Awards

Awards programme

The eucen ULLL Awards recognise and celebrate excellence and outstanding contributions to University Lifelong Learning within the eucen network. Through these awards, eucen highlights impactful practices, innovative projects, and institutional or individual commitment that strengthen lifelong learning in higher education and across society.

The awards aim to showcase inspiring work carried out within the eucen network, promote the exchange of good practices among members, and reinforce the shared values of collaboration, innovation, and social engagement that underpin this network.

Each year, a minimum of five ULLL Awards are granted following an open call for nominations and evaluation by an external board. The awardees are publicly announced and celebrated during the eucen Annual Conference, where their contribution and engagement with the network are publicly recognised.

Winners ULLL Awards 2026

During eucen‘s 56th Conference in Cagliari, eucen issued the following awards in 3 different categories.

Enduring Founders Award

Members who attended eucen‘s very first meeting, became members immediately and have never left the association, with continuous engagement and promotion of ULLL.

University of Granada
Spain

Founders’ Journey Award

Members who attended eucen‘s very first meeting, left the association for some years but are back in the association now.

University of Galway
Ireland

Université de Liege
Belgium

Universidade do Porto
Portugal

University of Oxford
United Kingdom

Universidad de Valladolid
Spain

Longstanding Commitment Award

Members who, although they did not attend eucen‘s very first meeting, they joined the Association in the first years and have never left.

Vienna University of Technology
Austria

KU Leuven
Belgium

Université catholique de Louvain
Belgium

Université libre de Bruxelles
Belgium

Universität Bern
Switzerland

Université de Fribourg
Switzerland

Université de Genève
Switzerland

Université de Lausanne
Switzerland

Universitat de Barcelona
Spain

Universitat Politècnica de Valencia
Spain

University of Jyväskylä
Finland

University of Oulu
Finland

University College Cork
Ireland

Norwegian Institute of Technology
Norway

Universidade de Aveiro
Portugal

"We are deeply honoured to receive the inaugural eucen ULLL Excellence Award for Longstanding Commitment. This recognition pays tribute to more than three decades of dedication to lifelong learning at the University of Lausanne and to the many colleagues whose vision, commitment, and professionalism have shaped continuing education since 1991. We are grateful to eucen for this recognition and remain committed to advancing lifelong learning across Europe. Being a member of EUCEN has been a driving force behind our development."

"Great to have the Founder Award for UPorto, example of EUCEN for rewarding members to other associations and looking forward for the next one!"

“Receiving the EUCEN ULLL Excellence Award is a great honour for the University of Aveiro. It recognises many years of dedicated work in promoting lifelong learning as a strategic mission of our university and acknowledges the collective efforts of our community to develop innovative, inclusive, and high-quality learning opportunities for all. This award celebrates our achievements and inspires us to continue contributing actively to the ULLL.”

“Receiving the EUCEN ULLL Excellence Award for Longstanding Commitment is a meaningful recognition of KU Leuven's sustained dedication to lifelong learning. This award reflects the collective efforts of many colleagues over the years and encourages us to continue creating impactful learning opportunities for learners throughout their lives.”

"I was thrilled to receive this award. Quality as "quality culture” is a professional commitment of mine. While each of us can say “quality starts with me” it never ends with just me! It is a lifelong team effort. I am deeply grateful to my colleagues at eucen for this recognition of our collective work and efforts over the past 30 years. We joined the association at the 1993 eucen conference in Porto and we need eucen now more than ever to be stronger and more impactful, together. Long live eucen!”

"It is a great honour to receive this award, which recognises our long-term commitment to the EUCEN network and contribution to the development of continuous learning. EUCEN offers us a great opportunity to be part of international collaboration, which is particularly important as the field of continuous learning is rapidly developing.”

Note: As part of the programme’s establishment phase and celebrating eucen’s 35 year anniversary, the 2026 beneficiaries have been selected directly by the eucen Steering Committee to celebrate the engagement of our members. From 2027 onwards, beneficiaries will be chosen through the public annual open call procedure.