Conference of European Schools for Advanced Engineering Education and Research CESAER

Overview

The Conference of European Schools for Advanced Engineering Education and Research (CESAER) is an international association headquartered in Belgium that unites leading universities of science and technology across Europe. Since its founding in 1990, CESAER has served as a policy forum, dialogue platform and network for doctoral-era institutions committed to excellence in engineering education, research and innovation.

1. Historical and Legal Framework

CESAER was formally established on 10 May 1990 under Belgian law as an international non‑profit association (AISBL, sometimes also cited as IVZW). It is legally independent and retains its statutes in Belgium, with its secretariat and office situated on the science and technology campus of KU Leuven, notably in the historic Castle of Arenberg. From the outset, CESAER was designed as a university‑member association rather than a governmental or accreditation agency.

2. Mission, Vision and Objectives (Role in Higher Education)

CESAER’s stated mission is to harness the collective strength of universities dedicated to engineering and technology, enabling them to influence European higher education, research and innovation policy. The association is committed to:

• Advocacy: assisting policymakers and funders in shaping European strategies in research, education, innovation and university leadership;
• Knowledge exchange: sharing best practice, intelligence and expertise in research, teaching and university governance;
• Funding impact: promoting access to sustainable competitive and non‑competitive funding streams;
• Thought leadership: leading debate on the societal role of science and technology in knowledge‑based societies for sustainability;
• Outreach and visibility: amplifying the distinctive profile, excellence and international standing of its members.

According to uniRank, these goals place CESAER at the core of engineering education advancement in Europe, with its members championing a research‑based and innovation‑oriented approach.

3. Governance, Structure and Independence

CESAER’s governance is grounded in democratic university membership and official statutes:

• General Assembly: the supreme decision‑making authority, meeting at least once a year, with representatives (delegates) from member institutions.
• Board of Directors: elected by the General Assembly, responsible for operational direction and implementing Assembly decisions; typically includes nine or more director representatives.
• Presidency: comprises a President and Vice‑Presidents (including one Treasurer) who coordinate the ongoing operational affairs in tandem with the Secretariat.
• Secretariat: headed by a Secretary‑General, it administers day‑to‑day activities, staffing and coordination of events.

The association maintains full legal independence and financial autonomy. Membership is strictly by invitation and members must meet high academic and research quality thresholds, including authority to award doctoral degrees.

4. Accreditation and Quality Evaluation (Role in Higher Education)

While CESAER does not grant formal accreditation to programmes or institutions, it plays a key quality‑related role in shaping engineering education policy and expectations. Its position statements, such as the 2005 Declaration on Quality Assurance and Accreditation, emphasise that doctoral‑graduating universities should:

• Provide research‑intensive engineering education;
• Deliver programmes at least at master’s level and aligned with the latest scientific and technological developments;
• Support rigorous internal and external evaluation processes through national quality agencies or systems.

CESAER collaborates with European quality assurance entities—such as ENQA, EQAR and national agencies—by promoting peer evaluation, transparency, learning from best practices and benchmark frameworks. Its members often engage collectively in the development or review of accreditation criteria, especially for engineering disciplines.

5. International Cooperation and Network Memberships

CESAER is nationally and internationally recognised as a major stakeholder organisation in policy arenas, including the European Research Area (ERA), the European Education Area (EEA) and the European Strategy for Universities. It co‑operates regularly with:

• European University Association (EUA), participating in policy dialogues and joint responses;
• European Open Science Cloud (EOSC) as a formal member association;
• National governments taking EU presidencies, providing consultation on science & technology policy;
• Task Forces and expert groups on themes such as sustainability, interdisciplinarity, open science, innovation ecosystems and student‑centred teaching;
• Partner networks and alliances, such as Horizon Europe consortia, the Guild of European Research-Intensive Universities and university alliances engaged in Erasmus and European Universities Initiative projects.

6. Current or Future Impact on Higher Education

CESAER’s relevance continues to grow, as demonstrated in its Annual Report 2024 and recent white papers. Among its notable contributions:

• Publication of the “Engineer of the Future” white paper, advocating student‑driven, interdisciplinary, sustainability‑oriented engineering curricula enhanced by digital and AI literacy;
• Policy advocacy influencing EU frameworks such as Erasmus+ (2028–34), Horizon Europe and the European Innovation Act;
• Facilitating cross‑institutional co‑working on themes of inclusion, widening participation, research management and futuristic university governance models;
• Acting as collective voice in European debates on topics like open science, research security, industrial doctorates, innovation districts and climate-resilient infrastructure;
• Supporting strengthening of European human capital in science and technology through position papers and international events.

Looking ahead, CESAER aims to deepen its influence by shaping horizon 2027–30 policies, enabling intersectoral mobility through industrial doctorates and strengthening the synergy between universities, industry and societal stakeholders.

7. Summary

CESAER is a legally independent, non‑profit association based in Leuven, Belgium, bringing together top European universities of science and technology. Its mission is rooted in advancing excellence in engineering education and research, influencing policy, promoting sustainable funding and fostering innovation and societal impact. It does not operate as an accreditation body but plays a vital role in quality advocacy aligned with European frameworks. With its evolving network of over 50 institutions, CESAER helps shape the future direction of higher education in science and engineering across Europe.

8. FAQs

1. What is CESAER?
   CESAER (Conference of European Schools for Advanced Engineering Education and Research) is an international association of leading European universities of science and technology, founded in 1990 and based in Belgium. It fosters collaboration, policy advocacy and excellence in engineering education and research.
2. Who are the members of CESAER?
   Membership is by invitation only and includes over 50 specialised and comprehensive universities from around 25–28 European countries. According to uniRank research, CESAER unites institutions that are regionally and internationally leading in doctoral‑level science and engineering education.
3. Does CESAER offer accreditation?
   No. While CESAER strongly supports rigorous quality assurance and accreditation principles, it does not itself accredit programmes or institutions. Instead, it issues position papers, supports peer evaluation and engages with recognised accreditation bodies in Europe.
4. Where is CESAER based?
   The association is headquartered in Leuven, Belgium—specifically on the science & technology campus of KU Leuven, with its legal seat in the historic Castle of Arenberg.
5. What does CESAER do?
   CESAER provides a forum and voice for engineering universities to share best practices, influence European policy, advocate for sustainable funding, contribute to thought leadership in higher education and collaborate on future‑oriented initiatives such as innovation ecosystems, open science and engineering curricula reform.

Organization Name

Conference of European Schools for Advanced Engineering Education and Research

Acronym

CESAER

Year of Establishment

1/01/1990

Control Type

Private

Entity Type

Non-Profit

Geo Focus and Coverage

International

Recognized by

n.a.

Affiliations or Memberships

n.a.

Number of Member Universities or Accredited Institutions

50

Address

Kasteelpark Arenberg 1 bus 2200
Leuven
3001 Vlaams-Brabant Belgium

Phone

+32 (16) 321 687

Fax

+32 (16) 328 591

Austria

• Graz University of Technology
• TU Wien

Belgium

• Ghent University
• KU Leuven
• Secretariat
• Université Catholique de Louvain

Czechia

• Brno University of Technology

Denmark

• Aalborg University

Finland

• Aalto University

France

• Institut National des Sciences Appliquées Lyon
• Institut Polytechnique de Paris
• ParisTech
• Université Grenoble Alpes
• Université Paris-Saclay

Germany

• Karlsruhe Institute of Technology
• Leibniz Universität Hannover
• RWTH Aachen University
• Technische Universität Berlin
• Technische Universität Braunschweig
• Technische Universität Darmstadt
• Technische Universität Dresden
• University of Stuttgart

Greece

• National Technical University of Athens

Hungary

• Budapest University of Technology and Economics

Ireland

• University College Dublin

Israel

• Technion - Israel Institute of Technology

Italy

• Politecnico di Milano
• Politecnico di Torino
• Sapienza University of Rome

Netherlands

• Delft University of Technology
• University of Twente

Norway

• Norwegian University of Science and Technology

Poland

• Gdańsk University of Technology
• Poznan University of Technology
• Warsaw University of Technology

Portugal

• Instituto Superior Técnico
• Universidade NOVA de Lisboa
• University of Porto

Romania

• National University of Science and Technology POLITEHNICA Bucharest

Serbia

• University of Belgrade

Slovakia

• Slovak University of Technology in Bratislava

Spain

• Universidad Politécnica de Madrid
• Universitat Politècnica de Catalunya
• Universitat Politècnica de València

Sweden

• Chalmers University of Technology
• KTH Royal Institute of Technology
• Lund University

Switzerland

• EPFL - Ecole Polytéchnique Fédérale de Lausanne
• ETH Zurich

Turkey

• Istanbul Technical University

Ukraine

• National Technical University of Ukraine - Igor Sikorsky Kyiv Polytechnic Institute

United Kingdom

• University of Sheffield
• University of Southampton
• University of Strathclyde
• University of Surrey

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