GUNI Barcelona Summer School on HE Policy and Management

From June 18 to 21 2024, the Global University Network for Innovation (GUNI) organised the 1st Barcelona Summer School on Higher Education Policy and Management, held at the the Hub Social in Barcelona, and at the the University of Girona.

This Summer School aimed to train university leaders and managers, focusing on equipping them with the knowledge, values, skills, and experiences necessary to become agents of innovation and institutional transformation. It welcomed 27 university leaders and managers from 15 countries around the world, promoting personal and professional growth in a multicultural context; and 32 renowned speakers, lecturers and decision-makers from across the globe who led discussions, panels, conferences, and workshops.

One session of the programme was held by Thomas Farnell (Institute for the Development of Education, Croatia) together with vice-rector Silvia Llach and professor Anna Planas of the University of Girona, focusing on exploring innovative approaches and tools that universities can use to strengthen their connections with society. A key highlight of the workshop was the presentation of the SPACE (Supporting Professionals and Academics for Community Engagement) project, which is dedicated to equipping HE professionals with the skills and strategies necessary to foster impactful community engagement. The session emphasised how universities can move beyond traditional roles, becoming active players in addressing societal challenges by embedding engagement into their core missions. Eighteen participants from 6 different countries engaged in discussions and hands-on activities, sharing best practices and learning from global perspectives on how to build stronger, more responsive institutions that prioritise civic impact.