This session will feature an exchange on a strategic vision for the future Erasmus+ programme in the context of the renewed EU political agenda, shared by ACA members and other higher education stakeholders. 

Keynote input: Gro Tjore, ACA President and Deputy Director General of the Norwegian Directorate for Higher Education and Skills (HK-dir), Norway

Stakeholder responses: 

• Michael Gaebel, Director, Higher Education Unit, European University Association (EUA)
• Iris Kimizoglu, President, European Student Union (ESU)

EU policymakers’ responses: 

• Hannes Heide, Member of the European Parliament, Coordinator in the Committee on Culture and Education (CULT)
• Arleta Zaremba, Polish Presidency Team, Permanent Representation of Poland to the EU
• Leo Kilroy, Education and Skills Attaché, Permanent Representation of Ireland to the EU

Q&A 

This panel will zoom into how different actions of the (new) Erasmus+ programme supporting intra-European mobility and transnational partnerships could help build a (more) competitive, resilient, and fair Europe in the next multiannual period. 

Speakers: 

• Stephan Geifes, ACA Vice President, and Director, DAAD National Agency for Erasmus+, Germany
• Roman Klepetko, Deputy Director, Czech National Agency for International Education and Research (DZS), Czechia 
• Rahel Byland, Science and Technology Counsellor, Mission of Switzerland to the EU

Stakeholder responses: 

• Rita Dias, President, Erasmus Student Network (ESN)
• Dirk Bochar, Secretary General, Engineers Europe

EU policymakers’ responses: 

• Stefan Zotti, Deputy Head of Unit – Higher Education, DG EAC (Directorate-General for Education, Youth, Sport and Culture), European Commission 
• Julie Fionda, Deputy Head of Unit, Skills and Qualifications, DG EMPL (DG Employment, Social Affairs and Inclusion), European Commission

Moderator: Runa Vigdís Guðmarsdóttir, Director, Erasmus+ National Agency within Rannis, Iceland

Q&A 

This panel will support a discussion on how the (future) Erasmus+ programme could contribute to building a globally competitive, attractive, and responsible Europe. 

Speakers: 

• José Ravenstein, Policy Officer, The Dutch organisation for internationalisation in education (Nuffic), The Netherlands 
• Martin Gradl, Head of Sector Erasmus+, Austria's Agency for Education and Internationalisation (OeAD), Austria 

Stakeholder responses: 

• Andreas Corcoran, Deputy Secretary General, International Association of Universities (IAU-AIU)

EU policymakers’ responses: 

• Filip van Depoele, Head of Unit International Education, DG EAC (Directorate-General for Education, Youth, Sport and Culture), European Commission 
• Agnieszka Skuratowicz, Head of Unit Youth, Education and Research, and Culture, DG INTPA (Directorate-General International Partnerships), European Commission
• Mercedes García Pérez, Head of Division, Migration and Human Security, European External Action Service (EEAS)

Moderator: Maija Airas, Counsellor of Education and Head of Unit for International Higher Education Cooperation, Finnish National Agency for Education (EDUFI), Finland

Q&A 

Irina Ferencz, Director, Academic Cooperation Association (ACA)