ChallengeEU Strategy Board defines next steps in Valencia
The Strategy Board, made up of the Rectors of the nine member universities, holds its meeting at the Turia Campus to take stock of the alliance’s first year and define future directions. On Tuesday (10 February), Universidad Europea de Valencia hosted the meeting of the ChallengeEU Strategy Board. This meeting brought together, at the Turia Campus, the rectors of the nine universities that make up the Alliance in a working session focused on future directions, strategic challenges and the evolution of the project. The day began with a welcome coffee, during which Dr Esther Gómez, Regional Secretary for Universities of the Generalitat Valenciana, gave a few words of institutional greeting to the Rectors of the alliance before starting the programme of activities. During the working session, the Strategy Board addressed the presentation of the results of the alliance’s first year of operation, as well as the analysis of the medium and long-term strategy, focused on consolidating the vision and priorities for the coming years. The meeting also allowed progress to be made on the proposal to create double degrees between member universities, as well as exploring the possible incorporation of a Ukrainian polytechnic university as an associate member, in line with ChallengeEU’s commitment to broader and more diverse European cooperation. The meeting was chaired by Prof. Tobias Hagen, Director General of ChallengeEU, and by the Secretary General, Sofiia Hecker, both from the University of Offenburg (Germany), the institution responsible for the overall coordination of the alliance. Dr Annette Klinkert, director of the technical agency that has accompanied ChallengeEU in its application and development process, also participated in the proceedings. The session also agreed that the Rector of the Universidade Europeia de Lisboa, Prof. Helia Gonçalves, will assume the chairmanship of the Strategy Board during the alliance’s second year of operation, replacing Prof. Stephan Trahasch, Rector of the Offenburg University of Applied Sciences (Germany). Likewise, the Rector of Mid Sweden University (Sweden), Docent Anders Fallström, has been appointed as the new Vice-President of the body. Two Student Council representatives at the Strategy Board – Hannah Rendle from Hochschule Offenburg and Keshini Nistar from ECAM LaSalle – held their final meeting in this role. Throughout their mandate, they actively contributed student perspectives to the Alliance’s highest decision-making body, ensuring that the student voice remained an integral part of strategic discussions. New Student Council representatives will soon be elected to continue representing students at the Strategy Board.
