The University of Mons (UMONS) in Belgium hosted the next General Assembly of the EUNICE AISBL Association on September 19 and 20, 2024. The event was attended by rectors, presidents, academic and administrative staff, as well as students from the ten partner universities of EUNICE.
During the assembly, there was a change in the presidency of the EUNICE AISBL association. Prof. Philippe Dubois, rector of the University of Mons, handed over the leadership of EUNICE AISBL (AISBL – International Non-Profit Association) to Prof. Abdelhakim Artiba, president of Université Polytechnique Hauts-de-France, who will assume this position on November 1 for a two-year term. Prof. Minna Martikainen, rector of the University of Vaasa in Finland, will take on the role of vice president. This leadership change reflects the commitment of the highest authorities of partner universities to the continued development of EUNICE’s mission.
The assembly also elected new representatives to the EUNICE AISBL Board of Directors (BoD). Prof. Lucia Zappalà from the University of Catania was elected chair, and Prof. Mariusz Głąbowski, Vice-Rector for International Relations at Poznan University of Technology, was appointed vice chair. Congratulations to all the newly elected representatives.
One of the key points of the meeting was the signing of a cooperation agreement with Mohammed VI University from Morocco. Its rector, Hicham El Habti, attended the ceremony, symbolizing the beginning of a new era of collaboration with non-European partners. This is the first such cooperation of EUNICE with an institution outside the Old Continent. The goal of the partnership is to strengthen academic exchange, research, and innovation, as well as to build a more global cooperation network.
The General Assembly also provided an opportunity to participate in workshops dedicated to joint study programs (so-called Excellence Programs), which aim to shape the future of European higher education. The meeting was a significant milestone in the development of EUNICE’s educational offer and an important contribution to the regulations concerning the European diploma at the European Commission level.
Participants also had the honor of attending the ceremonial opening of the new academic year at the University of Mons.
One of the panels organized during the assembly enabled direct interaction between rectors and students involved in the EUNICE Student Advisory Board. A lively exchange of ideas on the future of the alliance took place, highlighting the active and crucial role of students in shaping EUNICE's mission.
We look forward to the next general assembly of EUNICE!
