The College of Europe Welcomes the Johannes Gutenberg Promotion 2026-2027

A new academic year has officially begun at the College of Europe, and we are delighted to welcome our new students as they embark on their journey at the College. 

Our new cohort will carry the name of the Johannes Gutenberg Promotion 2026-2027, in honour of the German inventor and craftsman whose revolutionary printing press transformed the way knowledge was created, shared and preserved, forever changing the course of European history.

Gutenberg's movable-type printing press, often hailed as one of the most important inventions of the previous millennium, kick-started the first media revolution. It was critical to the advent of the Enlightenment and ultimately to Europe’s transition into the modern age. 

Gutenberg’s invention holds a twofold meaning in our current world. It allowed the free circulation of ideas on which our current societies and democracies rely. But, of course, in a world where AI occupies an ever-growing space, from worldwide policy debates to the way our students relate to learning, knowledge, critical thinking and the integrity of information, the movable-type printing press invites us to question the role of technology as a driving force for societal change. 

The fifteenth-century invention accelerated book production and shattered the monopoly on knowledge held by a few, placing the written word in the hands of many. 

The choice of Gutenberg as a "Patron de Promotion" encourages us to reflect on whether technological advances in AI can serve similar democratic ideals. 

As a figure who, through his history-making invention, transcends the past and the present, Johannes Gutenberg will symbolically guide our students during their academic year. We hope his example will inspire them to embrace innovation with curiosity, responsibility, and a commitment to knowledge in service of the European project.

We warmly welcome the Johannes Gutenberg Promotion 2026-2027 and wish all our students an inspiring and enriching academic year at the College of Europe!