Skytte Institute members contribute to the new European Alliance for Community Engagement in Higher Education

Staff members of the Johan Skytte Institute of Political Studies are contributing to the establishment of the Alliance for Community Engagement in European Higher Education (ACE), a new initiative bringing together partners from Poland, Germany, Denmark, Ireland, Serbia, and Estonia.

The ACE Alliance is developed within an Erasmus+ Cooperation Partnership project and connects practitioners across Europe who are working to strengthen the role of higher education in society. The initiative responds to a growing need for universities to engage more actively with communities and address complex societal challenges.

Community engagement takes many forms across Europe - from civic and public engagement to broader societal impact activities. While approaches differ, they share a common goal: building meaningful and lasting relationships between universities and the communities they serve.

The Alliance creates a shared space where higher education staff and community partners can exchange ideas, learn from one another, and develop new approaches to engagement. Through peer learning and cooperation, the network supports institutions in integrating community engagement more effectively into their work.

A key outcome of the project will be the development of a digital platform designed to facilitate collaboration, share practical tools, and connect universities with community partners across Europe.

As Anna Beitane, local coordinator of the project, notes: “ACE is still in its early stages, but its goal is clear - to connect practitioners, support collaboration through a shared platform, and strengthen skills through joint learning and training.”

The official launch of the Alliance and its platform is planned for early summer 2026.

More information about the project is available at: www.acecommunity.eu
For further inquiries, please contact Anna Beitane, Head of Digital Education Projects.

This alliance is developed within the framework of the Erasmus+ project ACE – the Alliance for Community Engagement in European Higher Education.

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