OpenEU establishes new External Advisory Board to drive strategic innovation

We are proud to announce the formal establishment of the OpenEU External Advisory Board (EAB), a strategic milestone designed to integrate external expertise into our long-term strategic vision.

Meeting in Brussels on April 29–30, 2026, alongside the OpenEU Rectors’ Council, the EAB brought together top-tier representatives from across the European educational, social, and digital landscapes.

𝗦𝘁𝗿𝗮𝘁𝗲𝗴𝗶𝗰 𝗟𝗲𝗮𝗱𝗲𝗿𝘀𝗵𝗶𝗽 & 𝗜𝗻𝗱𝗲𝗽𝗲𝗻𝗱𝗲𝗻𝘁 𝗣𝗲𝗿𝘀𝗽𝗲𝗰𝘁𝗶𝘃𝗲

Chaired by Xavier Prats Monné (former Director-General for Education at the European Commission), the EAB provides the independent guidance necessary to ensure OpenEU remains at the forefront of innovation.

We are honored to welcome our distinguished board members:
🔹 Tamara Ciobanu – European Students'​ Union (ESU).
🔹 Arthur Depner – Representing Tülay Ates-Brunner (CEO at the German NGO Tür an Tür, and member of EU Migration Expert Group).
🔹 Karl Dittrich – Former President of the EQAR - European Quality Assurance Register.
🔹 Justina Bieliauskaite – Representing Sebastiano Toffaletti (Secretary General of the European DIGITAL SME Alliance).

𝗜𝗺𝗽𝗮𝗰𝘁 𝗼𝗻 𝘁𝗵𝗲 𝗦𝘁𝗿𝗮𝘁𝗲𝗴𝗶𝗰 𝗥𝗼𝗮𝗱𝗺𝗮𝗽

Moving forward, the Board will meet annually to:
1- Review progress and provide recommendations on emerging policy developments.
2- Guide key initiatives within the Alliance’s strategic roadmap.
3- Ensure alignment between academic innovation and the European labor market/digital transition.

Through this new advisory body, OpenEU is strengthening its commitment to openness, collaboration, and innovation in European higher education.