EU-GIFT promotes international dialogue on quality assurance and innovation in higher education at the University of Verona
The seminars highlighted the strategic role of quality assurance, joint programmes, and European alliances in shaping a more integrated and innovative future for higher education in Europe
The University of Verona recently hosted two seminars led by Professor Marilena Maniaci, member of the Executive Board of ANVUR (Italian accreditation agency) and of the Board of ENQA (European Association for Quality Assurance in Higher Education), one of the leading figures in the European higher education quality assurance landscape with important roles also in the French, German, Hungarian, and Italian higher education systems.
The initiative, promoted within the framework of the European University Alliance EU-GIFT, brought together members of the University governance, administrative staff, academics, and international alliance partners to discuss the future of European higher education and the growing role of alliances in fostering academic integration across Europe.
The first seminar focused on the European accreditation procedures for joint programmes and explored the implementation of the “European Approach” for quality assurance, highlighting both operational challenges and future perspectives for international study programmes. Particular attention was devoted to the importance of shared quality assurance mechanisms and to the need for greater flexibility in supporting innovative international educational pathways.
The second seminar, organized specifically for the EU-GIFT Alliance partners, addressed quality and innovation in European University Alliances through the themes of joint programmes, micro-credentials, and European quality assurance frameworks. Professor Maniaci emphasized how European higher education is progressively moving from inter-institutional cooperation toward deeper systemic integration, where quality assurance becomes a strategic tool for building trust, recognition, and long-term collaboration among universities.
The seminars represented an important opportunity for dialogue and international exchange, fully aligned with the mission of the EU-GIFT Alliance to promote internationalization, innovation, and the development of a shared European academic culture. Partners from all the EU-GIFT alliance participated in the seminars. Through initiatives of this kind, EU-GIFT supports not only the creation of joint educational opportunities and new learning models, but also the strengthening of a common European dimension in higher education, encouraging collaboration among institutions, staff, and students across different countries and systems.
By hosting discussions on accreditation, quality assurance, and the future European Degree framework, the University of Verona further reinforces its commitment to international engagement and to actively contributing to the transformation of higher education in Europe.
