Mykolas Romeris University (MRU) was prominently represented at the European Women Rectors Association (EWORA) 2026 Conference, "Women's Leadership in Academia in Times of Rising Geopolitical Tensions," held in Brussels on June 10 . MRU Rector Prof. Dr. Inga Žalėnienė, a member of the EWORA Board of Directors, and Prof. Dr. Natalija Kaminskienė, Vice-Recor of MRU, took part in both the conference and the EWORA Academic Leadership & Mentoring Programme.
Prof. Žalėnienė chaired the plenary panel "Values-Based Leadership and Global Responsibility," which brought together leaders from Sweden, France, Poland, Lithuania, and the international higher education community. Opening the discussion, she underlined that universities today face unprecedented pressures from geopolitical conflict, polarization, disinformation, and threats to academic freedom.
"Universities are not isolated institutions standing outside society," she told participants. "They are deeply connected to the health of our democracies, the resilience of our communities, and the future of global cooperation." MRU Rector stressed that academic leadership now demands more than institutional management: "It is increasingly about moral courage, ethical responsibility, and the ability to defend fundamental principles."
Reflecting on the role of women in academic governance, Prof. Žalėnienė noted that diverse leadership often emphasizes "collaboration, inclusion, dialogue, social responsibility, and long-term sustainability," enriching institutional resilience. She closed the session with a clear message: "Defending universities means defending democracy."
The conference followed the first in-person workshop of the EWORA Academic Leadership & Mentoring Programme, held in Brussels on 9 June 2026 after a series of online sessions throughout the spring. The workshop offered participants a space for reflection, peer exchange, and dialogue on the challenges and opportunities of academic leadership, and gathered members of the EWORA Board of Directors and Scientific Advisory Board.
Participants shared reflections on their leadership journeys, institutional cultures, and the value of supportive peer networks. The programme continues as a space for dialogue, learning, and connection among women leaders in higher education across Europe.
Through the engagement of Prof. Žalėnienė and Prof. Kaminskienė, Mykolas Romeris University reaffirmed its commitment to values-based leadership, gender equality, and international academic solidarity.
