Leadership within the European Reform University Alliance (ERUA) continues its dynamic rotation. After a year of inspiring guidance from Professor Dr. Inga Žalėnienė, Rector of Mykolas Romeris University, the Chair of the ERUA Board of Rectors now passes to Professor John McCourt, Rector of the University of Macerata. At his side, as Vice-Chair, will stand the President of the European University Viadrina Frankfurt (Oder), Eduard Mühle. Together, they will steer the Alliance into its next phase of growth, collaboration, and innovation in shaping the future of European higher education.
Looking ahead, Professor John McCourt shared his vision for the upcoming year:
“I look forward to taking up the baton from Inga Žalėnienė who has guided us so well this past year. ERUA brings together universities situated on the territorial edges of Europe — places where ideas have always crossed borders, languages, and traditions. One of our shared ambitions is to make the edges count: to turn the so-called peripheries into centres of creativity, experimentation, and reform. In the year ahead, which will see the formal creation of a legal entity, I look forward to working with all our partners to build on this vision — strengthening cooperation, fostering inclusion, and ensuring that ERUA’s voice, rooted in the diversity of its regions, helps shape a more open and innovative European university landscape”.
“ERUA brings together a magnificent group of unique universities across Europe which, through close communication and cooperation, will sharpen their profile, improve their quality and increase their impact on their home societies as on Europe as a whole. However, they will have to continue to work hard to achieve this. As Co-Chair, I look forward to contributing to the ERUA community’s efforts to meet this challenge successfully”, President Mühle also reflected on ERUA’s upcoming year.
We warmly thank Professor Dr. Inga Žalėnienė for her outstanding leadership and we are proud to welcome Professor John McCourt as the new Chair and Professor Eduard Mühle as Vice-Chair. Together, they will guide ERUA with renewed determination, strengthening its role as a community shaping the future of European higher education.