EULiST General Assembly 2026: A Turning Point Toward Deep Integration and Strategic Growth

From May 11th to 13th, the EULiST Alliance gathered at LUT University in Lappeenranta, Finland, for the 2026 General Assembly.

Three days of intensive workshops, strategic presentations, and high-level meetings marked a milestone transition from the alliance’s foundational years to a phase of “deep integration” and structural transformation.

New Leadership and Strategic Partnerships

• The Assembly was a landmark for EULiST governance. Following a vote by the Governing Board, Måns Svensson (President of Jönköping University) was announced as the new Chair, with Jens Schneider (Rector of TU Wien) serving as Co-Chair for the 2026–2028 term.
• The Management Board also welcomed its newly elected Co-Chairs, Maria Benedetta Mattei University of L’Aquila (UNIVAQ), and Olivier Eppinette (IMT).
• Student board members representing all member universities held a dedicated vote to choose their new leadership directly from among their peers. As a result, the newly elected Chairing Team of the Student Board consists of Adam Gašparovič from the Slovak University of Technology in Bratislava (STU), Beatrice Ion from LUT University, and Cristiana Maria Muresanu from Universidad Rey Juan Carlos (URJC).
• In a historic move for the alliance’s expansion, an official cooperation agreement was signed with the University of Stuttgart. As a new Cooperation Partner, Stuttgart will play a vital role in strengthening our joint research and innovation ecosystem.

From Activity to Transformation: Reviewing Our Progress & Strategy

The core of the Assembly was dedicated to assessing where we stand today and where we want to be by the 2035 horizon. Through comprehensive updates from the Governing Board, the Secretary General, the Management Board, and Work Package leaders and co-leaders, the alliance evaluated the past year’s progress, analyzed key performance indicators (KPIs), and openly addressed our future challenges and immediate priorities.

To ensure long-term institutional sustainability, the project writing team also held dedicated meetings during the Assembly to work on the upcoming EU project proposal, securing seamless continuity for the alliance.

Building Trust and Collaboration Through Interactivity

The entire event was driven by active participation. Rather than just listening to presentations, attendees actively shaped the alliance’s direction through panel discussions, Q&A sessions, and direct feedback surveys.

A central highlight was a powerful lecture on TRUST—the fundamental key to success for any organization, and a core pillar for EULiST as we deepen our institutional integration. Attendees also enjoyed insightful sessions on Finnish culture, providing a wonderful context to our hosting environment.

The main program concluded with presentations from the Coordination Office, where all Units – the backbone of our daily activities – showcased their achievements, plans, and challenges for the next phase.

Parallel working sessions across various WPs, boards, and units further maximized the value of this face-to-face gathering.

10 Countries, Now 11 Universities, One Single Team: Kiitos, LUT!

Beyond the intense program full of presentations, discussions, meetings, and interactions, the social and cultural activities proved that, despite coming from 10 different countries, EULiST operates as one united team.

The immense success of this General Assembly would not have been possible without the flawless organization and incredible hospitality of our hosts.

We extend our deepest gratitude to Rector Juha-Matti Saksa and the entire LUT University team for providing such an inspiring, welcoming, and beautiful campus environment that fostered deep collaboration, innovation, and lasting friendships.

Together, we are driving a true European transformation.