The rector of the UA, Amparo Navarro, receives the baton from Prof. Dr. Eliza Stefanova, from the Sofia St. Kliment Ohridski University in Bulgaria. The UA's presidency will focus on the motto “Blue and Green Transformation: connecting Europe through regional innovation”, seeking innovative and sustainable solutions to Europe's environmental, economic, and social challenges.
The Transform4Europe alliance aims to move towards an integrated, inclusive European university closely linked to regional ecosystems, promoting academic cooperation, mobility, and the training of citizens capable of transforming society.
In her speech, Amparo Navarro highlighted the importance of continuity between presidencies and the shared responsibility of European universities. "The diversity of our universities is not an obstacle to European cooperation, but one of its greatest strengths," she stated, emphasizing the role of higher education institutions in building a more resilient and democratic Europe.
Juan Llopis, Director of Institutional Relations and Projects at the UA, underlined the institution's commitment to consolidating Transform4Europe, integrating the alliance into its strategy and structures.
The UA's participation in the Sofia Strategic Assembly also includes the intervention of Rafael Molina, Vice-Rector for Digital Transformation, in a panel discussion on the ethical use of artificial intelligence in education.
The UA approaches this presidency from its Mediterranean identity, focusing on water resilience, the protection of marine and coastal ecosystems (blue dimension), and climate resilience, biodiversity, and the circular economy (green dimension).
The presidency will revolve around four priorities: fostering blue and green innovation, strengthening regional ecosystems, increasing visibility and consolidating Transform4Europe's shared identity, and placing inclusion and student participation at the center of initiatives.
Alicante will host several key events during the presidency, including the PhD Conference and Matchmaking Event in June 2027, and the T4EU Week, the Global Partnership Forum, and the Strategic Assembly in October 2027.
