We are honoured to host a high-level panel featuring Prof. Daniella Tilbury (University of Cambridge), Ioana Dewandeler (European Commission) and Prof. dr. Tom Cuppens (UHasselt), exploring how universities can build more sustainable, future-ready education systems. 

• When: 9:30-11:00 CET Wednesday 4 February 2026
• Where: Old Prison, Campus Hasselt
• Registration deadline: 19 January 2026

This session is part of Day 2 of the EURECA-PRO Research & Education Days, a three-day exchange on how universities can act locally while contributing globally. This event replaces the traditional Education Day of the Educational Development, Policy and Quality Assurance Office (OOBKZ). Participation is free and flexible: you choose whether to participate for one, two or even three days.

Meet the panel

Daniella Tilbury

Prof. Daniella Tilbury is a policy expert, academic leader, and changemaker credited with developing the initial frameworks for sustainability in higher education (University of Cambridge, 1990). She was the inaugural Rector and CEO of the University of Gibraltar and held academic leadership and research positions in Australia, UK and Hong Kong. She was the UK’s first Dean of Sustainability.

Daniella was a member of the Board of WWF Australia that brought Earth Hour to the World in 2007 and has been actively involved in international initiatives that inspire transitions towards climate positive futures. She is a Professorial Fellow of the University of Cambridge and Council Member of the University of Girona and the UK government’s focal point at the UN Economic Commission for Europe (UNECE). She is also an expert adviser to the EC on green and digital transitions specialising in learning, research and institutional change for sustainability.

Ioana Dewandeler

Ioana Dewandeler is Policy Officer for Higher Education in the European Commission's Directorate General for Education, Youth, Sport and Culture where she is mainly in charge of the coordination of the European Universities initiative. Ioana has over 15 years of prior experience in various positions within the European Commission, in DGs for Research and Innovation and for Education, Youth and Sports, working on higher education policy, strategic coordination of the Erasmus+ programme, social sciences and humanities in research and innovation, and the socio-economic dimension of transport research policies. She studied economic and social public administration and EU law and litigation in Romania and France

For more information, visit the conference website.