Dear colleagues, dear friends,

The world is changing, and not necessarily for the better. We are witnessing a rise in populism, increasing distrust in truth and science, a decline in respect for democracy and human rights, a worsening climate crisis, and significant demographic changes. These are pressing issues we are already grappling with and will continue to face in the future.

Historically, universities have been at the forefront of societal progress. Our primary mission is to educate young people and generate new knowledge. However, beyond this, we must also act as beacons of guidance for society. If we aspire to continue the advancement of humanity, we need to reclaim our influential roles from the Renaissance and Enlightenment periods.

One of our key missions is to foster innovation and transfer the knowledge we create into broader society. Many people associate innovation solely with technological advancements. However, it’s crucial to remember that the ideas of the Enlightenment such as democracy, human rights, and universal suffrage that have profoundly transformed our societies for the better where at some point social innovations. Today, we seem to be forgetting the significance of these social innovations and the sacrifices made by our ancestors to secure them. We must remember how quickly the fundamental values of democratic societies can be lost. Thus, a vital mission for universities is to uphold the legacy of the Enlightenment—democratic values and respect for human rights—for every individual on this planet, not just within our local communities.

As individual universities, we have a role to play, but together we are stronger. And there is no better platform for collective action than the European University Association (EUA), the largest network of universities in geographical Europe. We must unite and defend our core values, including academic freedom, which is increasingly under threat. We must stand together to preserve our societies as they are, and I firmly believe that we can succeed. TOGETHER WE CAN!

There are several specific tasks I would like to focus on as a member of the board. One is generative AI. The rapid pace of digitalization is shaping our world, and generative AI is becoming increasingly embedded in our daily lives, including academic work. We should not shy away from these developments. We need to embrace them, work towards harnessing their potential as reliable tools for society and find the best ways to benefit from this technology. We often discuss how careful we have to be with the results provided by generative AI models. Yet, we rarely question from what these models learn. This, I believe, is a fundamental issue we need to address. Perhaps it is time to develop academic generative AI, a model trained exclusively on trusted scientific literature and verified information. Such a tool could be transformative for the whole society, not just academia, offering a reliable resource we can trust.

Another critical area is scientific publishing and current scientific evaluation system. I believe many of you will agree that the system of scientific publishing is flawed and needs significant reform. What was once a platform for the free exchange of information between scientists has been monopolized by commercial publishers. Scientific publishing is today the most profitable industry, largely because we perform all the work without compensation, while publishers charge exorbitant fees. This system diverts billions of public funds that could be better spent elsewhere into private companies. I believe we must overhaul this system and within the EUA we can seek viable alternatives.

A third major priority for me is global outreach. The world has become more interconnected than ever before, and we have a responsibility to engage with other regions, especially those less fortunate. My university is already actively involved in such initiatives, particularly in the Western Balkans. However, I see Africa as a crucial continent for the future. With its young population, Africa is poised for significant growth and development but faces challenges, particularly in research and higher education capacity. Europe has a role to play here. By convincing our regulators to support development of higher education and research ecosystems in Africa, we can make meaningful, lasting changes—not only for Africa but for the entire planet. Collaborative efforts can help tackle global issues such as demographic changes, the gap between the Global North and South, and the climate crisis. But our approach must be collaborative, listening to their needs and respecting their perspectives, rather than imposing our own.

There are numerous other challenges we face, including research security and integrity. I want to address one more crucial topic: European university alliances. Many of us are part of these alliances, yet there is still uncertainty about their purpose and future. What will the European diploma look like? How integrated should alliances be? Should they focus primarily on higher education or also on research? The EUA could serve as the forum to discuss these questions and find solutions. One key issue will be the accreditation of study programs for the European diploma. I firmly believe that if a European diploma is to become a reality, we will need a European accreditation system, and the EUA could play a pivotal role in this process with its existing institutional evaluation program.

The world is changing, and so are we. Universities are among the longest-standing institutions in history. I am confident we will endure, as we have survived numerous challenges in the past. However, we must adapt, respond to societal changes, and strive to once again be pillars of society. Our role is not just to educate and create new knowledge but also to help shape society and safeguard the gains of past advancements. Social media and populist politicians are polarizing our communities. Mistrust in science and the flood of misinformation are reshaping our world. We need to rebuild trust in science and democratic values, restore knowledge-based societies rooted in Enlightenment principles, preserve democracy and human rights, prevent violence and wars, and, above all, protect our planet for our children and grandchildren. The times are tough, and many challenges lie ahead. Yet, I remain optimistic. I genuinely believe that together we can guide our societies toward a brighter future and ensure the survival of our beautiful blue planet for our children and grandchildren. Each of us has a role to play, but together, as the EUA, our voice is much stronger and louder and it cannot be ignored. If elected, I will work tirelessly to ensure that our voice is heard, not just in Europe but around the world. We have inherited this world from our predecessors, and it is our responsibility to protect and improve it for future generations.