The conference, organised by Heinrich Heine University Düsseldorf, focuses on how language shapes academic cooperation in Europe. University alliances currently engage individuals from 35 countries, representing diverse languages, communication styles and cultural perspectives. Although English is often the common working language, everyday cooperation demonstrates that multilingualism is not an add-on, but a fundamental component of European educational and research initiatives.
The event is to be a space for discussion about how language influences:
- inter-university and intercultural cooperation,
- designing study curricula and mobility,
- administrative and organisational communication,
- developing research on multilingualism,
- building a common European academic space.
The event participants can count on:
- networking and exchange with other alliances and researchers,
- presentations of best practices and ongoing projects,
- panel discussion: “We end up speaking English anyway” – Navigating Communication in Multilingual Alliances on the role of English as a lingua franca in international higher-education communication,
- accompanying workshops,
- publication of selected contributions after the conference.
The event is open to researchers, academics working in university alliances and project teams. Both research findings and practical experiences related to the operation of multilingual academic environments are welcome.
Abstracts should be submitted via the form available on the organisers' website by 31 January 2026 (go to the event website, go to the call information). The conference will be held in English.
