What is the role of universities in a dynamically changing world? How can academics and students navigate the sometimes choppy waters of political unrest, intercultural relations, and climate change? These are some of the questions that members of the European Reform University Alliance (ERUA), among them a 16-person delegation from SWPS University, addressed during the 2025 ERUA Summit, which was hosted by the University of the Aegean on the picturesque Lesvos Island in Greece, from November 4 to 7, 2025.
Transforming periphery into a cutting edge in higher education
The main theme of the summit “Navigating the Edges” was inspired by the location — the Greek Island of Lesvos that once constituted the edge of Europe. The theme also reflected the position of the ERUA member universities, which specialize in social sciences and humanities — disciplines that complement the sciences with a humanistic approach and psychological insights. Additionally, it reflected these universities physical location on the edges of Europe, a position the Alliance is determined to turn into a strength and competitive edge.
Over four days of the Summit, the delegates from eight ERUA universities discussed sustainable futures, student-centered and reformist education, ERUA strategic management, agents of change, and alliances for skills, competitiveness and democracy. They also celebrated past year’s achievements.
Recognition of SWPS University’s contribution to ERUA
On the second day of the Summit, the Alliance celebrated past year’s achievements. We are proud to announce that SWPS University’s ERUA Project Coordinator, Radosław Stanczewski, and the leader of Work Package 2, Barbara Dmowska, were recognized for their leadership and contribution to Designing ERUA’s Innovative Learning Pathways.
Furthermore, Alicja Kotłowska, M.Sc., LLM, MBA, Vice-Rector’s Representative for International Projects at SWPS University, chaired a panel on “Democracy, Social Change and Local Communities”, which was focused on actual experience of local communities living on the isle of Lesvos in Greece and in Spain — locations that experienced an influx of forced migration and had to cope with multiple issues arising from this phenomenon.
A plenary session during ERUA Summit 2025
ERUA Experts working on a joint Master's program in migration
Zuzanna Siwińska, student of SWPS University at ERUA Summit 2025
Radosław Stanczewski, Director of the Office of International Cooperation at USWPS speaking at ERUA Summit 2025
Barbara Dmowska from SWPS Univeristy, leader of ERUA Work Package 2, speaking at ERUA Summit 2025
Students from USWPS conduct a project management workshop at ERUA Summit 2025
Working towards achieving ERUA’s goals
The 16-person delegation from SWPS University included representatives of all eight Work Packages (WP), who met in their respective teams to discuss and progress crucial initiatives and following projects:
WP 1 Management and Coordination
- Completion of the mid-term report for the European Commission
- Update of the consortium agreement
- Engagement of associated partners
WP 2 Designing ERUA’s Innovative Learning Pathways – led by SWPS University
- Meeting of experts working on the development of a “Joint Master’s degree program in Forced Migration: Europe in a Global Context”
- Mobility windows that could be incorporated in the future study programs and an automatic approval of ECTS points for teaching initiatives that are completed at partner institutions
- Workshop on Blended Intensive Programs (BIP)
- Update of rules and regulations for the next edition of Innovative Teaching Initiatives
WP 3 Establishing Research-Based Clusters
- Update on Research Clusters and an introduction of two cyclical, monitoring tools — a questionnaire and a report
- Action plan aimed at increasing the participation of early career researchers in the research clusters
- Inclusion of WP3 in the development of research sustainability strategy, update of the Research Charter, and increased integration of associated partners
WP4 Shaping the ERUA Campus
- Expansion of the ERUA mobility program, promotion of the Erasmus+ exchange, scheduling upcoming staff weeks, and annual student, alumni and employee meetings
- First Annual Networking Fair for students, attended by 78 persons from all ERUA member universities
- First Annual Networking Fair for graduates, attended by approx. 70 alumni of ERUA universities
WP 5 Achieving Social Change in ERUA’s Local Communities and Regions
- Completion of the mid-term report for the European Commission
- Discussion on engaging local partners in ERUA initiatives
- Planning upcoming events
- Solutions to overcome a language barrier that sometimes occurs during online meetings
- Improving visibility of academic publications in international databases such as Scopus
- Planning the next, face to face WP5 meeting
WP6 Developing ERUA’s Social Entrepreneurship
- Completion of the mid-term report for the European Commission
- Launch of a webpage dedicated to ERUA Social Entrepreneurship
- Establishing multidisciplinary teams providing solutions to current challenges through social entrepreneurship
- Mentoring, workshops, and guest lectures focused on good practices in social entrepreneurship sector
- Engagement of associated partners in ERUA initiatives
- Upcoming public presentations of student-led social entrepreneurship business models
WP7 Shaping ERUA Through Student Engagement
- Two students of Management and Leadership at SWPS University organized a workshop on project management and design thinking, for their fellow ERUA students
- USWPS student members of the ERUA Steering Committee presented WP 7 achievements
- All ERUA student representatives participated in a tree planting event to promote pro-climate behaviors and contribute to sustainability
WP8 Dissemination and Impact
- Completion of the mid-term report for the European Commission
- Organization of the 2025 ERUA Day
- Improvements to the current communication practices and the use of communication tools, such as the ERUA Website and social media channels
- Planning the WP8 Annual Meeting scheduled for spring of 2026
- Communication coverage of the whole 2025 ERUA Summit
WP 8 IT Team
- Development of IT solutions enabling students to add their European Student Cards (ESC) to e-wallets, which in turn, will improve international student mobility experience
- Further development of a common ERUA student ID
- Progress of the microcredentials implementation (i.e., qualifications focused on a specified professional or career discipline, which tie credentials to specific skill sets).
Additionally, Vice Rectors for Education from all ERUA member universities met to discuss the “Joint Master's Degree in Forced Migration: Europe in a Global Context”. Professor Ewa Gruszczyńska, Vice-Rector for International Affairs, represented SWPS University at that meeting.
Members of ERUA Communication team at ERUA Summit 2025
ERUA students plant trees at Lesvos, Greece
Informal talks during ERUA Summit 2025
Campus of the University of the Aegean, Lesvos, Greece
Cultural and social integration
The 2025 ERUA Summit was a wonderful opportunity for a meeting of students, academics and administrative staff from eight different universities and eight different countries, including Bulgaria, France, Germany, Greece, Italy, Lithuania, Poland, and Spain. Such meetings allow us to get to know each better, understand our respective cultures, and through discussions and exchange of ideas, forge new solutions, come up with innovate ideas and plan for the future of the Alliance.
Our hosts from the University of the Aegean ensured that we also could visit some local landmarks and learn about the history and culture of the region.
We have returned to our respective universities full of ideas and energy to pursue ERUA goals.
ERUA Member Universities
Funding