Over the last decade, the concept of Civic Engagement in Higher Education Institutions (HEI) has led to lively discussions. This special issue about Civic Engagement in HEI in Europe presents workshop reports and scientific papers which have an implicit statement in common: we need to talk concrete and analytical about Civic Engagement activities, approaches and programs on a European and national level without celebrating only normative believes and visions. Furthermore, the contributions describe the starting point of a new field of empirical and theory oriented research.