Higher education in Europe is at a crossroads. Across the continent, and not just in the UK, long-established university systems are being reshaped by widening participation, demographic change and intensifying global competition. Institutions that were once small, elite and nationally focused must now navigate complex financial, political and societal pressures – raising fundamental questions about their future direction.

Join us as we explore where European higher education is heading. The discussion will draw on a new essay collection from the Policy Institute, with contributions and insights from senior academics in the UK, France, Germany, the Netherlands, Sweden and Switzerland. It will highlight key trends across Europe – from funding and governance to the role of domestic politics in shaping higher education policies – and offer timely insights into the choices facing the sector, its future sustainability, and its global standing.

Speakers

• Professor Dame Alison Wolf DBE, Professor of Public Sector Management at King’s College London and crossbench peer in the UK House of Lords
• Professor Yves Flückiger, President of the Swiss Academies of Arts and Sciences, former Rector, University of Geneva and President of Swiss universities
• Professor Christian Gollier, Director, Toulouse School of Economics
• Professor Cisca Wijmenga, Professor of Human Genetics, former Rector Magnificus, University of Groningen
• Professor Bobby Duffy, Director of the Policy Institute at King's College London (chair)