DIVERSE held its first meeting of the year on 14-15 January in Nuremberg, Germany. The event, hosted by the Technische Hochschule Nürnberg Georg Simon Ohm, brought together representatives of the universities to assess the progress of the alliance and prepare the next steps towards closer cooperation. 

During the working sessions, the reports of the working groups on research, development and innovation, mobility, communication and teaching and learning were presented. The terms of reference of the Executive Committee were also reviewed in a key session to strengthen the internal structure of DIVERSE.

The members of the alliance discussed common challenges in teaching, student mobility and institutional cooperation, as well as strategies to improve communication and synergies between universities. The issues discussed at this meeting laid the groundwork for the next meeting in Istanbul, where the rectors and institutional representatives will sign the Memorandum of Understanding (MoU), officially consolidating the commitment to collaboration within the Alliance.

The meeting in Nuremberg also allowed for cultural activities, which fostered interaction and personal connection. The programme included a guided tour of the host university campus, a traditional Bavarian dinner at the historic Bratwurst Röslein restaurant and a concert by the Ohm Big Band in the heart of the city. The participants were officially welcomed at a reception at the City Hall, underlining the importance of the local and institutional dimension of the European project.

Nuremberg, a city known for its rich medieval history and its role in the development of science and technology in Germany, provided an ideal setting for this meeting, which reinforces the common vision of DIVERSE towards a more integrated, innovative and supportive European higher education.