Tiziana Lippiello is the president of EUTOPIA and the first speaker at the VUB academic opening Friday 29th September. The opening is taking place in a setting that is iconic for the whole of Europe: the hemicycle of the European Parliament. “My speech is about the European identity and the central role of European universities in building this identity.”
What is the significance of EUTOPIA as a central theme of VUB’s academic opening in Brussels?
The opening session of the academic year is a solemn moment. We hope to highlight the importance of our unity and cohesion and I am grateful to VUB for enhancing this aspect. I wish we could repeat this cohesion and strong belief in EUTOPIA every year and in our different countries.
What is your speech about?
My speech is about the European identity and the central role of European universities in building this identity. It is about the transformative power of European universities and the spirit of cooperation they develop. It is about the manifesto and the values we promote in EUTOPIA, such as building inclusive mindsets, designing inclusive environments, and having a process approach to change, accountability and transparency.
What do you expect for EUTOPIA this year and in the near future?
I expect progress, with more involvement of students, staff and professors, and concrete actions with our global partners.