The European Reform University Alliance (ERUA) is pleased to welcome Maxime Cacciutolo Heidel as its new Project Coordinator, bringing more than a decade of experience in European and international cooperation to the team.
Born and raised at the French-German-Swiss border near Basel, Maxime brings a truly multicultural perspective shaped by years of study, work, and life across Europe—including in Nice, Berlin, and Paris, with additional professional experiences in Rostock, Rome, and London. His passion for travel has also taken him across much of Europe and Southeast Asia, broadening his international outlook.
With a multidisciplinary background in the social sciences and humanities, Maxime has worked with diverse stakeholders, from researchers and academics to elected representatives, health professionals, and technical experts. He has coordinated several EU co-funded projects under Horizon, IEV CTF Med, and Interreg programmes, building strong expertise in project management, implementation, and international collaboration.
“I am excited to bring my skills in coordination, implementation, and strategic transformation to ERUA,” he says. “Most of all, I look forward to supporting the alliance’s universities, partners, and stakeholders in advancing ERUA’s mission to build inclusive, open, and innovative approaches to higher education and research in Europe.”
In his first weeks with the alliance, Maxime has already been impressed by ERUA’s unique identity as a reform-oriented community.
“ERUA has begun to strengthen its position within the European higher education landscape, standing out as a reform-oriented alliance whose work is both unique and essential. I have experienced a strong, value-driven community committed to collaboration and positive change.”
Looking ahead, his vision for ERUA’s legacy is ambitious yet clear:
“My ultimate wish is for ERUA to establish itself as a long-lasting and distinctive force for pedagogical reform, research excellence, and meaningful service to society. I will work toward this vision by combining strategic foresight with hands-on operational experience, always putting the alliance’s shared goals at the center of my efforts.”
Asked to summarize his message to the ERUA community at the start of this new journey, he chose one approach: “To build a solution-oriented relationship based on mutual trust, collaboration, and shared ambition.”
The ERUA community warmly welcomes Maxime and looks forward to working together to advance the alliance’s mission.
