We are proud to launch ACE – the Alliance for Community Engagement in European Higher Education, an ambitious Erasmus+ project that brings together six forward-thinking institutions from across Europe to strengthen the role of universities in society.
Led by Lodz University of Technology (Poland), with partners in Denmark, Estonia, Serbia, Germany and Ireland, ACE is a three-year initiative that will support university staff to become more effective and strategic in how they engage with their local and regional communities.
The project responds to a shared challenge: while many universities are committed to making a positive social impact, community engagement is often fragmented, informal or under-prioritised. ACE aims to change that by offering tools, training and a network of peers to build confidence and capacity among higher education professionals.
What will ACE do?
ACE will deliver:
- A strategic foresight analysis to understand current and emerging trends in community engagement.
- A pan-European alliance and digital platform to promote peer learning and cross-border collaboration.
- A hands-on ACE Toolkit – including practical instruments, strategy templates and examples of best practice.
- An Empowerment Training Programme, based on hackathon-style learning, to build skills in collaboration, foresight and planning.
In total, over 150 staff members from higher education institutions will be directly involved in the alliance, with wider benefits expected for thousands more across Europe.
Why now?
Community engagement is a growing priority for universities, but the COVID-19 pandemic and other global challenges have shown how crucial it is for universities to work in partnership with communities to address social needs, build resilience, and shape sustainable futures.
By connecting experts and practitioners from different sectors, ACE will promote a more inclusive and impactful approach to university-community collaboration – one that is rooted in shared values, civic participation, and long-term cooperation.
Who’s involved?
ACE is coordinated by Lodz University of Technology and delivered in partnership with:
- European E-learning Institute (Denmark)
- University of Tartu (Estonia)
- University of Belgrade (Serbia)
- ACEEU GmbH (Germany)
- Technological University of the Shannon (Ireland)
Together, the partners bring expertise in community development, digital innovation, academic training and strategic planning, with a shared commitment to social responsibility and inclusive education.