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Strengthening Trust: A Look Back at the 48th EAIR Forum in Vilnius

From 26 to 28 August 2026, the EAIR community gathered at Vilnius University in Lithuania for the 48th Annual Forum. Under the theme “Strengthening Trust Between Higher Education and Society,” the event brought together researchers, practitioners, and leaders from across Europe and beyond for three days of discussion, exchange, and reflection on the relationship between universities and the societies they serve. 

A Warm Welcome in Vilnius

The Forum was hosted by the Education Policy Centre at the Institute of Education, Faculty of Philosophy, Vilnius University . The local organising team, created a welcoming environment that allowed participants to engage deeply with the programme while also experiencing the historic charm of Vilnius .

The choice of Vilnius as the venue was significant. As Monika Orechova noted, events of this scale in higher education are rare in the region, making the Forum a valuable opportunity for Lithuanian researchers and professionals to build international partnerships and present their work to a global audience .

Keynotes that Challenged and Inspired

The programme featured a line-up of distinguished keynote speakers who approached the theme from different angles.

Prof. Dr. Liudvika Leišytė, President of EAIR, opened the Forum with her keynote on “Trust, Governance and Stakeholders: Beyond New Public Management in Higher Education.” She emphasised the importance of including a wide range of stakeholders—especially students—in building trust in European higher education .

Prof. Dr. Michèle Lamont of Harvard University followed with a thought-provoking address titled “Out of Muddy Waters? Debates around Diversity and Excellence in American Higher Education,”drawing on her extensive work on evaluation, recognition, and inequality .

Prof. Dr. Attila Pausits, former EAIR Chair and Full Professor at the University for Continuing Education Krems, delivered a keynote on “End Times for Elegance: From Storytelling to Traceability in Higher Education,” reflecting on how evidence and evaluation can strengthen institutional credibility .

The final keynote was given by Dr. Cláudia Sarrico, Secretary of State for Higher Education in Portugal, who explored the accountability paradox and the challenge for the state to learn to trust without abandoning accountability .

A Programme Built on Six Tracks

The Forum programme was organised around six thematic tracks, each chaired by leading experts in the field:

  • Track 1: Teaching, Learning and Student Experience – chaired by Dr. Jorrit Snijder and Prof. Matt O’Leary
  • Track 2: Governance and Management – chaired by Dr. Rūta Bružienė and Dr. Gergely Kováts
  • Track 3: Engagement and Partnerships in Higher Education – chaired by Prof. Mark O’Hara and Prof. Dominik Antonowicz
  • Track 4: Academic Profession and Professional Development – chaired by Prof. Glen A. Jones and Dr. Corinna Geppert
  • Track 5: Research Policy – chaired by Prof. Rimantas Želvys and Dr. Jessica Nooij
  • Track 6: Evaluation in Higher Education – chaired by Dr. Monika Orechova and Dr. Göran Melin

These tracks provided a structure for presentations, workshops, and discussions that addressed the many dimensions of trust in higher education—from pedagogical practice and institutional governance to research policy and evaluation.

Beyond the Sessions

The Forum was not limited to formal presentations. The programme included opportunities for informal exchange, networking, and community building. A highlight was the traditional Lithuanian dancing, which offered participants a joyful way to connect with local culture .

The EAIR Outstanding Paper Award was presented to Dr. Anna-Lena Rose from the Professorship of Higher Education at TU Dortmund University for her paper, “Investigating the Role of Motivation and Agency in the Emergence of Interdisciplinary Structures” .

Looking Ahead to Milan

As the 48th EAIR Forum draws to a close, we extend our sincere thanks to everyone who contributed to its success: the keynote speakers, track chairs, presenters, volunteers, and—most importantly—the participants who brought the conversations to life.

We also thank our hosts at Vilnius University for their warm hospitality and for providing such an inspiring setting for the Forum .

The 49th EAIR Forum will take place in Milan, Italy, from 25–27 August 2027, hosted by Politecnico di Milano. We look forward to continuing the conversation there.

Until then—ačiū, Vilnius, and see you in Milan.

 
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Sustainable Travel Ideas for the EAIR Cork Forum

Travelling from Europe

Visitors from Europe can travel via Eurostar from Paris to London and from there by train to Wales and by boat to Dublin. Travellers can then take the train or bus to Cork. Alternatively, there is a daily boat connection from Roscoff or Calais (in Northern France) directly to Ringaskiddy, Cork.  

Link for Direct Ferries: https://www.directferries.ie/

Travelling from the UK

There are ways to travel to and from Ireland without flying, as there are train and bus services that link with ferry services across the Irish Sea which connect several ports in England, Wales and Scotland with Irish ferry ports of Rosslare, Dublin or Belfast with ongoing travel by car, bus or train. 

Cross County Rail Services

Where taking a flight is necessary, attendees are encouraged to consider direct flights to Ireland (Cork, Dublin) airports and to use cross country rail services where a direct flight to Cork is not possible.

Link for Irish rail: https://www.irishrail.ie/en-ie/

Travel options in Cork

Cork is a city where active travel options are both available and encouraged – walking and cycling.  Visitors to Cork City can get a 3 day TFI bike subscription.

Link to TFI Bike Subscription: https://www.bikeshare.ie/pricing-and-subscriptions.html

All accommodation options and EAIR Forum venues in Cork can be accessed easily by foot. 

Offsetting Travel Emissions

Forum attendees are invited to offset the unfavourable impact of air travel by combining attendance at the Cork forum with other meetings in Ireland, the UK and Europe. 

Forum attendees who wish to consider sustainable travel options may also wish to combine their attendance at the Cork EAIR Forum with their annual holiday and by so doing minimise the number of air flights taken in 2024.