NEWS
RUN-EU highlights stakeholder-driven regional development at CEEDUCON 2025
29 November 2025
Last week, Prague hosted CEEDUCON 2025, the foremost conference on the internationalisation of higher education. Co-organised by the Technical University of Liberec (TUL), one of the two new RUN-EU alliance members, the event brought together more than 900 international experts to discuss inclusive internationalisation, future skills for youth employability, global partnerships, and sustainable cooperation.
As part of the session “Global & Regional Partnerships”, the presentation “Stakeholders as a Cornerstone of Regional Development: A Case Study of the RUN-EU Alliance” was delivered by the vice-rectors of internationalisation, Ileana Greca Dufranc (University of Burgos), Wayne Johnson (NHL Stenden University of Applied Sciences), Kateřina Maršíková (TUL), and Ruaidhri Neavyn (RUN-EU representative).
The Quadruple Helix Model
The speakers outlined the Quadruple Helix synergy model, uniting Academia, Industry, Government Policy, Civil Society Public,as the foundation for regional cooperation with stakeholders. They highlighted three key drivers of development across RUN-EU regions:
- Education and employability: ensuring practical skills and talent retention.
- Research, development, and innovation (R&D&I): driving applied research and knowledge transfer.
- Visibility and partnerships: attracting international funding, talent, and fostering economic, social, and cultural growth
RUN-EU’s Strategic Priorities
The alliance also presented its forward-looking objectives:
- Establishing the European Zone for Interregional Development (EZ-ID) to integrate education, research, innovation, and service to society.
- Expanding the European Stakeholder Engagement Centre (ESEC) as a model of co-creation and regional development.
- Addressing stakeholder needs while tackling current challenges in regional strategies.
Achievements to Date
RUN-EU highlighted significant progress, including:
- 3,000 participants in short training opportunities to strengthen soft skills and update digital, environmental, and social knowledge.
- 500 researcher mobilities fostering collaboration across Europe.
- €6.5 million secured through seven joint European projects.
- Establishment of a network of innovation laboratories for pre-university students across all RUN-EU institutions.
Looking Ahead
These initiatives reinforce RUN-EU’s mission to become a European University fully committed to regional development, driving interregional cooperation to new heights of academic excellence, innovation, and societal impact.