Photo: Mircea Popa, UB.
From concrete plans to fun
Participants of the CIVIS Unit Summit had their priorities clear: networking, collaboration, clear planning... and palinka! Aiming to reconnect with colleagues, boosting connections, and enhancing cooperation between CIVIS Units were the most cited objectives during the first day’s Mentimeter survey. But our “civizens” came ready to work. Participants sought to understand each other's perspectives and challenges and came ready to find solutions, define clear priorities, and foster efficient communication and coordination.
Establishing concrete action plans, a fixed calendar for activities, and quality control processes, while exchanging best practices and pushing forward digital tools for CIVIS were some of the elements that came up on the survey. A day-long world-café, followed by a day-and-a-half of topical sessions allowed the Units to address these expectations.
One world café, three rounds and the sound of birds chirping
The day started with formal and encouraging welcome words by the University of Bucharest's authorities:
- The Vice Rector of Internationalisation and Public Relations, Assoc. Prof. Constantin Vică, Ph.D.,
- The President of the Board of Trustees of the University of Bucharest and member of the CIVIS Steering Committee, Prof. Romiță Iucu, Ph.D.
- The Director International Relations, Alina Cristovici, and
- CIVIS Institutional Coordinator at UB, Raluca Amza
After the formal opening, Assist. Prof. Alexandru Carțiș Phd(c.), Head of the Education Unit, kicked off the joint session.
During a full day, the Heads of Unit and Officers turned around four work tables where different CIVIS challenges were tackled.
- Lars Banzhaf & Petra Höpfner represented the perspective and challenges of the Mobility Unit
- David Touzot, Head of the Digital Campus Unit, brought the IT view to the discussions
- Julie Hyzewicz, Head of the newly minted Research Unit, led the discussions around this important area
- Alexandru Carțiș, Head of the Education Unit, introduced the multiple programmes and expectations around the CIVIS educational offer
- María Isabel Soldevila Brea, Head of the Communication Unit, took participants on a tour of the steps to make a campaign.
- Christian Möllmann, Global Partnerships Officer, presented the angle of inclusion of associate members from universities in Africa
- Anna-Karin Björling, Quality Assurance Officer, made sure a quality culture was present in all the discussions
"Having one problem discussed from each Unit's perspective was really helpful”, said Alexandru Carțiș, head of the Education unit. “It was a good opportunity to tackle some grey areas where tasks fall in between units – for which we do not take enough time to discuss in general”.
For Petra Höpfner (Mobility and Education Units), the success of the CIVIS 2 project hinges on the support and contributions of everyone involved. Clearly defined processes and a comprehensive project calendar are essential. Enhancing dialogue, collaboration, and communication across units and within the institution is a top priority.
Was it useful to meet in this new way? For Petra Höpfner, the cross-Unit meeting facilitated a deepening in the knowledge of the project's structure, and facilitated the exchange on perspectives and challenges faced by other Units on similar topics.
Participants will never forget the chirping sounds of a toy-bird that keep them on their toes when it was time to switch hats and tackle a new perspective.
The human dimension
CIVIS is also about making connections with other committed humans, and the Unit Summit was an opportunity not only to work, but to bond with colleagues from accross the Alliance. During the many greatly organised afterwork events, "civizens" also had the chance to put a three dimensional face to the e-mail address or the online meeting avatar.
The face-to-face interactions allowed for more meaningful conversations and the opportunity to address issues that might have been overlooked in virtual meetings. Despite the challenges, participants recognised that different perspectives matter and that thinking outside the box can lead to innovative solutions.
It has been incredibly inspiring to meet colleagues from different units. It gave me a three-dimensional understanding of what we do, why we do it, and the challenges we all face. I believe it will make collaboration much easier in the future”, said Serena Nobili, member of the Communication Unit from Stockholm University.
What next?
The summit underscored the need for effective communication, frequent exchanges, and innovative solutions. Participants valued the dedication and enthusiasm of CIVIS members, recognising the importance of structured approaches and sharing best practices.
The CIVIS Unit Summit was a powerful reminder that, although we work across different areas within CIVIS, we are united by shared expectations, a common vision, and a deep commitment to our Alliance. Together, we are building a strong European University Alliance, driving innovation in education, mobility, communication, digitalisation, research, global cooperation, and quality enhancement. We also recognised that the path ahead is not without its challenges and struggles. However, the Summit reaffirmed the strength of our community — a team of dedicated colleagues from across Europe, working together towards a common goal", said Alexandru Carțiș,
A survey conducted among participants at the end of the joint session revealed strong support for making the Unit Summit a tradition, with 70% of respondents eager to participate again and 30% open to the idea depending on the programme. Nobody said no!
Now it's time to get to it!
Photos: Esther Malice, Andrei-Călin Ionescu, Mircea Popa.
