The European University Association (EUA) is establishing a new European University Leadership Academy to support university leaders across Europe. The University for Continuing Education Krems is a partner in the project, which is funded through the EU’s Erasmus+ program.
Implementation is scheduled to begin at the end of 2026, with the pilot phase running for 24 months. At the University for Continuing Education Krems, the project is based at the Department for Higher Education Research. Other partners include the CHE Centre for Higher Education in Germany and the European Association for the Applied Sciences in Higher Education (EURASHE).
“Universities are facing the challenge of remaining able to act effectively in a rapidly changing environment while safeguarding autonomy, academic quality and societal responsibility,” says Attila Pausits, Head of the Department for Higher Education Research. “This requires leadership that combines evidence-based approaches with peer exchange and practical experience in managing change. With our expertise in higher education governance and institutional transformation, we want to contribute to developing a robust European model for leadership development.”
Pilot phase with four formats
The project will develop and test a scalable system for leadership development that combines training formats, applied research and peer exchange. The Academy will pilot four formats: Leadership Modules will address key challenges in higher education, while Foresight Labs will focus on resilience and sustainability. A European mentoring program will support women in academic leadership positions, while Communities of Practice will enable learning across institutional boundaries.
A Knowledge Hub will also provide open-access resources as well as curated higher education policy and research insights. A European Higher Education Leadership Summit and an alumni network will promote networking and dialogue over the long term.
A model for the European Higher Education Area
The Academy builds on the EUA Leadership Development Programme, which has previously been implemented in two pilot editions. According to the EUA, it is the first integrated ecosystem of its kind for leadership development at the European level and responds to the growing need for structured, cross-border support for university leaders. The aim is to establish a sustainable and transferable model that strengthens institutional capacity and supports transformation across the European Higher Education Area.
“With the European University Leadership Academy, we are creating a comprehensive offering at European level for the first time, bringing together practice and research and enabling university leaders to learn from one another in innovative formats, test new approaches and jointly develop responses to the far-reaching changes facing Europe’s universities,” says Thomas Estermann, Director for Governance, Funding and Public Policy Development at the EUA. “The University for Continuing Education Krems brings its longstanding experience in continuing education and its established expertise in higher education research, particularly in the area of governance, making it an important partner for this European initiative.”
Contact
Tags
