During EUCEN 2023 we would like to focus on collaboration and connection. How do we jointly identify and articulate the need for expertise and intelligible learning and development questions? How can we address that need with University Continuing Education? What does that mean for our current portfolio? How can we cooperatively develop new knowledge and insights? What connections should we develop or strengthen? And how can we organise cooperation and create participation and learning networks?

Based on the recent developments in the Netherlands and at Utrecht University in particular, we will discuss the changing positioning of University Continuing Education in society and explore future horizons where UCE might be less about courses and degrees and more about becoming a knowledge partner in a learning network with several actors. Through keynote contributions, table discussions, expert sessions and challenge-based assignments with external partners we tend to create a worthwhile experience for providers of UCE from around the world! The general theme of the conference is operationalised in three different streams.