History
EUCA's University Colleges have their roots deep into the European Continent's most ancient history. Their history can be traced to the Middle Ages and ever since then they are engaged in an effort to promote education that goes far beyond the academic and reaches to the students' soul. The association which works today to extend the spirit and the advantages of collegiate life comes into being however only a few years ago due to an Italian initiative and the input of an Italian-Spanish agreement.
It is on September 2005 that the Conference of Italian University Colleges (CCU - Conferenza dei Collegi Universitari italiani di merito) and the Spanish Council of University Colleges (CCM - Consejo de Colegios Mayores), which share a similar way to operate, sign a protocol for the creation of the European University College Association. Since then an intense cooperation between the two institutions has begun in order to make a reality the dream of a European network. Right from the start there has been the common will to differentiate the University Colleges from dormitories that offer mainly accommodation to students and which are gathered mainly in ECStA (European Council for Student Affairs).
The protocol becomes more real when, one year later in May 2006, a letter of intent between CCU and the Warsaw University of Technology (WUT) is signed, with the aim to exchange experiences and practices. In 2007 England joins EUCA with the Netherhall Education Association (NEA).
Representing 194 halls of residence and more then 30 thousand students, EUCA strengthened itself and opened to new ideas, beginning to involve more and more young people in its project. In cooperation with AESI the 1st European University Youth Forum comes to life, it receives praise from the highest national and European institutions and brings to Rome, in June 2008, young people from all around Europe to speak about human rights, solidarity, environment, peace, cooperation and obviously Europe.
Almost simultaneously, EUCA is formally born on the June 6th 2008, when the four institutions sign the Statute. The following July 2nd the Official Journal of Belgium (Moniteur Belge) registers EUCA as non profit association with legal seat in Brussels. There EUCA avails itself of Medin Europe's cooperation.
During the first summer days the Board of directors is nominated for the first three years. It is formed by Gian Luca Giovannucci (CCU, President); José Antonio Calvo (CCM, Vice-president), prof. Boleslaw Kuca (WUT, member). Jack Valero (NEA) take part as member of the General Assembly.
In 2009 EUCA started its first European Projects, ModES (Modernisation of Higher Education through Soft Skills accreditation) financed by the EU programme "Lifelong Learning Erasmus", still in progress, and the "Promoting Responsible European Citizenship" project, financed by the EU programme "Europe for Citizens", action 2.3, closed in June 2010.
In autumn 2009 EUCA was invited also to participate in the Business Platform for Multilingualism, promoted by the DG Education and Culture of the European Commission.
The first enlargement came in 2011 when a University College from Germany, the Internationales Studentenzentrum Schweidt in Cologne, joined the network. In 2012 national associations of University Colleges, CREEF and BENECORE, from France and Belgium asked and were granted membership. Hungary also become represented in EUCA when the Rajk László College of Advance Studies from Budapest was welcomed in the Association.
Young and therefore dynamic EUCA has for its future many ideas and dreams. For its next years, it wants to widen its horizons and offer to its students chances for exchange and intercultural dialogue.
