ENLIGHT General Meeting 2025 in Bratislava: Celebrating Five Years and Stepping Into a New Era
The ENLIGHT General Meeting 2025, hosted by Comenius University Bratislava (CU), brought together representatives from ten ENLIGHT universities for three days of reflection, strategic meetings, and celebration. Set against the backdrop of Slovakia’s capital, the gathering marked a significant milestone: five years since the founding of the ENLIGHT alliance. This year’s theme — “ENLIGHT at Five: Successes, Lessons, and the Road Ahead” — framed the meeting’s discussions, keynote contributions, and forward-looking decisions.
A Warm Welcome in Bratislava
Comenius University welcomed the ENLIGHT community with exceptional hospitality, offering a programme that highlighted both the academic life of the institution and the cultural richness of the city and the country.
Reflecting on Five Years of ENLIGHT
The opening day featured a plenary session dedicated to five years of ENLIGHT, narrated through personal stories. The Rector of CU, Prof. Marek Števček opened the first plenary with a heartfelt speech followed by contributions from long-standing ENLIGHT actors including Jonathan Schalk, ENLIGHT Project Manager at Uppsala University; Dr Peter Hanajík, Head of Green Network at CU; Dr Leah Vandeveer, Secretary General of ENLIGHT; Dr Enda Howley, University of Galway; Glória Nunes Rodrigues, International Manager at Euskampus Fundazioa; Adrián Binka (CU) and Alina Prince (University of Bern), Co-Presidents of the ENLIGHT Student Network; and CU Vice-Rector for International Relations, Associate Prof. Jozef Tancer.
Their reflections highlighted how ENLIGHT has grown from a collaborative project into a committed and trust-based partnership grounded in shared values.
Keynote: From Mandate to Impact
A central moment of the programme was the keynote address “From Mandate to Impact” delivered by the Slovak Ombudsman Dr Róbert Dobrovodský. His talk connected the institutional mission of the ombudsman with the alliance’s broader commitment to societal engagement and human rights.
Dr Dobrovodský highlighted the constitutional basis and strong independence of the Ombudsman’s Office in Slovakia, stressing the need for proactive work in the field:
“An ombudsman needs to do the street work – he needs to touch the fundamental rights,” he noted, illustrating his approach through examples such as visits to prisons and detention centres.
The keynote concluded with a vivid discussion on academic freedom and the role of independent institutions in safeguarding democratic society, a theme that resonated strongly across the ENLIGHT community.
A Turning Point in ENLIGHT Governance
One of the most consequential outcomes of the meeting was the formal appointment of the first ENLIGHT President — a milestone in the alliance’s governance evolution.
Over the past year, ENLIGHT has examined how its governance structure should adapt to the rapidly evolving European higher education landscape. The need for stronger, visible, and high-level representation led to the creation of a presidential role tasked with steering the alliance’s long-term vision and representing ENLIGHT on the European stage.
At the Bratislava meeting, Secretary General Dr Leah Vandeveer announced the Governing Board’s unanimous decision to appoint:
Professor Anders Hagfeldt, Rector of Uppsala University, as ENLIGHT President.
His appointment marks the beginning of a new chapter: ENLIGHT stepping forward not only as a collaborative network, but as a unified, strategically led European alliance.
Closing Reflections: A New Chapter Begins
In her closing speech, Leah Vandeveer captured the spirit of the gathering: gratitude, pride, and anticipation. She emphasised the alliance’s evolution from building structures to building transformation:
- ENLIGHT’s legal entity
- its joint doctoral framework
- its growing student community
- its culture of bottom-up academic engagement
- and its recognised leadership in societal impact
These, she said, are not just accomplishments but springboards for the next five years.
“ENLIGHT at Five is a milestone. ENLIGHT in Five is a promise.”
With this phrase, she encouraged the alliance to continue choosing collaboration — even when complex — and to commit to shaping a more united and ambitious European higher education landscape.
The second evening of the General Meeting also showcased the cultural richness of Slovakia through two memorable artistic programmes. Participants were treated to the contemporary theatre performance “Ordinary Things” by the ensemble Honey & Dust. Later that night, the gala dinner at Moyzes Hall concluded with an energising immersion into Slovak tradition: a vibrant folk music and dance performance followed by an interactive dance workshop led by the student folklore ensemble Gymnik.
The ENLIGHT General Meeting 2025 not only celebrated the alliance’s achievements but also set a clear direction for the future. With a strengthened governance model, renewed commitment to shared values, and a newly appointed President, the alliance enters its next chapter with unity, momentum, and purpose.
ENLIGHT continues to grow not only in size and structure but in vision, ambition, and impact.
We are already looking forward to the next General Meeting, which will be hosted by University of Galway in June 2026!
