EAIR Forum 2026
Strengthening trust between higher education and society
This event is partially funded under Research Project No. P-EDU-23-27 (co-funded by the European Union through the “Breakthrough in Educational Research” project No. 10-044-P-0001, in cooperation with the Research Council of Lithuania and Vilnius University) and the Conference Support Programme by Go Vilnius.
Track CHAIRS
Dr. Jorrit Snijder
President of the Executive Board, Breda University of Applied Sciences (BUas).
Dr. Snijder holds a PhD in Higher Education Policy Studies from the University of Twente.
He studied Public Administration at Leiden University and completed an internship at Aarhus
University in Denmark. Prior to his current role, he served as Executive Director of
University College Roosevelt (2008–...), worked at the NVAO, and lectured at Leiden
University’s Campus The Hague. He is Vice-Chairman of the Economic Board West Brabant,
Chairman of Logistics Community Brabant and CELTH, and a member of the Strategic
Board of Visit-Brabant.
Prof. Matt O’Leary
Professor of Education and Academic Lead for REF UoA23 (Education), Birmingham City
University
Prof. O’Leary is a leading international expert on classroom observation. His research
focuses on education policy and practice in further and higher education, particularly in the
context of educator professional learning and pedagogic development. He is widely
recognised for his extensive work on the use of observation to understand and improve
teaching and learning across schools, colleges, and universities.
Track 2: Governance and Management
Dr. Rūta Bružienė
Researcher, Education Policy Centre, Vilnius University; Co-Opted Member of the EAIR Executive Committee
Dr. Bružienė’s research focuses on governance reforms in higher education, particularly
within the socio-economic and political context of Central and Eastern Europe. She recommends visiting the Museum of Occupations and Freedom Fights in Vilnius, followed by the historic Neringa hotel restaurant, a venue once frequented by both party elites and
dissidents during the Soviet era.
Assoc.Prof.Dr. Gergely Kováts
Associate Professor, Institute of Strategy and Management; Executive Director, Center for International Higher Education Studies, Corvinus University of Budapest
Dr. Kováts specialises in higher education governance and management, institutional
autonomy, and academic freedom. He is a member of the Council of Europe’s Expert Working Group on the Democratic Mission of Higher Education and has served as an advisor
to the European Parliament’s STOA Committee, co-authoring an expert report on academic
freedom.
Track 3: Engagement and Partnerships in Higher Education
Prof. Mark O’Hara
Principal Fellow, Higher Education Academy; Senior Consultant (Education), Advance-HE;
Vice-Chair of EAIR
Prof. O’Hara has over 30 years of experience in higher education. He is a National Teaching
Fellow (NTF) and a winner of the UK’s Collaborative Award for Teaching Excellence
(CATE).
Prof. Dominik Antonowicz
University Professor, Department of Science and Higher Education Research, Institute of Sociology, Nicolaus Copernicus University (NCU)
Prof. Antonowicz’s research interests focus on global trends in higher education, policy
developments, and university governance. He investigates higher education reforms, transformations in university governance models, and mechanisms of research evaluation.
Track 4: Academic Profession and Professional Development
Prof. Glen A. Jones
Professor of Higher Education, Department of Leadership, Higher and Adult Education,
Ontario Institute for Studies in Education (OISE), University of Toronto
Prof. Jones is a globally recognised scholar in higher education. He has received numerous
awards for his research and contributions to the field, including an honorary degree. He has
supervised over 40 doctoral students and is a frequent commentator on higher education
issues.
Dr. Corinna Geppert
Deputy Head, Department for Higher Education Research, University for Continuing
Education Krems
Her research interests include academic working conditions, educational equity and equality,
educational assessment and policy, arts and education, as well as mixed methods and
longitudinal research.
Track 5: Research Policy
Prof. Habil. Dr. Rimantas Želvys
Professor and Head, Education Policy Centre, Institute of Education, Vilnius University
Prof. Želvys’s research interests include education management and policy, education
reforms, and higher education development, with a particular focus on post-socialist Central
and Eastern Europe.
Assoc.Prof.Dr. Jessica Nooij
Associate Professor, Avans University of Applied Sciences, Netherlands
Dr. Nooij specialises in transdisciplinary collaborations and Inner Development Goals (IDGs) in higher education. She is affiliated with the Centres of Expertise for Future-Proof Education, focusing on integrating sustainable development principles, fostering
transdisciplinary collaboration, and enhancing educational and research strategies for long-
term societal impact.
Track 6: Evaluation in Higher Education
Dr. Monika Orechova
Deputy Director, Institute of Education Research; Associate Professor, Education Policy Centre, Vilnius University
Dr. Orechova’s work focuses on the systemic development of higher education in the context
of wider socio-political change, particularly in Central and Eastern Europe. She recommends
taking an early morning walk through Vilnius Old Town.
Dr. Göran Melin
Associate Consultant, Technopolis Group; EAIR Executive Committee Member
Dr. Melin specialises in issues that shape scientific practice across research, innovation, and
education. He has conducted studies and evaluations on research production, funding
mechanisms, higher education organisation, institutional mergers, doctoral training, academic
careers, and university-society cooperation.