Josep M. Garrell

Group of GUAF participants posing in front of a conference banner

On 13 November, EUA attended the annual in-person meeting of the Global University Associations Forum in New Delhi, hosted by the Association of Indian Universities, the 2025 chair of #GUAF.
📰 https://bit.ly/3LKrfPR

Many thanks to @scienceeurope.org for to opportunity to share the @eua.eu views on the next #FP10 today in Oslo.
More details here (bit.ly/4pgbput).

Let us ensure that universities educate students not only on how to use AI, but how to use it according to ethical principles, leaving no one behind and promoting the common good.

Technology is not a good or bad thing in itself. What is good or bad is the use of technology. #AI is evolving exponentially, and it means that the adaptation, the regulation, the education on who to correctly use it … is not an easy task.

It is clear that #AI tools are transforming many things, including higher education institutions. From student admissions to research, to mention just a couple of things. But the risk of not using AI correctly is huge.

I was pleased to address the audience during the opening ceremony, and to chair the session dedicated to the ethical dimension of #AI. We really enjoyed the contributions of our panellists and the exchange with the audience.

The day after the #GUAF2026 meeting, we were invited to join the TECH4ED International Conference on Artificial Intelligence for #Education & #Skills, organized by the Association of Indian Universities (AIU), in collaboration with KC Globed.
@eua.eu

Looking forward to the next edition of the in-person meeting in #Africa, as a way to visualize and celebrate the cooperation between universities that represent the university sector worldwide.

Thank you very much to the Association of Indian Universities (AIU) for the warm welcome, and for their terrific work coordinating #GUAF2025 cooperation.

#GUAF2026 chair will be the Association of African Universities (AAU), and the next in-person meeting will take place in #Ghana. The 2026 focus will be #KnowledgeDiplomacy. We also agreed that the 2027 chair will be the Association of Arab Universities (AArU).

We appreciate the open discussion about challenging topics such as how international cooperation can be impacted by the new geopolitical situation and how #AcademicDiplomacy can help to “build bridges” between countries and world regions.

We also discussed the first draft of the joint report regarding the impact and implications of #ArtificialIntelligence in higher education that will be finished and published in 2026.
#AI

Along with the regional updates from each #GUAF member, we conclude the joint report on “Similarities and Differences in the #DigitalTransformation of #HigherEducation” that will be published shortly.

Another edition of the #GUAF in-person annual meeting has come to its end.
As always, an excellent opportunity to meet with the leadership teams of other universities association representing world regions.
#GUAF2025
@eua.eu

Let’s get down to business …
Begining with the regional updates.
#GUAF #GUAF2025
@eua.eu

During this year meeting, and among other topics, we will talk about #AcademicDiplomacy, as a way to build bridges between countries and world regions, as a way to contribute to global solutions.

Looking forward to meeting with presidents, SGs, and directors of #GUAF members.
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Just arrived in Delhi (India) for the annual in-person meeting of the Global University Associations Forum (#GUAF).

👉🏻 bit.ly/3LIlCBv
@eua.eu
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It is with deep sorrow that I share the news of the passing of Prof. Josep Rom, rector of my university (www.url.edu), a few hours after a public event we shared.
Not just a colleague, but a good friend; and above all a good person. RIP.
My condolences to his family.

Rebo amb molta tristesa la notícia del traspàs del rector de la meva universitat, el Prof. Josep Rom, poques hores després d’un acte que vàrem compartir.
Un company, un bon amic, però per sobre de tot una bona persona!
El meu condol a la seva família. Descansa en pau Josep!

But it will succeed only if it benefits everyone: the academic communities of participating and non-participating universities alike, and the economic and social ecosystems around them.
 
Let’s keep working together for the benefit of European society!
#UNICWorkingConference2025

And many thanks for the opportunity to share the @eua.eu analysis and recommendations regarding the European Universities Initiative. Its transformative potential is huge, and it is imperative that the Initiative succeeds! Europe cannot afford for it to fail.

It has been an honour to be the keynote speaker of the #UNICWorkingConference2025 today in Bilbao. A unique alliance, with a great impact on your cities and regions. Congratulations!
@deusto.bsky.social @unic-university.bsky.social @eua.eu

Josep Maria Garrell, President of EUA, talking at the UNIC Working Conference 2025.

Incredible keynote from @josepmgarrell.bsky.social, @eua.eu president, laying out the key challenges of the european uni alliance landscape (complex leadership, sustainability, regulatory frameworks, and scope of funding) and charting paths forward.

We head into the conference inspired and driven!

On behalf of the Board, I would like to thank the the presidents, presidents’ representatives and secretaries general of the European NRCs for their engagement and proactive contribution.
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We talked about added value for EUA members, about how to deepen the cooperation between EUA and National Rectors’ Conferences (NRC), and -obviously- we talked about how universities can better serve our societies. A much-needed exercise in the current challenging times.
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After an intense Board meeting on Wednesday and Thursday, the @eua.eu Council met on Friday to discuss our future strategy.
We talked about the future.
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Futures thinking is a much-needed strategic process in the current challenging times.

I encourage you to use this new @eua.eu document as an initial “provocation”, to spark –and hopefully inspire– your own exercise, based on your context and reality.

As a result of the #UniFE project, the EUA published an interesting report about all this in the European context.

Check this out: bit.ly/4nlnzBc

Looking forward to exchanging with colleagues all over the world about this very timely topic in challenging times.

Global Innovation Circle on Higher Education

Good morning from #Hannover!
Alongside EUA’s VP Marcin Palys, we will represent the @eua.eu in The Global Innovation Circle on Higher Education (giche.net).
The discussion topic is: “What Lies Ahead for #InternationalCollaboration in #HigherEducation?”.

I hope today's grain of sand contributed to raising awareness about the importance of #ScienceDiplomacy.
In the current challenging times, let's try to make visible "the invisible bridge".
Many thanks to @stmassoc.bsky.social for the opportunity!
#STMinFrankfurt