EU Public Affairs

Advisors

Ghent University’s positions on European education, research and innovation policy are shaped by European Public Affairs Advisors. They act as a bridge between the university and stakeholders such as the European institutions and university networks and associations in order to facilitate advocacy. Their work mainly involves building and maintaining a network that enables them on the one hand to monitor and influence policy developments and on the other to advise the university management. They prepare positions and work on developing shared visions within both temporary and structural partnerships such as CESAER, EUA and The Guild.

Policy

In terms of policy, the European Public Affairs Advisors monitor horizontal European policy developments (European Research Area, European Education Area, European Higher Education Area, Horizon Europe 2021–2027, Horizon Europe 2028–2034, Erasmus+, Financial Regulation, Multi-annual Financial Framework, European Competitiveness Fund, etc.) and provide strategic advice to the University Board, UD1 management, EU Account Managers and project advisors. For research, this is done in collaboration with the Virtual Ghent University ERA team on virtually all horizontal ERA Actions.

Public Affairs

In the area of Public Affairs, they are responsible for maintaining contacts with institutional stakeholders in Brussels and strategic partners, representatives of other universities in similar positions, and the National Contact Point Flanders. They act as Liaison Officers for European network and lobbying organisations such as CESAER, EUA, The Guild and UnILiON. They are also active in various working groups, often in a leading role, for example by taking on chairmanships. Furthermore, they represent Ghent University in the Flemish Rectors Conference and the joint Belgian Rectors Conferences working groups on EU Research, in the Flemish Education Council and in the Ministerial Platform meetings on European funding and policy. Finally, they carry out a wide range of communication activities, ranging from the internal sharing and interpretation of European policy knowledge to responding to European Commission consultations.

Contact

For Research

For Education