Under the auspices of the Belgian presidency to the Council of Europe, the ten Belgian universities, united under VLIR and CRef, collaborated on the organisation of the conference “European University Alliances: Drivers of Change and Innovation in Higher Education”. The conference focused on six pivotal themes central to the evolution of higher education within Europe: multilingualism, mobility and cosmopolitism (“cosmobility”), superdiversity in academia and higher education, pedagogical innovation, the European Degree, and cooperation with the Global South. Gathering insights from academics, policymakers, and practitioners, the conference underscored the imperative for collaborative approaches to address contemporary challenges and leverage opportunities within the European Higher Education Area (EHEA). The resulting policy recommendations aim to foster innovation, inclusivity, and global cooperation, driving forward the agenda of higher education reform and excellence. These recommendations are based on the concluding session by Mieke Van Herreweghe (Vicerector UGent) and Jeroen Darquennes (Vicerector Internationalisation UNamur) and are intended to guide universities, policymakers, and stakeholders in their efforts to enhance educational practices and promote diversity and collaboration.