ENLIGHT Shares Impact Insights at FILMEU Strategic Leadership Council
On 9 November, the FILMEU Strategic Leadership Council gathered in the quiet landscape of Lezíria Ribatejana in Portugal for its biannual retreat. This meeting brought together rectors and presidents of the FilmEU partner universities to reflect on strategic priorities and define the alliance’s future direction. For this edition, the Council invited an external expert from another European University Alliance: Glória Nunes Rodrigues from ENLIGHT, who was asked to share perspectives on impact and how alliances can strengthen it through innovative governance and managerial practices.
A focused session on impact and why it matters
Gloria’s three-hour contribution combined a 90-minute presentation with lots of questions and a lively discussion and an interactive workshop. Drawing on ENLIGHT’s experience, including the well-known metaphor “navigating the future” used at the ENLIGHT General Meeting in Galway in 2022, she guided participants through:
- what impact means in the context of European University Alliances
- how alliances can better plan, track and communicate it
- why a shared impact culture is increasingly important for the future of the European Higher Education Area
Reflecting on the experience, Gloria emphasised:
“It was so great to return to Portugal, my home country, and share with key leaders of another European University Alliance our understanding of impact, why it is so relevant for the future, and the challenges and opportunities of embedding impact in alliances’ and universities’ management strategies.
Photo above is from the FILMEU Strategic Leadership Council, taken by FilmEU participants.
Leadership engagement: interest, ambition and commitment
The FILMEU Strategic Leadership Council brings together the top decision-makers of the alliance. Gloria highlighted how meaningful it felt to exchange with them directly:
“It was truly an honour to discuss these matters with the Rectors of the FilmEU Alliance. I was impressed by the level of interest, ambition and commitment shown during both my presentation and the workshop.”
Throughout the session, questions from participants focused on:
- how alliances can build impact-oriented governance
- the role of strategic leadership in driving long-term transformation
- how to ensure impact is felt not only institutionally but also by students, staff and wider society
A retreat designed for strategic reflection
The retreat setting in Lezíria Ribatejana contributed to an atmosphere suited for deep reflection. Gloria noted:
“I loved the concept of rectors retiring for strategic reflection. The beautiful “Lezíria Ribatejana” landscape offered the perfect setting for that.”
During the workshop, she supported the FilmEU leadership in identifying their desired impact and expected outcomes. The session encouraged them to explore future-oriented scenarios and consider how FilmEU can position itself as a strong contributor to Europe’s higher education transformation.
A valuable exchange between alliances
The dialogue between FilmEU and ENLIGHT shows how European University Alliances can learn from one another and strengthen the broader European Universities Initiative. FilmEU’s invitation reflects a shared commitment to building more strategic, impact-driven and internationally connected universities.
Photo above is from the FILMEU Strategic Leadership Council, taken by FilmEU participants.