OpenEU at the 14th EADTU-EU 2026 Summit

The OpenEU Alliance will play a central role at the 14th EADTU-EU Summit in Brussels on 29 April 2026, contributing to key discussions on the future of European higher education under the theme “Leading Transformation at Scale: Change Leadership, AI and the European Degree.”

The annual Summit brings together European institutions, policymakers, university networks, companies, and stakeholders to explore emerging trends and policy developments shaping the European Higher Education Area.

A strong OpenEU presence at the heart of the Summit
OpenEU will be prominently represented throughout the programme, reinforcing its position as a leading alliance in shaping the future of higher education in Europe.

The Summit will be opened by Theo Bastiaens, President of EADTU and Rector of the Open Universiteit, a member of the OpenEU Alliance. The closing panel will be moderated by Àngels Fitó, Rector of the Universitat Oberta de Catalunya, Vice-President of EADTU and President of OpenEU, highlighting the alliance’s leadership within EADTU and across Europe.

Driving the European Degree and cross-border collaboration
A key session on the European Degree will be moderated by Pastora Martínez, Coordinator of the OpenEU Alliance, with contributions from Fernando Val (Vice-Rector, UNED), Tamara Ciobanu (European Students’ Union), and Mark Frederiks (International Policy Coordinator, NVAO). The discussion will address how joint degrees and emerging European frameworks can strengthen cross-border collaboration and expand access through digital and open formats.

From AI adoption to institutional transformation
This year’s Summit focuses on how higher education can move from experimentation to systemic transformation. The programme also features contributions from leading European stakeholders addressing the role of AI and leadership in shaping the future of universities. These discussions explore how institutions can:

• adopt AI in ways that align with academic values, with Clare Phelan (Membership and Project Coordinator, European University Association);

• develop change leadership in higher education, with Klaus-Dieter Rossade (Professor of Distance Learning and Leadership, The Open University).

Finally, the Summit will close with a panel discussion featuring Mattia Bellotti, Secretary General of the EUTOPIA Alliance, Anna Gover, Director of ENQA, and Susanne Conze, Higher Education Commissioner at the European Commission, moderated by Àngels Fitó (Rector of the Universitat Oberta de Catalunya and Vice-President of EADTU).

Join the Summit
Participants can attend the Summit either on-site or online. The event will also be streamed live, and registration is open, with limited on-site places available.