Open EU Alliance Meeting and Study Visit at UNED

Represented by Trine Jensen, Manager of Higher Education and Digital Transformation, the IAU was pleased to participate in the Annual Meeting of the OpenEU Alliance, hosted by Universidad Aberta in Lisbon, Portugal from 5-6 February. As an Associate member of the Alliance, the IAU also hosted a Study Visit on 10-11 February at UNED - Universidad Nacional de Educación a Distancia in Madrid, Spain, which is the first out of a series of four Study Visits. 

Building the Future of Accessible Higher Education in Europe 

The OpenEU Alliance is part of an EU strategy to promote cooperation and partnerships across universities in Europe. The European University initiative encompasses 73 alliances with more than 600 higher education institutions across Europe.  

OpenEU is the first of the EU alliances to specifically focus on reinforcing the role of open and distance universities across Europe. The Alliance brings together 10 leading open and distance education institutions to address key challenges in the European Higher Education Area, including digital transformation, equity and inclusion, and flexible learning pathways for diverse learners. 

The IAU is pleased to contribute to the Alliance as an Associate Partner of the OpenEU Alliance. Within the scope of this partnership, the IAU organises Study Visits hosted by the OpenEU Alliance institutions, creating opportunities for peer learning and international knowledge exchange globally, bringing the impact of the Alliance beyond the European scope. 

In addition to the Study Visits, the IAU will also provide Digital Transformation Consultancy support institutional capacity building in open and distance learning. A call for participation will be published at the end of 2026. 

Collaboration in Action: Leadership Dialogue and Knowledge Exchange 

The OpenEU Alliance Coordination Meeting provided an opportunity to reflect on the Alliance's accomplishments during its first year and to discuss priorities and the strategic direction for the year ahead. Over two days, alliance partners reviewed the progress achieved during the first year and approved the work plan for year two. Discussions focused on moving from consolidation to delivery.   

Key achievements include the piloting of joint research workshops, the delivery of 11 shared doctoral courses with more than 80 enrolled students, and the organization of the first OpenEU International Winter School. The inaugural edition, in Athens, brought together nearly 100 doctoral and early-stage researchers, strengthening collaboration and connectivity within the European research and doctoral training community.

UNED Study Visit 

Opening the Study Visit, Ricardo Marial, Rector of UNED, emphasized how “it is now the time to build long-term partnerships, build sustained alliance and create spaces of shared academic interests.” Mirroring this intention, the Study Visit brought together colleagues from 16 institutions and 13 countries who valued the opportunity to learn from UNED's experience and engage in meaningful cross-border exchange. In her welcoming remarks, Trine Jensen emphasized the importance of fostering dialogue and knowledge exchange across all world regions. Through its engagement in the OpenEU alliance, the IAU is pleased to extend the impact of the Alliance beyond Europe and at the same time creating a network of peers sharing their experiences. 

Within the OpenEU framework, the Study Visit highlighted UNED’s longstanding commitment to accessible and inclusive education and distance learning. UNED advances equity and access through dedicated support structures, including a specialised centre for students with disabilities and targeted initiatives for learners who are often underrepresented in traditional higher education, such as incarcerated individuals or adult learners.  

Advancing Inclusion and Digital Transformation Through Partnership 

Key takeaways from these events underscored the power of collaboration and peer learning and how a commitment to inclusive digital transformation can expand participation in higher education. These priorities are central to the IAU’s mission of advancing higher education around the world. Engagement in the OpenEU Alliance aligns closely with IAU’s ongoing work to foster knowledge exchange, policy dialogue, and capacity development initiatives globally.