The 38th Rectors' Assembly hosted by KU Leuven
23.11.2020
On Friday 20 and Saturday 21 November 2020, the League of European Research Universities (LERU) organised its 38th Rectors’ Assembly. The two-day event was transformed into an online event, kicked-off by the LERU Chair & President of Sorbonne Université, Jean Chambaz, and the Rector of KU Leuven, Luc Sels. As usual, the Assembly brought all 23 LERU rectors together to discuss topics related to EU and domestic research, innovation and education policy.
Keynote speaker Ms. Mariya Gabriel, European Commissioner for Innovation, Research, Culture, Education and Youth, gave the rectors more insight in the recent EU recommendations on ERA and EEA, and the recent developments on the EU budget and recovery fund. This sparked an interesting Q&A with the rectors. Prof. Luk Van Langenhove, Commissioner of the Rector for International networks & Institutes at the Vrije Universiteit Brussel and academic lead for the EUTOPIA European University project at VUB, addressed the Assembly about science diplomacy and the possible roles for research-intensive universities.
On the second day, the event took off with a dynamic roundtable discussion on the role of universities in the post-pandemic economic recovery, followed by an exchange with Prof. Jean-Pierre Bourguignon, President of the European Research Council.
Over the two days, also other topics were debated, such as Horizon Europe, the contribution of the Dutch universities to the SDGs and Open Science at LERU universities.
Finally, the Rectors' Assembly appointed Prof. Yves Flückiger, Rector of the University of Geneva, as new member of the LERU Board of Directors. He will succeed Prof. Michael Arthur, President & Provost of UCL, who is about to retire.
The next LERU Rectors’ Assembly will take place at Sorbonne University in spring 2021.
