University autonomy and academic freedom are crucial for the well-functioning of universities and higher education systems. The current political, economic and societal challenges in Europe have a significant impact on universities and their role, as well as their organisation and strategy. The conference will be a timely occasion to discuss how university autonomy is linked to addressing these challenges.

EUA has become one of the most important actors on these topics through its numerous conferences, meetings and studies, as well as through its exclusive benchmarking tool, the Autonomy Scorecard, which is used in Europe and beyond.

Since 2015, EUA has been collecting data with its members for a full-scale update of the Scorecard in order to evaluate the current state of play. The new version will be launched at the Annual Conference and it will provide the backdrop for a discussion on the latest trends, challenges and future of autonomy and academic freedom.

The conference programme will include plenary sessions, facilitated high level discussions, a selection of presentations, as well as more interactive forms of engaging conference participants at all levels throughout the conference.

Early registration deadline: 28 February 2017
Overall registration deadline: 20 March 2017

Programme overview

Wednesday 5 April 2017

PRE-CONFERENCE MEETINGS

The pre-conference meetings are by invitation only to EUA Board and Council Members and Secretaries General of national rectors’ conferences.
The Leadership Roundtable is for rectors only.

09.00 – 13.00  EUA Board Meeting

09.00 – 13.00 EUA Secretaries General Meeting

13.00 – 14.00 Lunch for Board, Council and Secretaries General

14.00 – 16.00 EUA Council Meeting

16.00 – 16.30 Coffee break

16.30 – 18.30 Leadership Roundtable: Strategic positioning of universities

18.30 – 19.30 Leadership Meet & Greet reception

Thursday 6 April 2017       

08.00 – 09.00 Registration for EUA General Assembly

08.00 – 18.00 Registration for EUA Annual Conference

09.00 – 11.30 EUA General Assembly

11.30 – 12.30 Coffee break

12.30 – 13.30 Conference Opening

13.30 – 14.30 Lunch

14.30 – 16.00 Plenary I: University Autonomy in Europe

16.00 – 16.30 Coffee break

16.30 – 18.00

Breakout Session I – Working groups

1. Organisational autonomy (session intended for institutional leadership only) 
2. Financial autonomy 
3. Staffing autonomy
4. Academic autonomy

19.30 – 22.30 Networking Reception & Gala Dinner

Friday 7 April 2017   

09.00 – 10.30

Breakout Session II – Presentation of case studies

1. Organisational autonomy
2. Financial autonomy 
3. Staffing autonomy
4. Academic autonomy

10.30 – 11.00 Coffee break

11.00 – 12.30  Plenary II: Panel discussion on autonomy and academic freedom

12.30 – 13.00 Conference Closing

13.00 – 14.00 Lunch

14.00 – 15.30 EUA Hot Topic Session