Fostering regional competitiveness through European joint study programmes: Insights from European university alliances

European university alliances are evolving into instruments of internationalisation, as well as vehicles for reducing regional disparities and strengthening innovation capacity across Europe. The present study examines the manner in which joint study programmes developer within European university alliances contribute to both the academic integration of higher education institutions (HEIs) and the innovation performance of the regions in which they operate. Utilising a comprehensive set of data sourced from the EQAR (External Quality Assurance Results), ETER (European Tertiary Education Register) and the European Innovation Scoreboard databases, together with an illustrative contextual example from the Ulysseus European University alliance (with the Technical University of Košice as a member), this study employs analytical techniques encompassing spatial visualisation, clustering methods and statistical analysis. The primary objective of this integrated approach is to discern and identify patterns of collaboration and innovation across diverse geographical regions and countries. The findings of this study demonstrate that universities participating in alliances have a significantly higher number of joint study programmes, and that the innovation performance of a country is positively associated with the prevalence of such programmes. Concurrently, the findings suggest that alliances are not confined to high-einnovation regions, but also extend to institutions in less innovative areas, thereby fostering cross-regional partnerships. The integration of human capital development with regional innovation ecosystems is facilitated by joint study programmes, which function as a strategic tool for balanced European integration. The study provides a foundation for further research on how European joint programmes can enhance the sustainability and competitiveness of both universities and regions. The study also offers policy-relevant insights on how university alliances can be leveraged not only as a mechanism for academic excellence but also as an instrument of cohesion policy, helping to spread knowledge, good practices and innovation capacity to less-developed regions. The study aligns with the journal’s focus on regional innovation through European university alliances and joint programmes.