Prof. Carlos Araya

• Rector, Universidad de Costa Rica.
• Rector of the University of Costa Rica (UCR) since 2020.
• Bachelor’s and Master’s Degree in Business Administration at UCR.
• PhD in Economics, Control & Management of Public Entities and Policies at University of Granada, Spain (2010).
• Research Interests: Public policy, transparency and accountability, university governance and management.

Prof. Carlos Gilberto Carlotti Junior

• Rector, Universidade de São Paulo.
• Rector of the Unviersity of São Paulo (USP) since 2022.
• Provost of Graduate Studies at the USP 2018-2021.
• Graduated as a medical doctor from USP’s Ribeirão Preto Medical School, where he was a resident in neurosurgery and earned his Master’s Degree and PhD.
• Internship at the Foch Hospital in Paris; postdoctoral researcher at The Arthur and Sonia Labatt Brain Turmor Research Centre in Toronto.
• Since 1996, full professor at Ribeirão Preto Medical School, Dean 2013-2016;  coordinator of the Graduate Programme in Surgical Clinic and President of the Graduate Committee.
• Fields of research: Hard to Control Epilepsy Surgery; and, Tumors of the Nervous System Surgery.

Prof. Jeri Gloria Ramón Ruffner de Vega

• Rector, Universidad Nacional Mayor de San Marcos.
• Rector of the National University of San Marcos (UNMSM) since 2021; first woman in this position.
• Several leadership positions at UNMSM such as Vice Dean of Research & Postgraduate, since 2016.
• Doctorate in Accounting, Universidad Particular Inca Garcilaso de la Vega (2007), Magister’s Degree in Accounting, UNMSM (2002), Master’s Degree in Administration, Universidad Particular San Martín de Porres (2017), Attorney, UNMSM (2014).

Prof. Jhon Boretto

• Rector, Universidad Nacional de Córdoba.
• Rector of the National University of Córdoba (UNC), Argentina, since 2022.
• Dean of the Faculty of Economic Sciences at UNC 2015‑2021.
• Magister (Master’s) in Formulation, Evaluation, and Administration of Investment Projects.
• Served as Secretary of Student Affairs, Secretary General of UNC, and held leadership roles in student and university organizations in earlier years.

Prof. Julio del Valle Ballón

• Rector, Pontificia Universidad Católica del Perú.
• Rector of the Pontifical Catholic University of Peru (PUCP) since 2024.
• Full Professor, Department of Humanities, Section of Philosophy, PUCP; several leadership roles at PUCP.
• Ph.D. in Philosophy, Ruprecht‑Karls Universität Heidelberg, Germany; Magister’s Degree in Philosophy, PUCP; Magister’s Degree in Linguistics and German Literature, Ruprecht‑Karls Universität Heidelberg.

Prof. Karla Planter Pérez

• Rector, Universidad de Guadalajara.
• Rector of the University of Guadalajara (UdeG), Mexico, since 2025.
• Bachelor’s Degree in Political Studies and Government, UdeG; Master’s Degree in Political and Social Studies, UNAM; PhD Candidate in Political and Social Studies, UNAM.
• Full Professor at UdeG teaching undergraduate courses in Political Studies, Sociology, International Relations.
• Broad journalistic experience as reporter, editor, writer, and host of news programmes.

Prof. Leonardo Lomelí

• Rector, Universidad Nacional Autónoma de México.
• Rector of the National Autonomous University of Mexico (UNAM) since 2023.
• Director of the Faculty of Economics, UNAM (2010‑2015), Secretary General of UNAM 2015-2023; Faculty member at the UNAM’s Faculty of Economics since 1994.
• Bachelor’s degree in Economics, Master’s degree in History, Doctorate in History, UNAM; during his studies he served as a student representative and student councilor.

Prof. Mirko Varano

• Vice Rector, Instituto Tecnológico y de Estudios Superiores de Monterrey.
• Vice-Rector for Internationalization at the Monterrey Institute of Technology and Higher Education (ITESM or “Tec de Monterrey”) since 2024.
• Various senior international roles in European universities and organizations, including Chair of the EAIE Thematic Committee “Partnerships” at EAIE (2024) and Key Liaison Officer for the “Unite!" European University Alliance at KTH Royal Institute of Technology, Stockholm (2019).
• Master’s Degree in Political Science, Università degli Studi di Torino, Italy.

Prof. Ricardo Jorge Gelpi

• Rector, Universidad de Buenos Aires.
• Rector of the University of Buenos Aires (UBA) since 2022.
• Served in UBA’s Faculty of Medical Sciences, as director of the Department of Pathology, and directed the Department of Cardiovascular Physiopathology; elected as Dean of the Faculty 2018.
• Conducted research at the National Scientific and Technical Research Council (CONICET).
• Visiting researcher at Harvard University, University of South Alabama, Allegheny University, New Jersey Medical School, among others.
• Studied medicine at the National University of La Plata, graduated 1976, and attained a doctoral degree from the same university in 1981.

Christine Neau-Leduc
President, Paris 1 Panthéon-Sorbonne

• President of Paris 1 Panthéon-Sorbonne University (P1PS) since 2021.
• Senior Vice-President in charge of Institutional Affairs on the University’s Board of Directors, 2016-2019.
• Professor of private law at P1PS since 2012.
• Postgraduate diploma in private law (1991) from the University of Montpellier and a doctorate (1998) from the University of Paris II.

Colin Scott
Deputy President, University College Dublin

• Registrar, Deputy President and Vice-President for Academic Affairs, University College Dublin (UCD) since 2023.
• Vice President for Equality, Diversity & Inclusion at UCD, 2017-2024.
• Principal of UCD College of Social Sciences and Law, 2014-2023.
• Dean of Social Sciences, UCD, 2017-2023; Dean of Law, 2011-2014.
• Professor of EU Regulation and Governance at UCD since 2006.

Elisabeth Stark
Vice-President Research, Universität Zürich

• Vice-President Research at the University of Zurich since 2021; Director of Una Europa vzw since 2024.
• Full professor of Romance linguistics specializing in French.
• 2004–2008: Full professor of Romance linguistics at the Institute of Romance Languages and Literatures at Freie Universität Berlin.
• Formerly Vice Dean of Studies of the Department of Philosophy and Humanities at Freie Universität Berlin.

Giovanni Molari
Rector, Alma Mater Studiorum – Università di Bologna

• Rector of the University of Bologna (UNIBO) since 2021.
• Vice Director of the Department of Agricultural and Food Sciences of UNIBO, 2015-2018.
• Master’s Degree in Mechanical Engineering at UNIBO (1998), PhD in Engineering of Materials at the University of Modena and Reggio Emilia (2003).
• Full professor at the Department of Agricultural and Food Sciences, UNIBO.

Hester Bijl
Rector Magnificus, Universiteit Leiden

• Rector Magnificus at Leiden University since 2021.
• Vice-Rector Magnificus, 2016-2021.
• Professor of Numerical Mathematics at the Mathematical Institute of the Faculty of Science.
• Studied Applied Mathematics at Delft University of Technology, where she also obtained a PhD in numerical mathematics in 1999; Master’s Degree in English Language and Literature from Leiden University.

Joaquín Goyache Goñi
Rector, Universidad Complutense de Madrid

• Rector at the Complutense University of Madrid (UCM) since 2019.
• Professor of Animal Health, specialising in teaching in the fields of Microbiology and Immunology.
• Member of numerous committees and commissions, including the European Association of Establishments for Veterinary Education (EAEVE).
• Formerly Vice-Dean of Students of the Faculty of Veterinary Medicine UCM; Dean of the same Faculty; Director of the Summer Courses of the UCM; Vice-Rector of Organization UCM; and Vice-Rector of Postgraduate and Continuing Education UCM.
   

Peter Mathieson
Vice-Chancellor and Principal, University of Edinburgh

• Principal and Vice-Chancellor at the University of Edinburgh (UoE) since 2018.
• President and Vice-Chancellor, University of Hong Kong (HKU), 2014-2018.
• Dean, Faculty of Medicine and Dentistry, University of Bristol, 2008-2014.
• PhD by the University of Cambridge, 1992.
   

Piotr Jedynak
Rector, Uniwersytet Jagielloński w Krakowie

• Rector at Jagiellonian University (JU) since 2024.
• Pro-Rector of JU for Personnel Policy and Finance, 2020-2024.
• Dean, Faculty of Management and Social Communication, JU, 2016-2020.
• Director, Institute of Economics, Finance and Management, JU, 2012-2016.
• Full Professor at JU since 2019; PhD in Economic Sciences, 1998.
   

Sari Lindblom
Rector, Helsingin yliopisto / Helsingfors universitet

• Rector since 2020.
• Vice-Rector and deputised for the Rector, 2017-2020.
• Vice Director, Department of Education, 2007-2009.
• Vice Director, Institute of Behavioural Sciences, 2010-2015.
• Director of the Master programme in Educational Sciences, 2015-2016.
   

Séverine Vermeire
Rector, KU Leuven

• Rector at KU Leuven since 2025.
• Full Professor of Medicine at KU Leuven and Consultant Gastroenterologist at the University Hospital Leuven, Belgium.
• MD from KU Leuven in 1995 and PhD at the same university in 2001.
• Research Director of the Biomedical Sciences Group at KU Leuven since 2020.
• Chair of the Department of Chronic Diseases and Metabolism, 2015-2020.
• Trained at the Universidad Nacional de Asunción, Paraguay (1993), at the Wellcome Trust Centre for Human Genetics in Oxford, UK (1997-1998), and at the Montreal General Hospital McGill University, Canada (2000–2001).
   

Verena Blechinger-Talcott
Executive Vice President, Freie Universität Berlin

• Vice-President for International Relations at Freie Universität Berlin (FUB) since 2018; founding director of Una Europa vzw in 2019, Chair in 2021.
• Professor of Japanese Politics and Political Economy since 2004.
• MA in Japanese Studies in 1991 and PhD in Political Science in 1997, both from Munich University.
• 1997-2002 – German Institute for Japanese Studies in Tokyo, Deputy Director from 2001.
• 2002-2004 – Advanced Research Fellow at Harvard University and Assistant Professor at Hamilton College, Clinton (NY).