On November 4, on the island of Lesvos (Greece), the ERUA Summit 2025 was officially opened – a week-long meeting of eight European universities that this year invited participants to “navigate the edges” – to explore the boundaries where science, art, and social change meet.
The event takes place at the University of the Aegean campus in Mytilene and has brought together more than a hundred participants – academics, students, and administrative representatives from the European Reform University Alliance (ERUA) network. These are universities that go beyond the traditional academic model – they seek to rethink the relationship between science and society, promote social responsibility, and foster regional engagement.
“Navigating the Edges” – A Theme that Reflects Europe Today
This year’s theme, “Navigating the Edges,” takes on symbolic meaning on the island of Lesvos – a place that is, in a way, both the margin and the heart of Europe: geographically distant from the continent, yet historically and culturally at its center.
It serves as a metaphor for universities that operate between disciplines, regions, traditions, and innovations. It is a call to look at the peripheries – not as marginal spaces, but as places where new models and bolder ideas are born.
Opening Ceremony: Academic Solidarity and Shared Vision
At the opening ceremony, University of the Aegean Rector Prof. Dimitris Papageorgiou reminded participants that ERUA’s strength lies not in its institutional structure, but in its community: “Rectors, vice-rectors, colleagues, administrative staff, and students – each of you has contributed to this event. We are delighted to have you here and wish you to enjoy our campus and the hospitality of Lesvos.”
ERUA Secretary-General Bruna Vives elaborated on the metaphor of “edges”: “Edges are spaces of creativity and renewal. Here, universities can act as engines of social progress, and students as its driving force.”
She emphasized that Lesvos is not only the venue of the event but also a symbol – of diversity, responsibility, and openness: “Lesvos reminds us that by caring for people and the environment, we strengthen Europe – inclusive, creative, and open,” said B. Vives.
Students – Not Spectators, but Architects of Change
From its very beginning, ERUA has aimed to ensure that students’ voices are heard in decision-making; thus, student involvement in the Summit 2025 program is a core element rather than a formality.
Student representatives stressed that ERUA is not only an alliance of universities but a movement where ideas turn into action: “ERUA is a community where students are at the center of change. Our voices are heard here, and our ideas become actions.”
Mikael Bakas, student coordinator at the University of the Aegean, described Lesvos as a crossroads of worlds: “Lesvos is a meeting point of islands, cultures, and people. It’s a place where challenges turn into opportunities – and that’s exactly what our summit is about.”
His words reminded everyone that “edges” are not a geographical concept, but a way of thinking from which creativity and change emerge.
Creative Exchange and Visions for the Future
The week-long program includes strategic sessions, discussions, creative workshops, artistic performances, and cultural events through which universities share experiences on how higher education can serve as a tool for strengthening democracy, sustainability, and community.
ERUA Summit 2025 is not only a forum but also a living experiment in what the university of the future could look like: open, interdisciplinary, and responsive to its social context.
About ERUA
ERUA (European Reform University Alliance) is an alliance of eight universities aiming to redefine the role of universities in contemporary society. The partners are united by the belief that science and social responsibility are inseparable – and that true change is born not at the center but precisely at the edges, where the future begins.
