Connecting systems, institutions, and people in Professional Higher Education

2026-07-22

CONNECT PHE proposes an ambitious work plan in 2024 to support the functioning and development of EURASHE, the European Association for Professional Higher Education (PHE). It is a sector that plays a crucial bridging role between higher education, VET and the world of work. CONNECT PHE would fund the second year of its FPA TRANSFORM PHE, which like the EURASHE 2023-2025 strategy has an overall aim of supporting the green and digital transitions. EURASHE comprises 56 members that cover over 600 individual institutions with 1.5 million students across 25 countries. Founded in 1990, the Association is an established stakeholder and consultative partner for the European institutions. It acts as a bridge between policy making and the PHE community, providing evidence and disseminating policy. CONNECT PHE focuses in particular on transnational cooperation among HEIs, building on the impetus of the European Universities Initiative, a key part of the European Education Area. Many applied universities are part of the Erasmus+ funded Alliances, while others are able to benefit from the lessons and good practices. EURASHE has a crucial role to play as a multiplier for the Initiative, developing transnational cooperation in the higher education sector as a whole. In addition to transnational cooperation, CONNECT PHE will deepen and disseminate knowledge of the following core themes: • Skills for the present and future, building on the European Year of Skills • Quality Assurance for Innovative PHE, feeding into the May 2024 Ministerial Conference of the European Higher Education Area • Applied Research and Innovation to build and inclusive European Research Area • Regional Engagement and Impact. EURASHE will deliver the objectives of CONNECT PHE through its policy development activities as well its innovative Communities of Practice. Overall, 28 tasks and 14 deliverables are foreseen, ranging from policy position papers and handbooks, to an Annual Conference and multimedia.

Belgium

2025-10-15