Networks have become indispensable in the daily operations of universities. They range from informal cooperation to strategic alliances and offer numerous opportunities: for knowledge exchange, innovation, resource sharing, and a stronger competitive position. At the same time, they present challenges – for example, due to unclear responsibilities, potential dependencies, inefficient structures, or the risk of a vague institutional profile.

The 2026 conference will explore how higher education institutions can design networks in a way that effectively harnesses their transformative power – balancing openness and autonomy, synergy and self-assertion. The focus will be on theoretical concepts as well as best practices, strategic thinking, and governance issues. The aim is to propose avenues for thoughtful, productive, and sustainable network development within the higher education sector.