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[The CIVIS Newsroom ](https://civis.eu/el/the-civis-newsroom) 2. Nadia Fernández de Pinedo: A Civizen Building Change through Collaboration Nadia Fernández de Pinedo: A Civizen Building Change through Collaboration ============================================================================ People 7 Ιουλίου 2026 **Do you know what a ‘civizen’ is? Meet them all! This story by student ambassador Laura Carmona Navajo puts the spotlight on Nadia Fernández de Pinedo, UAM’s Rector’s Delegate for CIVIS and one of the key figures behind the Alliance.** ![](https://civis.eu/storage/files/nadia2.jpg)Long before becoming actively involved in CIVIS, Professor Nadia Fernández de Pinedo’s work already reflected a strong interest in European cooperation and educational innovation. With such a background, playing a central role in the alliance from its earliest stages in 2019 came naturally. She first led the CIVIS Work Package on Teaching Excellence at Universidad Autónoma de Madrid, and in October 2022 became the Rector’s Delegate for CIVIS. Participating in the design of new programmes, and ensuring that students are aware of all the opportunities CIVIS offers, Nadia is now one of the alliance’s strongest bridge between the institution and its students. Joint degrees and shared education: the path forward for Europe --------------------------------------------------------------- For Fernández de Pinedo, meeting societal needs is central to CIVIS’ identity, with *civic engagement* as a shared core value. As a founding member of the alliance, she sees fostering this engagement its main goal as, differently defined by each university. For her, it means educating responsible citizens rooted in democratic values and driving actions with real societal impact - one of universities’ key missions: ![Prof. Nadia Fernández de Pinedo, Universidad Autónoma de Madrid](https://civis.eu/storage/files/nadia-fernandez-de-pinedo-uam.jpg) > A civizen has to be someone open-minded, who understands that the university’s mission goes beyond teaching content. It must contribute to building a better society, grounded in democratic values and helping people become better individuals. That is essential to me Prof. Nadia Fernández de Pinedo, Universidad Autónoma de Madrid This vision fuels her commitment to transforming higher education at the European level through CIVIS. She is convinced that Europe needs to take a step forward in its education system so that the education it provides truly meets both current and future labor market demands. Professor Fernández de Pinedo believes that joint degrees and shared education benefit both institutions and students and are likely to become a major trend in the coming years. Drawing on her background in economic history and her ongoing engagement with the European Commission, she has a strong understanding of current societal and labor market demands. She therefore seeks to give students a voice within the alliance, using their feedback to help shape flexible programs aligned with their interests, societal needs, and the evolving European job market. Far more efficient together than isolated ----------------------------------------- ![](https://civis.eu/storage/files/nadia5.jpg)At the centre Prof. Nadia Fernández de Pinedo, with the team that worked on testing the European Degree Label (SMARTT Project).The experience within CIVIS proved that, when universities collaborate as part of an alliance, they can achieve far more than they could in isolation - even developing pedagogical innovation initiatives that can reach European Commission bodies. Alliances also help balance university systems across countries, enabling institutions that are more stagnant to progress, draw inspiration from other universities’ best practices, focus on competency-based education rather than solely on content, and set an example for other national universities, enabling them to progressively benefit from these transformations. One if the CIVIS’ aspects Professor Fernánadez de Pinedo values more is international collaboration and the sharing of best practices between universities - the key to educational systems progressing and evolving. ![Prof. Nadia Fernández de Pinedo, Universidad Autónoma de Madrid](https://civis.eu/storage/files/nadia-fernandez-de-pinedo-uam.jpg) > A significant proportion of faculty members involved in CIVIS are enthusiastic and see it as an opportunity to improve university quality and flexibility. There is resistance to change, but overall, participants tend to have a very positive experience. We must adapt to a rapidly changing world, otherwise we risk falling behind Prof. Nadia Fernández de Pinedo, Universidad Autónoma de Madrid According to what she has observed and what she receives from the European Commission, it is not enough for different universities to only share resources - programmes must also be co-designed and co-delivered, and this can only truly be achieved within the framework of an alliance. Furthermore, as previously mentioned, these kinds of initiatives are most likely to have an impact at the European level, since the European Commission cannot legislate in education but can only make recommendations. Working with the European Commission, a complex task ---------------------------------------------------- Working with the European Commission involves navigating pre-established administrative procedures and adapting to a culturally diverse environment, which is not immediately apparent. Each university tends to reproduce its own legal systems and procedures, making processes more complex and slower. It may seem that CIVIS moves slowly, but the reality is that many people like her are working in the background to introduce gradually noticeable changes. In other words, alliances indirectly encourage national systems and quality assurance agencies to become more flexible. ![](https://civis.eu/storage/files/nadia4.jpg)Yet despite these obstacles, Nadia sees alliances precisely as spaces where meaningful transformation can emerge. One of the clearest examples is the [SMARTT project](https://civis.eu/el/discover-civis-alliance/our-work/civis-alliance-projects/recent-projects/smartt), led by the CIVIS alliance and coordinated by Professor Fernández de Pinedo as principal investigator. This project involved screening joint programs to identify key challenges of co-design, and interviewing quality assurance agencies and ministries of education. This research was highly insightful in revealing the main challenges: lack of knowledge of legal frameworks, the large number of stakeholders involved in every decision-making process, and resistance to change. It also included recommendations that reinforced ideas Nadia already believed in and had previously stated: making education more flexible, promoting co-creation, improving collaboration with institutions, and supporting international career paths. ![Prof. Nadia Fernández de Pinedo, Universidad Autónoma de Madrid](https://civis.eu/storage/files/nadia-fernandez-de-pinedo-uam.jpg) > What makes CIVIS different from other alliances is that here 11 comprehensive universities are covering all disciplines. Through hubs, we’ve tried to include everything, which has required more collaboration, and perhaps made it harder to find common ground Prof. Nadia Fernández de Pinedo, Universidad Autónoma de Madrid CIVIS, an adrenaline rush driven by the excitement of creating something new ---------------------------------------------------------------------------- While promoting the BIPs ([Blended Intensive Programmes](https://civis.eu/el/learn/blended-intensive-programmes)) among students and professors, Professor Fernández de Pinedo observed that by co-designing and co-delivering those courses, many participants formed lasting collaborative groups, with some even applying for research projects together. Thus, she sees how this type of programmes offer an excellent opportunity to enjoy greater flexibility in terms of international mobility - particularly for students who are unable to spend long periods abroad. On the other hand, she finds [Microcredentials ](https://civis.eu/el/learn/build-your-learning-path-with-our-modular-offer)highly suitable for the demands of the current labor market - characterised by rapidly changing needs - where it is important for students to continue learning and acquiring new skills, something that this initiative, which continues to improve and expand its reach, offers and validates. ![](https://civis.eu/storage/files/nadia3.jpg)In other words, working with CIVIS and creating so many different programmes is very *”intellectually stimulating”*, she says, deeply appreciating the amazing people she gets to meet. ![Prof. Nadia Fernández de Pinedo, Universidad Autónoma de Madrid](https://civis.eu/storage/files/nadia-fernandez-de-pinedo-uam.jpg) > For me, CIVIS is a great opportunity to create a university with truly better-trained citizens, capable of facing life, and especially its challenges. It’s simply wonderful! Prof. Nadia Fernández de Pinedo, Universidad Autónoma de Madrid Related news ------------ - [ ![](https://civis.eu/storage/files/sebastian-seiffert-800x600.jpg?token=5568638d787338019e5bfc07c1db690b)Sebastian SEIFFERT People 29 Ιουνίου 2026 ](https://civis.eu/el/the-civis-newsroom/sebastian-seiffert) - [ ![](https://civis.eu/storage/files/random-sizes-for-galleries-website-photos-1-800x600.jpg?token=77f645082e58cf18f4ff5b333c9bf163)CIVIS Student Ambassadors Take Centre Stage in Newsroom Pilot Communication and Dissemination 22 Ιουνίου 2026 ](https://civis.eu/el/the-civis-newsroom/civis-student-ambassadors-take-the-lead-inside-the-newsroom-pilot-project) - [ ![](https://civis.eu/storage/files/units-summit-ulb-2026-1-800x600.jpg?token=1cade177ced2307c4691cc41f31453ad)Χτίζοντας μια Συμμαχία με Αντίκτυπο: Πέντε Μαθήματα από τις Ομάδες του CIVIS Communication and Dissemination 25 Μαΐου 2026 ](https://civis.eu/el/the-civis-newsroom/building-an-alliance-that-works-five-lessons-from-the-civis-units) [Ανακαλύψτε όλες μας τις ιστορίες](https://civis.eu/el/the-civis-newsroom) [ Sebastian SEIFFERT ](< https://civis.eu/el/the-civis-newsroom/sebastian-seiffert >) ![CIVIS – Europe’s Civic University Alliance](https://civis.eu/build/assets/civis-CCpvK1nT.svg) ------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------- Europe’s Civic University Alliance ![Co-funded by the European Union](https://civis.eu/build/assets/co-funded-by-the-european-union-DSKLW1us.png)Views and opinions expressed do not necessarily reflect those of the European Union or the European Education and Culture Executive Agency (EACEA). 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