Dear colleagues, esteemed Rectors and Presidents, distinguished guests, dear students,
It is both an honour and a privilege to stand before you today as we also mark the handover of the ERUA Board of Rector‘s Chairing.
This moment means a lot for all of us, as it is not only the rotation of leadership but also a continuation of our unique shared academic journey – one that unites us in our belief and commitment, that our collective academic intelligence, forfront knowledge transition to the urgent societal demands, values based governance models and collaboration – are essential to the future of European higher education and Europe as a whole.
During the important last year we have achieved the remarkable results: we were shaping ERUA‘s identity not only on retorical level but by doing, in our everyday working routines.
Together, we have taken important milestones to turn our ideas and strategies into the concreate results. We have expanded our academic collaboration models, created the true sense of togetherness threw deep engagement with our students and communities.
We launched joint initiatives that reflect our shared values — from the powerful voice on sustainability, to the innovative joint academic programmes, flexible learning and teaching paths, research clusters ecosystem and support measures, digital tools that connect our universities more closely than ever before.
Most importantly, we have continued to nurture the spirit of ERUA, that challenges us to question the status quo, to act together with integrity and courage, and to make higher education more inclusive, more engaged, and more responsive to the world around us.
None of this would have been possible without the dedication and vision of each institution of ERUA Alliance and all brilliant minds of committed persons represented here today.
I want to express my heartfelt gratitude to all of you and especially to our ERUA students — who remind us every day, why we do this work and for whom we build this alliance.
Today, as we celebrate another milestone in ERUA’s growth – the ongoing work on the establishment of its legal entity – I am confident that our alliance will continue to flourish, not just as a network of universities, but as a living, evolving community of likeminded people, the true European academic family.
It is now my great pleasure and honor to hand over the Chairing of the Board of Rector‘s to Rector Magnificence of Macerata University, Professor John McCourt.
John, your energy, professionalism, your deep commitment to academic values and your European perspective make you the perfect person to lead ERUA into its next phase.
I do so with trust, pride, and optimism — knowing that under your leadership, ERUA will continue to grow in strength, diversity and vision.
Thank you all for your meaningful collaboration, your friendship, and your belief in this remarkable alliance, our European family. It has been a true honour to serve as a Chair of the Board of Rectors.
Thank you.
