For three days, strategic decisions about the future and an open review of the collaboration to date took center stage: From May 11 to 13, 2026, the European university alliance EULiST convened its annual General Assembly (GA) at LUT University in Lappeenranta, Finland — a meeting that shaped the alliance in several significant ways. Leibniz University Hannover (LUH) also took part in the meeting; among the members of the delegation were Prof. Dr. Volker Epping (President of LUH) and Prof. Dr. Regina Nogueira (Vice President for International Affairs and Sustainability at LUH).
New Leadership at All Levels
- Several personnel decisions gave the GA particular significance: The Governing Board elected Prof. Dr. Måns Svensson, President of the University of Jönköping, as its new Chairperson; Prof. Dr.-Ing. Jens Schneider, Rector of TU Wien, will serve alongside him as Deputy Chair for the 2026–2028 term.
- In the Management Board, Prof. Dr. Maria Benedetta Mattei from the University of L'Aquila (UNIVAQ) and Dr. Olivier Epinette (IMT) will jointly take on the Co-Chair role.
- The Student Board has also been reconstituted: Adam Gašparovič (Slovak University of Technology Bratislava), Beatrice Ion (LUT University), and Cristiana Maria Muresanu (Universidad Rey Juan Carlos) will lead it together going forward.
A further highlight was the signing of a cooperation agreement with the University of Stuttgart. As a new partner, Stuttgart strengthens the alliance's joint research and innovation ecosystem.
Substantive Programme
The working programme covered a broad range of topics, including a review of the EU project and an assessment of key objectives. Discussions on trust and organizational culture were also on the agenda, alongside the strategic direction for the years ahead. New initiatives were presented, and member universities shared concrete results from their collaborative work — an impressive demonstration of what the alliance achieves in practice.
What set this year's GA apart was the deliberate involvement of all levels of the university community. Students, staff, and leadership worked in parallel working groups — each from their own perspective, but with a shared goal. This format reflects how EULiST sees itself: as an alliance in which all parts of the university community have a voice.
Alongside the intensive working programme, there was also space for personal connections. Glimpses into Finnish culture and shared evenings in a relaxed atmosphere helped turn collegial collaboration into genuine cohesion — an important factor for a well-functioning alliance.
About EULiST
EULiST (European University Linking Society and Technology) is a European university alliance bringing together universities from several EU countries in the areas of teaching, research, and innovation. The annual General Assembly is the central format for governance, exchange, and the further development of the alliance.
Further information is available in the official programme booklet (PDF).
