Letter from the Chair

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Dear EAIR Members,

As I reflect on the recent EAIR Forum in Utrecht, I am filled with gratitude and pride. The forum was a tremendous success, and this would not have been possible without the engagement, enthusiasm, and commitment of all our participants. From the insightful keynote speeches to the lively discussions in parallel sessions, the forum provided a rich and stimulating environment for sharing knowledge, ideas, and experiences in higher education research and practice.

Our post-forum evaluation survey highlighted the overwhelmingly positive response from participants: 90% indicated that they were very happy with the content of the forum, and the organization of the forum. This is truly encouraging, as it reflects the hard work and dedication of the organising team, our volunteers, and, of course, all participants who brought the forum to life. While we are proud of this achievement, we also recognise that there is always room to improve. We have carefully reviewed the suggestions for enhancement and will strive to implement them in future forums, ensuring that each event continues to offer value, engagement, and inspiration for our community.

I am equally delighted to welcome our new President, Prof.dr.Liudvika Leisyte, whose expertise, vision, and commitment to higher education will help us guide EAIR into its next chapter. 

Looking forward, preparations for the next EAIR Forum in Vilnius are already underway. We are eager to build on the success of Utrecht and create another exceptional experience for our members. The Vilnius forum promises to be a vibrant platform for dialogue, collaboration, and the exchange of best practices across higher education institutions, policy, and research. I encourage all members to save the dates and participate in what promises to be another memorable event. Please keep an eye on our website.

In addition to our forums, EAIR remains committed to the ongoing development and quality of our journal, TEAM. The journal continues to provide an important platform for research, policy, practices and critical discussion in the field of higher education. We are dedicated to supporting its growth which is why we will take some initiatives to further strengthen the journal. 

Finally, I wish you a stimulating and enjoyable read of this newsletter. It is through your participation, contributions, and engagement that our community thrives, and I thank you for being an integral part of it.

With warm regards and best wishes,

Bruno Broucker, PhD.

Chair of EAIR

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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.