The first six summer universities during the years 1999-2004 were organized by the COMECE on its own responsibility as regards the programme and financing. They were directed primarily at young collaborators of the Bishop's Conferences in Europe and within and outside the EU area. After three events in the "old Member States" and after three in the then "future Member States" the General Secretariat decided to end this initiative because of the high cost.

The new summer university is a community project of the COMECE, the diocese of Graz-Seckau (Austria) and the Karl-Franzens University in Graz. The renewed initiative is directed at students of all faculties and schools of thought, independently of the faith to which they belong. Formal criteria are considered to be an academic level of thought, a previously completed initial academic phase (baccalaureate) and mastery of the English language. The idea behind this is relatively simple and compelling: unlike the previous summer university which was mainly directed at the "forum internum", this summer university is conceived as a forum in which the encounter with church and faith is made possible for students, especially by reference to their commitment in the area of (a Europe-oriented) social policy. In addition, through concrete meetings and common work, eating, discussion and celebration, the summer University seeks to promote the necessary discussion between young people from the "old" and the "new" Member States of the European Union (and the other countries of Europe). Finally, Europe and the European Union itself from various points of view, is to be a topic of this initiative.