Barcelona Summer School on Higher Education Policy and Management
Training professionals to lead Innovative Institutions
3rd - 6th June 2025
Hub Social Barcelona
In a world undergoing profound economic, social, cultural, and technological transformation, Higher Education Institutions (HEIs) worldwide must rethink their social role and strategic objectives.
In this context, GUNi presented the strategic program The Higher Education Leadership and Management Hub, offering HEIs a platform where leadership teams and managers can become professionals capable of driving this transformation and contributing to the development of more resilient, sustainable, and socially committed institutions. Furthermore, this program fosters collaboration in shared working spaces with local and international stakeholders through collaborative networks aligned with the Sustainable Development Goals and the values of UNESCO and GUNi.
With this goal in mind, the first Barcelona Summer School on Higher Education Policy and Management was launched in 2024, and this year marks the second edition.
Why this Summer School?
Following the success of the first edition (watch the video and read some testimonals here), the 2nd Barcelona Summer School on Higher Education Policy and Management will take place in Barcelona from June 3 to 6, 2025.
This Summer School is an innovative professional training and development program designed for senior leaders and managers of higher education institutions worldwide, as well as professionals in university policy and management.
The goal of the Barcelona Summer School is to equip university leaders and managers with the knowledge, values, skills, and experiences necessary to become agents of innovation and institutional transformation. Promoted by the Global University Network for Innovation (GUNi), the program aims to empower higher education professionals to lead a more resilient, sustainable, innovative, and socially responsible university model.
To achieve this, the program offers an intensive, in-person, and innovative training experience that combines theoretical reflections and conceptual analyses with workshops, debate sessions, and practical case studies, providing participants with tools and strategies for institutional transformation and innovation.
The Barcelona Summer School aligns with GUNi’s vision of universities as beacons for society, leading the knowledge society and forging a new social contract to drive progress, justice, and well-being. It also emphasizes the role of universities in addressing global challenges and advancing the United Nations Sustainable Development Goals (SDGs). In this context, the program prepares participants to work in a diverse international environment through inter-institutional collaboration.
The faculty team consists of renowned international experts, professionals, and decision-makers in higher education policy, university management, and institutional innovation and transformation.
The first edition of the program, held in June 2024, welcomed 27 senior leaders and managers from 18 countries worldwide. Participants rated the program as excellent, highlighting its significant professional and personal impact, which will undoubtedly benefit their careers and institutions.
Programme 2nd edition Barcelona Summer School
3 June
Universities as complex organizations. Transformative leadership and change management
Xavier Jané, facilitator at Kaospilot, school for creative leadership & meaningful entrepreneurship
Josep M. Vilalta, GUNi Director and ACUP Executive Secretary
This collaborative workshop is designed to explore and apply the Inner Development Goals (IDG) framework within the context of university leadership.The IDG framework was developed as a complement to the Sustainable Development Goals (SDGs), emphasizing the integration of personal
competences for meaningful social impact. It offers a structured approach to identifying and developing key leadership skills—both on a personal and professional level.
To close the workshop, participants will engage in a reflective journaling exercise. This activity is intended to help them connect the learning experiences from the entire week with the IDG framework, fostering deeper insight into their own leadership development.
Everyday, there will be a short session on leadership to drive into the competences needed and related to each area of interest or main topics of the programme.
Dídac Ferrer, Head of the Innovation and Community Office at the Polytechnic University of Catalonia
– Barcelona Tech
Antonio Casado, Director for Responsible Research at the University of the Basque Country
What is the decision making process within universities? Who are the main stakeholders? How are universities organized internally? This conference aims to introduce HEIs as complex institutions and will serve as an open space for participants to engage in critical reflection and debate about how their structure and key characteristics affect leadership and management.
Josep M. Vilalta, GUNi Director and ACUP Executive Secretary
A university is a complex institution with multiple missions and goals, characterized by a high level of expertise and specialization. It operates without a clear bottom line, making it challenging to measure results. Additionally, universities are institutions committed to dialogue and the respect of diverse viewpoints through academic freedom. In this context, what are the characteristics of university culture? How do they differ from a corporate culture? Is the university culture a barrier to change?
This conference aims to initiate a dialogue on how university culture and change management can enhance Higher Education Institutions (HEIs). Universities and HEIs are expected to cultivate graduates who become leaders across political, social, and economic spheres. This conference will explore the relevance of emphasising the social purpose of university.
Eva Egron-Polak, former Secretary General of the International Association of Universities (IAU)
4 June
Emerging topics for the transformation of higher education agenda (I) Shared agendas & alliances / Artificial intelligence
Antonio Casado, Director for Responsible Research at the University of the Basque Country
There is a strong connection between the well-being of a society and the development of knowledge.
A region that distributes its resources, skills, and potential effectively is one that is building a sustainable, competitive model that leads to greater well-being and prosperity. This panel is focused on encouraging a more innovative and flexible ecosystem, one that can better address the challenges that are specific to each region or territory.
The transformative goals of universities require strong leadership in guiding responsible research and innovation processes, involving various sectors such
as society, research, industry, policy, and education. These processes aim to adopt new approaches to knowledge that address both the significant challenges and the key gaps in current research and innovation practices.
Using different case studies, the speakers will emphasize the importance of having well-organized knowledge and innovation strategies that are specifically designed for the unique needs of local and regional environments.
Tatiana Fernández – Head of Economic Strategy at the Government of Catalonia
Mihal Medzinki – Expert in policy analysis, foresight, and evaluation at Joint Research Centre, European Commission
This session will unfold how essential is the cooperation between universities and their cities for a sustainable growth. With representatives from different universities and cities, we will discover different examples of collaboration and their impact in society, how they manage social development and shared knowledge. Cities have a specific role and resources that can collaborate with the knowledge and research from HEIs, thus collaboration is essential to design and implement initiatives to thrive progress and social development.
Jordi Valls – Deputy Mayor Area for Economy, Tax, Economic Promotion and Tourism at Barcelona City Council
Berrin Yanikkaya – Dean of the Faculty of Arts and Sciences at the Yeditepe University and founding Director of the University Learning and Teaching Implementation and Research Centre
Jeroen Bourgonjon – Co-founder of COMON and professor at the Ghent University
María Jesús del Blanco –Manager of Urban Economy Area at Bilbao Ekintza (Economic Development Agency of Bilbao)
Willem van Winden – Professor of Applied Sciences at the Amsterdam University and founder of Regenalyze
The workshop invites us to build collaborative ecosystems to drive transformative innovation between HEIs, cities and other actors. It will strengthen the importance of shared leadership in research and explore personal competencies further to drive transformative innovation within our institutions.
This practical session will analyze and discover the possibilities of collaboration between a city and its HEIs in different fields with a shared purpose for social and sustainable development. It will introduce the key drivers for collaboration, and basic ideas and steps to set up a strategic collaboration between cities and universities.
Alejandra Boni – Full professor at Universitat Politècnica de València and a research fellow at INGENIO
Míriam Acebillo-Baqué – Researcher at INGENIO
The aim of this session is to analyse the current and future impacts of Artificial Intelligence (AI) on the management of HEIs and its core activities, especially in scientific research, management and training. It will give an overview of the current initiatives that are ongoing internationally and a glance of the future impact of AI.
Josep Maria Martorell – Associate Director of the Barcelona Supercomputing Center
Maria Vanrell – Full Professor at the Universitat Autònoma de Barcelona and Researcher at Computer Vision Center
Davinia Hernández-Leo – Full professor of Engineering and Information and Communication Technologies and Serra Húnter Fellow, Universitat Pompeu Fabra
Karma Peiró – Journalist specializing in Information and Communication Technologies
5 June
Emerging topics for the transformation of higher education agenda (II) Research and Innovation / Sustainability
Antonio Casado, Director for Responsible Research at the University of the Basque Country
The aim of this session is to critically examine research and innovation policies and management, with a focus on how they are led while also drawing attention to less visible aspects, such as the recognition of externalities caused by the economic growth model. The session will explore the impact of political and strategic decisions on sustainability, equity, and social and environmental dynamics. In addition, emerging topics of significant relevance will be discussed, including open science, the democratization of knowledge, citizen science, and the limits of technological innovations. This session will provide a platform to debate the opportunities and challenges arising from these new perspectives, highlighting the importance of innovative and responsible management in addressing global challenges both now and in the future.
Diana Escobar, Project Manager of the Department of Science and Innovation, Barcelona City Council
Xabier Goenaga, Former Head of the Knowledge for Finance, Innovation and Growth Unit at the Joint Research Centre of the European Commission
Eduard Aibar, Full professor of Science and Technology Studies, Open University of Catalonia, Spain
Pere Condom, Director of Strategic Analysis Area at the General Directorate of Industry at the Government of Catalonia
This session focuses on the pivotal role universities play as key agents in promoting sustainable development. As educational institutions, they are tasked not only with fulfilling their academic and research mandates but also with integrating sustainability into their governance structures and daily campus management. This session will explore the strategies and approaches universities can adopt to drive institutional innovation and foster meaningful change, ensuring that they contribute effectively to the creation of a more sustainable future. The discussion will highlight best practices, challenges, and opportunities for universities in aligning their operations with sustainability goals, while also examining how they can serve as models of innovation and responsibility for the wider community.
Arnau Queralt, Director of the Advisory Council for the Sustainable Development of Catalonia (CADS) and chair of the EEAC Network (moderator)
This workshop will introduce some of the tools and skills required to build tailored sustainability strategies. These will be based on an assessment of their departments’ strengths and weaknesses in terms of the integration of sustainability into teaching and learning, research activities, community engagement, governance and supporting roles in different departments.
Thorsten Kliewe, Managing Director of the Science-to-Business Marketing Research Centre at FH Münster – University of Applied Sciences (Germany)
6 June
Leading and managing universities in the 21st century
Today’s global challenges require higher education institutions to embrace collaborative leadership, rooted in interconnected networks, systems, and strategic alliances. Universities not only generate and disseminate knowledge but also provide platforms for debate, consensus-building, and the development of multi-actor global governance in an increasingly complex environment.
This session will explore how to strengthen leadership in higher education through a dynamic ecosystem approach, leveraging interinstitutional collaboration to drive transformation. Speakers will discuss the essential leadership competencies and skills needed to manage university networks effectively and sustainably. Through real-world experiences, we will examine how to align institutional goals with global challenges and maximize the potential of these alliances within each higher education institution.
Kherieh Rassas – President of the Mediterranean Universities Union (UNIMED) and Vice President for International and External Affairs at An Najah National University
Theresia Nkuo- Akenji – Vice-Chancellor of The University of Bamenda – Association of African Universities
Josep M. Vilalta, GUNi Director and ACUP
Sara López, President of the European Association for International Education (EAIE)
This workshop is designed to help participants translate leadership skills into the institutional structures of their own universities. We will begin by revisiting the individual reflections on leadership skills captured during the journaling exercise introduced on the first day. Building on these insights, participants will engage in a co-creation methodology to share perspectives, combine ideas, and explore how the principles of transformative leadership can be meaningfully applied within their university contexts.
Dídac Ferrer, Head of the Innovation and Community Office at the Polytechnic University of Catalonia – Barcelona Tech
Antonio Casado, Director for Responsible Research at the University of the Basque Country
Josep M. Vilalta, GUNi Director and ACUP Executive Secretary
The conclusions of the analyses pointed to three critical factors for university transformation. Firstly, the institution’s capacity to bring about this transformation. This means institutional and strategic policies, operational tools, managing human teams, corporate culture, etc. Transforming or introducing change and innovation processes in institutions such as universities is complex, considering their characteristics, idiosyncrasies and the weight of tradition. Secondly, and closely linked to the previous point, leadership and management capacities are critical factors, not only to help navigate the institution through predictable and stable moments but particularly when the university is going through periods of change. Therefore, we need to train leaders and managers to transform universities under the guidelines of UNESCO and GUNi. Thirdly, forming alliances between universities and their close environment (cities and regions) will be a strategic aspect in the next years. The knowledge society and its social, economic, and technological challenges call for strong partnerships between cities, regions, and universities. These alliances will help create shared agendas that enable universities to tackle social issues and address challenges related to sustainability, equity, equal opportunities, the evolving labour market, and lifelong learning while promoting active citizenship and democracy.
To accomplish this, GUNi designed and launched three strategic programmes closely connected to apply the recommendations suggested by the mentioned reports. These include providing opportunities for reflection, professional development and resources to empower universities to drive transformation and improvement processes. GUNi’s three strategic programmes – which encompass several specific actions – are the International Call to Action (the first phase spans from 2023 to 2026), the Higher Education Leadership and Management Hub and the Cities&Universities programme.
From June 18 to 21 2024, the First Edition of the Barcelona Summer School on Higher Education Policy and Management was successfully held. Watch the video to know more about it.
Speakers and lecturers
Full professor at Universitat Politècnica de València and a research fellow at INGENIO, Spain
Director for Responsible Research at University of the Basque Country, Spain
Director of the Strategic Analysis Area, in the General Directorate of Industry of the Generalitat of Catalonia, Spain
Professor of Artificial Intelligence at the Universitat Politècnica de Catalunya (UPC) and Researcher at the Barcelona Supercomputing Center (BSC)
Director of the Business Promotion, Employment, and Talent Area at Bilbao Ekintza
Head of the Innovation and Community Office, Universitat Politècnica de Catalunya – Barcelona Tech, Spain
Former Head of the Knowledge for Finance, Innovation and Growth Unit at the Joint Research Centre of the European Commission
Full professor of Engineering and Information and Communication Technologies and Serra Húnter Fellow, Universitat Pompeu Fabra, Spain
Managing Director of the Science-to-Business Marketing Research Centre at FH Münster – University of Applied Sciences, Germany
President of the European Association for International Education (EAIE) and Director of International Relations at Pompeu Fabra University
Expert in policy analysis, foresight, and evaluation, with a focus on innovation and sustainable development
Director of the Advisory Council for Sustainable Development (CADS) and President of the European Network of Environmental and Sustainable Development Advisory Councils (EEAC)
Deputy Mayor Area for Economy, Tax, Economic Promotion and Tourism at Barcelona City Council, Spain
Full Professor at Universitat Autònoma de Barcelona and Researcher at Computer Vision Center, Spain
Professor of Applied Sciences at the Amsterdam University and founder of Regenalyze; Netherlands
Dean of the Faculty of Arts and Sciences at Yeditepe University and founding Director of the University Learning and Teaching Implementation and Research Centre, Turkey
Registration
Would you like to know more about the main topics and pillars of the Second Edition… and which are the next steps?
Fill out the form and receive all the program information in the coming weeks.
Standard rate
From 21 April-
EXCEPT GUNI MEMBERS
-
1800€
The registration fee (general and GUNi members) for the Barcelona Summer School on Higher Education Policy and Management includes Summer School documentation, access to all sessions, coffee service, meals, visits and cultural activity.
Please register and attach the documents required via the Conftool platform:
www.conftool.com/barcelona-summerschool-2025/
The number of places is limited. Applications will be evaluated on a rolling basis by GUNi Secretariat. Candidates will be informed in three days at latest.
The documents required to complete the registration form are:
- Curriculum Vitae
- Motivation letter
Cancellation Policy
If you are unable to attend, please note that requests for reimbursements must be sent to info@guni.org mail by 12th May 2025. In the case of registrations cancelled from 21st April 2025 to 29th May 2025, 10% of the fee will be with held to cover administration costs. No reimbursements will be accepted after this date (29th May 2025).
