing practical tools and a roadmap for coordinated, impact-oriented management across alliances.

Interactive formats, including poster sessions and “walls of challenges and solutions”, will encourage participants to share experiences and identify opportunities for collaboration.

Part of a wider European initiative

The Granada meeting is the second in a series of eight workshops organised between December 2025 and July 2028 within the FOREU4ALL Community of Practice. These events bring together representatives of university alliances, external experts and key stakeholders to foster dialogue and stimulate innovation in European higher education.

Launched in 2019, the European Universities alliances represent a flagship initiative of the European strategy for universities, bringing together 73 alliances across Europe. FOREU4ALL provides a collaborative platform for sharing good practices, exchanging experiences and strengthening cooperation, contributing to the development of a more connected and effective higher education sector.

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