Transform4Europe Presentation Received Wide Attention in European Higher Education Community

At the annual conference of the European University Association (EUA) in Riga, the institutional coordinator of the Transform4Europe Alliance and Rector-elect of Vytautas Magnus University (VMU), Prof. Dr. Ineta Dabašinskienė, delivered a presentation on resilience during the session “Risk and Resilience in Knowledge Security.” Her presentation garnered significant attention not only among conference participants but throughout the European higher education community. An article covering the conference, published by the academic platform Research Professional, focused entirely on this session.

“University resilience is a highly relevant topic in higher education today. As geopolitical and economic tensions rise, universities must strengthen resilience not only in their physical and digital infrastructures but also at institutional and community levels. Transform4Europe is taking an important step and setting a direction for others: we are preparing a strategic document in which resilience is emphasized as one of the key aspects. It is encouraging to see that the relevance of this topic is recognized across Europe”, highlighted Prof. Dr. Ineta Dabašinskienė.

The world is becoming increasingly unpredictable, impacting European universities – from the ongoing war in Ukraine and the shifting U.S. policy under President Donald Trump to cyber threats and attacks on academic freedom. As a result, university leaders are urged to view resilience not as a reactive measure but as a proactive stance that must be embedded in institutional policies.

According to Prof. Dr. Dabašinskienė, resilience is a requirement for institutions near Russia. “Lithuania, Estonia, Poland, and the Nordic countries are on the edge of Europe,” she said, adding that it is “critical” that universities there are prepared. “Resilience needs to be a core competency of universities. It’s more than a tick box,” she said.

“In times of political and economic instability, European universities need to equip their communities, from students to leaders, with the tools to be resilient”, Prof. Dr. Dabašinskienė explained. At the EUA conference, she discussed how institutional leaders should prepare for various threats by building  robust digital infrastructure and cybersecurity, enabling flexible governance and sharing resources with other universities.

“Resilience should emerge not merely as a response to crisis; it should be embedded in governance structures, leadership training, and academic curricula. This requires a structured approach that would foster adaptability, risk management, and proactive decision-making. It is gratifying that T4EU has taken the initiative in this area – we want to show that resilience should be not only cultivated but also institutionalized”, emphasized the T4EU institutional coordinator.

In the forthcoming T4EU strategy, resilience is planned to be promoted at various levels – from individual to institutional and regional. It is recommended that university curricula integrate adaptive thinking and promote the use of micro-credentials in crisis leadership. Staff should have opportunities to develop emotional intelligence and resilience facilitation skills, as well as receive training in mentorship and adaptive pedagogy. Support systems should be created to expand access to mental health and well-being services, cultivate peer-to-peer support ecosystems, and ensure inclusive digital learning environments.

The new alliance strategy also highlights collaboration – establishing cross-border knowledge security protocols, sharing platforms, resources, and joint response capacities. T4EU aims to promote a culture of risk awareness at all leadership levels, integrating resilience into strategic vision and institutional planning, empowering agile, inclusive and flexible decision-making processes under conditions of uncertainty.

VMU Rector-elect also stressed that universities must strengthen psychological resilience, for example, by providing mental well-being services. According to her, resilience must be directly integrated into curricula and faculty training. “It’s not just about what we teach but how we teach it”, concluded Prof. Dr. Dabašinskienė.

The role of European university alliances in fostering resilience is becoming increasingly important. Transform4Europe (T4EU) is a strategic alliance of eleven universities across Europe committed to strengthening knowledge security, institutional cooperation, and academic sustainability. T4EU aims to create a multi-campus European University, fostering interregional innovation ecosystems that enhance digital transformation, sustainability, and social inclusivity. Recognizing the importance of institutional adaptation, T4EU extended its network to include Mariupol State University as an associate partner following the onset of the full-scale war. This strategic move provided MSU with expanded opportunities for European collaboration, access to shared resources, and integration into resilience-building initiatives within the alliance.