Representatives from the EU4Dual Alliance gathered in Heilbronn to exchange ideas, strengthen cooperation and advance a shared European vision for dual higher education.
Bringing the Alliance together
The EU4Dual Annual Conference 2026 brought together representatives from across the Alliance to continue building a shared European vision for dual higher education, international cooperation and future-oriented learning.
Hosted in Heilbronn by DHBW, the conference served as a key meeting point for EU4Dual partners, students, academic teams, institutional representatives and external stakeholders.
Over several days, participants exchanged ideas, reviewed progress, strengthened collaboration across work packages and explored the next steps in the development of the European Dual Studies University.
A shared vision for dual higher education
As a European University Alliance dedicated to dual studies, EU4Dual is working to connect higher education, industry and regions through a model that combines academic learning with practical experience.
The Annual Conference reflected this mission by creating a space for dialogue, strategic alignment and shared reflection on how dual higher education can respond to Europe’s major societal and economic challenges.
Throughout the conference, participants engaged in meetings, working sessions, presentations and informal exchanges focused on the Alliance’s key priorities:
- Joint master’s programmes
- Student mobility
- Work-based learning
- Research collaboration
- Communication
- Governance
- The future development of EU4Dual as a long-term European cooperation structure
High-level perspectives from across Europe
The programme was further enriched by contributions from high-level speakers representing government, academia, research and industry. Among them were:
- Petra Olschowski, Minister of Science, Research and the Arts of Baden-Württemberg
- Michael Lang, Corporate Learning Expert at SAP
- Eszter Kovacs, Assistant Professor at the Health Workforce Planning Knowledge Centre, Semmelweis University
- Sigrun Nickel, Head of Higher Education Research at CHE – Center for Higher Education
- Tessa Farina Zauner, Director Tech4People, HR & IT at Mercedes-Benz Group AG
- Benjamin Jung, Dual Study Strategy & Partnerships Lead at Accenture DACH
Their perspectives helped connect EU4Dual’s work with major European priorities such as skills development, lifelong learning, industry transformation, work-based learning and the future role of universities in society.
More than a conference: a European community
Beyond the formal sessions, the conference also highlighted one of the Alliance’s greatest strengths: its people.
EU4Dual is not only a project built through deliverables, meetings and strategies. It is a European community formed by universities, professionals, students and partners working together across borders with a common purpose.
The event offered an opportunity to strengthen trust, create new connections and reinforce the collaborative culture that drives the Alliance forward.
These moments of exchange are essential for transforming ideas into action and for ensuring that EU4Dual continues to grow as a model for dual higher education in Europe and beyond.
Capturing the spirit of EU4Dual
The aftermovie of the EU4Dual Annual Conference 2026 captures this spirit: collaboration, commitment, diversity and a shared ambition to shape the future of learning through dual education.
As the Alliance moves into its next phase, the Annual Conference stands as a clear reminder of what EU4Dual is about: working together, learning from each other and building a European university model that connects education, industry and society.
Because EU4Dual is not only about building structures. It is about building trust, creating opportunities and connecting people across Europe.
This is how an alliance becomes a community.
Watch the aftermovie
Watch the aftermovie and relive the highlights of the EU4Dual Annual Conference 2026.
