Annual CIVICA Presidents Meeting

IE University hosted the annual CIVICA Presidents' Committee Meeting in Madrid on 23rd-24th June 2024.

Presidents and Rectors from all ten CIVICA partner universities joined this annual meeting, including Bocconi University, Central European University, European University Institute, Hertie School, IE University, SNSPA, Stockholm School of Economics, Sciences Po, SGH – Warsaw School of Economics, and The London School of Economics and Political Science (LSE).

Today, CIVICA represents 72,000 students and 13,000 faculty members, making it a leading force in higher and postgraduate education dedicated to the social sciences. 

Notable attendees included rectors, presidents and vice-presidents such as Francesco Billari from Bocconi University, Patrizia Nantz from the European University Institute, Lars Strannegård from the Stockholm School of Economics, Manuel Muñiz Villa from IE University, Larry Kramer, Emma McCoy and Susana Mourato from The London School of Economics and Political Science, Remus Pricopie from SNSPA, Carsten Schneider from Central European University, Sergei Guriev from Sciences Po, Piotr Wachowiak from SGH Warsaw School of Economics, and Cornelia Woll from the Hertie School. 

During this event, participants discussed the future of the Alliance, the impact of geopolitics in higher education and how innovation and emerging technologies, particularly artificial intelligence, are affecting what universities do and the value that they bring to students and society at large.

CIVICA continues to expand the scope and size of its activities which include for instance the Engage Track for undergraduates, the postgraduate multicampus course, the early stage researchers summer school and the faculty mobility scheme. 

Attendees discussed the success and future of activities like the European Student Assembly which took place at the European Parliament in Strasbourg in April 2024. Bringing together 251 students of 59 nationalities from 41 European University Alliances, including 16 CIVICA students, it constitutes an excellent example of the kind of student and research opportunities offered to all participating institutions. 

For detailed information on LSE's involvement in CIVICA check our dedicated website here.