Strengthening Cross-Border Collaboration in Higher Education: Highlights from the PeerCollab meeting in Rome

On June 11, 2025, the PeerCollab Project partners convened in the heart of Rome for the highly anticipated first face-to-face Transnational Project Meeting (TPM) hosted by CUEIM at the prestigious University of La Sapienza. Held in the historic Faculty of Economics, the meeting was a milestone event marked by lively discussions, shared learning, and strategic planning for the project’s future.

Representatives from key partner institutions including Francisco de Vitoria University (UFV), University of Lodz (UoL), The Square Dot Team BV, ACEEU as well as CUEIM came together to review the project’s progress, refine upcoming deliverables, and finalise the timeline for the months ahead.

A Day of Impactful Exchange

From the very first session, the agenda was packed with meaningful discussions and collaborative moments about the first seven months of the project and the next steps. UFV opened the day with an insightful review of the project’s overall impact to date, followed by updates to the project timeline, ensuring a shared understanding of progress across all work packages.

The focus then turned to the development of the Peer Assessment Handbook, as UoL and UFV presented the initial results of the needs analysis along with the first draft of the eagerly awaited handbook. This essential resource aims to provide institutions with innovative tools to strengthen peer-based learning and collaboration in higher education.

Dissemination was another cornerstone of the meeting. Led by The Square Dot Team and ACEEU, partners explored ways to enhance the project’s online presence, enrich storytelling through social media and blogs, and develop a focused outreach approach aligned with Erasmus+ communication objectives.

Driving Quality and Accountability

The afternoon shifted toward quality assurance and reporting obligations under the Erasmus+ platform. Square Dot Team and UFV provided clarity on evaluation indicators and how partners can contribute to a robust system of quality monitoring.

Project coordination and financial reporting were addressed by UFV as the project coordinator, ensuring transparency and accountability across partner institutions. As the project advances into its next phases, this focus on management will be crucial for delivering sustainable and replicable outcomes.

Looking Ahead

The TPM concluded with clear plan and mutual agreements on the next steps, including planning for future meetings, setting key milestones, and reaffirming each partner’s commitment to the shared mission of PeerCollab: strengthening peer learning and collaboration across European higher education.

The day ended on a high note!It was a fitting conclusion to a day filled with ambition, shared values, and the energy that drives Erasmus+ forward.

With momentum firmly on our side, PeerCollab continues its journey to shape the future of higher education collaboration.

Stay tuned for more updates on the PeerCollab project through our blog and PeerCollab’s LinkedIn Group!