ENLIGHT Publishes Its First Comprehensive Impact Assessment Report (2020–2025)
ENLIGHT has published its first Impact Assessment Report, offering an in-depth analysis of the alliance’s achievements and transformative effects since its launch in 2020. The ENLIGHT Impact Narrative 2020–2025 presents evidence of how the alliance is evolving from a project-based collaboration into a more integrated, impact-driven European University Alliance grounded in shared values of sustainability, inclusiveness, and diversity
Covering the full five years of ENLIGHT activities, the report is the result of a two-year impact assessment exercise led by the ENLIGHT Impact Task Force, in close cooperation with the ENLIGHT Student Network, work package leaders, and the ENLIGHT coordination team. It draws on 120 quantitative and qualitative indicators, institutional data, and 403 survey responses from learners, academics, non-academic staff, and societal stakeholders across the alliance.
Six Areas of Transformative Impact
The Impact Assessment Report identifies six major outcome areas in which ENLIGHT is generating measurable and meaningful change:
- An open and integrated ENLIGHT space is established
- Learners become more empowered
- Academics become more connected
- Staff become more empowered
- A vibrant, green and inclusive ENLIGHT community is established
- An ENLIGHT impact-driven culture is created and disseminated
According to the report, “ENLIGHT is successfully transforming from a project-based collaboration into a more integrated European University Alliance,” driving structural and cultural change across its partner universities .
Empowering Learners and Staff Across Europe
One of the report’s central findings is the strong positive impact of ENLIGHT on learners’ academic, personal, and professional development. Learners report gaining international, intercultural and transdisciplinary skills, as well as increased access to flexible international learning opportunities embedded in their curricula.
As one learner describes their experience:
“A chance to take transdisciplinary courses and meet people of different backgrounds. It makes you feel more European and connect with people that one week ago were strangers in a meaningful way.”
Academics highlight the value of ENLIGHT as a framework for collaboration and innovation in teaching and research:
“Without ENLIGHT, this collaboration would be much more difficult to plan, finance, and implement.”
Non-academic staff likewise emphasise professional growth, trust-building, and shared learning across institutions:
“Strong network of partner universities with trust among each other. Important is the easy communication — you know your partners and trust them.”
Societal Engagement and Regional Impact
Beyond universities, the report shows how ENLIGHT is opening new channels of cooperation with societal and regional stakeholders, supporting joint learning, research, and innovation that address real-world challenges.
As one societal stakeholder notes:
“ENLIGHT fosters collaboration between universities and external partners to address societal challenges by connecting academic knowledge with practical experience.”
Challenges and Next Steps
While highlighting ENLIGHT’s achievements, the Impact Assessment also identifies key challenges that need to be addressed to deepen systemic integration. These include uneven awareness and visibility among learners and external stakeholders, partial embedding of ENLIGHT tools and practices into institutional routines, and workload and recognition constraints that limit broader participation.
The report concludes with a set of forward-looking recommendations, underlining the importance of clear long-term strategy, strong institutional commitment, tailored communication, and continued self-reflection. As the report states:
“By acting on these lessons and maintaining its commitment to self-reflection and co-creation, ENLIGHT can continue to mature as an open, integrated, and impact-driven European University Alliance.”
The complete ENLIGHT Impact Narrative 2020–2025 is available online and provides detailed evidence, data, and stakeholder perspectives underpinning these findings.
Read the full Impact Assessment Report here: https://enlight-eu.org/docs/pdfs/2025_ENLIGHT_Impact_Narrative_Final.pdf