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Mobilising students and staff as your university advocates

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The symbols of the city of Poznań: a bronz monument of two goats tricking each others

AN IMPORTANT ASPECT OF THIS YEAR’S EUPRIO CONFERENCE THEME IS WHETHER – AND HOW – TO MOBILISE STUDENT AND EMPLOYEE COMMUNITIES TO DEPLOY THEIR OWN SOCIAL NETWORKS IN ORDER TO ENGAGE KEY AUDIENCES AND BUILD YOUR INSTITUTION’S REPUTATION. So says Caroline Roulaux, senior communication adviser for central services at Maastricht University in the Netherlands, who has coordinated one of this year’s EUPRIO Mobility Programmes.   Caroline Roulaux from Maastricht University…

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Engage key audiences and boost your reputation

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How do we, as expert communicators, engage with our university communities to help build stronger brands and enhance value to society?    That’s a key question to be tackled at the #EUPRIO2019 annual conference in Poznań, Poland, from June 16-19.   Here Nic Mitchell takes a first look at how some of speakers and workshops will develop the theme. Inspire, Include and Engage Helping to set the scene will be…

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EUPRIO’s 2019 venue Poznań is ranked a top European destination

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Poznań in Poland, the setting for this year’s EUPRIO’s annual conference, has been ranked as one of the trendiest European destinations in a survey of more than half-a-million users of EuropeanDestinations.com   The city of Poznań – half way between Berlin and Warsaw – came fifth in the travel guide poll, writes Nic Mitchell. Attractions range from its “incredible Renaissance style town hall to its huge medieval-like castle and the…

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Have you set-up your MyEUPRIO account?

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Have you signed-up for your MyEUPRIO account via the EUPRIO website?   You’ll need it to update your membership or join our association and enrol for #EUPRIO2019 in Poznań. “It will be the only way to pay for your subscription for 2019 and register for our annual conference, which takes place in Poland from 16-19 June 2019,” says EUPRIO’s treasurer Paola Claudia Scioli. Why we doing it? EUPRIO’s treasurer Paola…

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Time to start planning for EUPRIO’s 2019 conference

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Time to think about #EUPRIO2019 and renewing your association with our global network of more than 750 communication professionals from all over Europe, writes Nic Mitchell   Joining, or renewing your membership, should be easier than ever this year by signing up for a MyEUPRIO account on the website, which you should use to register for the annual conference and the regular workshops we are now organising in different countries. The…

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Step up internal communications in case of a no-deal Brexit

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BREXIT is creating plenty of challenges for university internal communications – and not just for British higher education institutions, writes Nic Mitchell For European Union students planning Erasmus+ placements in the United Kingdom also face disruption and uncertainty about funding if Great Britain crashes out of the EU on March 29 without securing a deal with the European Commission. In the short-term it looks like grants will be guaranteed to those…

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Europe tackles social exclusion to Higher Education

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Europe is determined to tackle social exclusion in higher education – with a target of reducing the number of people with just basic skills to 15% by 2020, writes Nic Mitchell. That was the pledge from Julie Anderson, policy officer at the European Commission, speaking at a conference to mark the first World Access to Higher Education Day, or WAHED, on 28 November. It sets a big challenge for those…

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Get agile to meet your deadlines

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Does your communication team struggle to meet deadlines – with too many requests from users of your services? Alfred Almendra The answer doesn’t have to mean working longer and harder, says IT specialist and independent Alfred Almendra. What’s important is to distinguish between user requests and needs – whether the users are students, parents, teachers or those recruiting students to your university! Alfred will explain more in an interactive all-day…

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EUPRIO Mobility Programme seeks new comms challenges

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  As EUPRIO makes the call for specific projects to be tackled by its second Mobility Programme, Nic Mitchell looks back at the first programme – which saw three very different international universities pool their ideas to improve the way they communicate with international students and staff. The EUPRIO Mobility Programme, or EMP, encourages members to network and share best practice by working across European borders to solve specific real-life communication…

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Speakers in the video spotlight at #EUPRIO2018

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With the focus on the digital transformation of university communications at EUPRIO’s annual conference this year in Sevilla, we’ve made a series of short youtube video interviews in which EUPRIO’s blogger-in-chief Nic Mitchell talks to some of the speakers and participants about the challenges of digital communications. Drag university communications into the 21stcentury Gerry McGovern’s opening keynote speech had #EUPRIO2018 participants jumping on to social media to applaud his hard-hitting…

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Honorary memberships for five EUPRIO networking activists

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One of the founding fathers of EUPRIO and four former national representatives on the Steering Committee have been rewarded for their role in developing our European association of university communicators by being elevated to EUPRIO honorary membersHIP. Announcing the awards, retiring EUPRIO President Christine Legrand said the honorary memberships were a ‘thank-you’ for all the hard work the five had put into building and supporting the association over many years.…

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Engage! The mission of EUPRIO’s new President

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JAN DRIES has a one word answer when asked to sum up his mission as he takes over as President of EUPRIO for the next two years, writes Nic Mitchell “Engage!” By that he means making it easier for members of our European network of higher education communication professionals to engage not just with the organisation – but also with each other! Engage! is Jan Dries’ campaigns slogan as EUPRIO President…

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Christine ends EUPRIO presidency on a high note

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After four years at the helm of EUPRIO, Christine Legrand handed over the presidency of our association to Jan Dries at the 2018 General Assembly during our 30thanniversary conference in Sevilla.   Christine, Director of Communications and Industrial Relations at CPE Lyon in France, said she was proud of the achievements while leading the organisation and highlighted the new corporate identity and improved communications with members with the newsletter and…

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Asking the big questions wins the EUPRIO Awards

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  From “What if a graduate programme operated like a football team?” to “What if cattle all over the world were eating Finnish wood?” The marketing and communication team at Aalto University in Finland asked the big questions and won the top prize in 2018 EUPRIO Awards at our annual conference in Sevilla, Spain. This is the 20thanniversary of the first EUPRIO Awards and the first was also won by…

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Wake-up call to marketing in the digital age

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Gerry McGovern more than lived up to the high expectations in his opening keynote address to 360 EUPRIO delegates gathered in Sevilla for the #EUPRIO2018 conference, writes Nic Mitchell Young people today feel very empowered. They are very connected, sceptical, analytical and cynical and they are not listening to the experts, warned one of the gurus of recent web developments, Gerry McGovern (pictured), who has worked with some of the…

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Social media helps students decide where to study abroad

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More than 8 in 10 prospective students looking at studying abroad in 11 European Union countries turn to social media when applying to university – with 65% using it as part of their research into where to study and nearly 30% to help make their application, according to the 2018 International Student Survey. Despite being sometimes written off as a fading star, Facebook remains the most popular form of social…

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Countdown to EUPRIO’s digital challenge conference

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Over 300 EUPRIO members and guest speakers are on countdown to our 2018 annual conference, which takes place in Sevilla, capital and largest city of Andalusia, from 3-6 June 2018 Representatives from at least 20 European countries will be attending EUPRIO’s annual conference being held this year in Sevilla together with participants from Lebanon and South Africa, writes Nic Mitchell Sevilla Real Alcazar Patio And the finishing touches are being made to…

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Free EUPRIO workshop in Zagreb on internal communications

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EUPRIO is holding its first workshop in South-Eastern Europe with a free event for members on ‘Engaging internal audiences to boost your University’s external success’, writes Nic Mitchell.  It will be held at the University of Zagreb on Friday May 18, 2018 and is organized by the Agency for Science and Higher Education, Zagreb, Croatia together with University of Zagreb and EUPRIO University of Zagreb, Rectorate More details and the complete…

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Earlier deadline for entering EUPRIO Awards

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With an earlier EUPRIO conference than usual this year, it is time to focus on your university’s entry to the celebrated EUPRIO Awards. This year’s annual conference is being held in Sevilla, Spain from 3-6 June 2018 on the theme of ‘The digital transformation: A challenge for communications in higher education’ and the deadline for registrations is Monday 21 May. That’s the same deadline for entries to the EUPRIO Awards,…

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EUPRIO looks at digital transformation of communications

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The digital transformation of communications in higher education continues to throw up challenges and opportunities for EUPRIO members, writes Nic Mitchell   So how timely that the 2018 EUPRIO annual conference at the University of Sevilla in Spain, from 3-6 June, offers a platform to answer some of the key questions facing university communication professionals, such as: How can big data be used for effective communication? What do we know…

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First Times Higher world summit in Central Europe

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The importance of universities in shaping a more secure, progressive and prosperous world will be highlighted when the Times Higher Education (THE) holds its first world summit in Central and Eastern Europe, writes Nic Mitchell. The event, titled Building a hub for world-class research, hosted by Palacký University in the Czech Republic from 24-26 April 2018, will discuss, debate and discover the ambitious plans for universities in Central and Eastern…

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Delivering a better digital customer experience

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Gerry McGovern could not have been a better choice to set the scene for EUPRIO’s 2018 annual conference in Sevilla, Spain, writes Nic Mitchell.   EUPRIO’s Sevilla conference – taking place from 3-6 June under the banner of ‘The Digital Transformation: A challenge for communications in Higher Education’ – is the perfect platform for Gerry McGovern as keynote opening speaker.   Web visionary Gerry McGovern The founder and CEO of…

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Stick to facts when marketing to students

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Nic Mitchell finds out whether lessons can be learned from a UK crackdown on misleading marketing messages to potential students “Higher education marketing and PR managers should be extra careful when making marketing claims based on rankings, league tables and graduate forecasts.” Jan Dries from the University of Antwerp So says EUPRIO Vice-President Jan Dries, Director of Communications at the University of Antwerp in Belgium, where we held our 2016…

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How do you reach international students and staff?

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A pilot project for the new EUPRIO Mobility Programme, or EMP, is looking for partner universities to help find the best way to communicate with international students, staff and guests and make them feel at home and part of the university community.   The EMP initiative was launched this autumn to encourage EUPRIO members to work together, across borders, to solve real-life communication problems and develop case studies as a…

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Free EUPRIO workshop on fundraising

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European universities are waking up to the potential of fundraising as part of alumni engagement and few more so than Italy’s Bocconi University, which hosts a free workshop for EUPRIO members on the subject on 17 November.   The Milan-based university aims to raise €120 million to support its 2015-2020 strategic plan and is leading a drive to change the culture among alumni, companies and foundations about the importance of…

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EUPRIO MOBILITY MOVE TO SUPPORT UNI COMMS

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A new initiative to support innovative projects in university communications has been launched by EUPRIO. The EUPRIO Mobility Programme, or EMP, will give our members the chance to network and work together on specific projects that benefit university communicators across Europe, explains EUPRIO President Christine Legrand. “It is different in content and rules from the Erasmus+ Staff Mobility scheme and is not designed to finance mobility of individuals simply wishing to attend language courses, conferences or…

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EUPRIO winners show originality and imagination

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EUROPEAN university communicators once again showed imagination and originality in their entries to the 2017 EUPRIO Awards, writes Nic Mitchell. This year’s overall winner was Brno University of Technology in the Czech Republic for their ‘I Belong Here’ campaign which demonstrated original and creative ways to encourage young women to apply to study technical science subjects. Winning Brno team, from L to R, Kateřina Tušarová, Renata Herrmannová, Pavla Ondrušková and Radana…

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June 20 deadline: Join us in Mannheim & enter EUPRIO Awards

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  Following requests from EUPRIO members the deadline for registering for EUPRIO’s 2017 annual conference and entering the EUPRIO Awards is being extended by a week to Tuesday June 20. The conference opens with a welcome reception on the evening of Thursday June 29 and runs until 2 July and is being hosted by the University of Mannheim, Germany in cooperation with the German federal association of university communication professionals,…

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EUPRIO gets ready for Mannheim meeting

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Not long now until the EUPRIO family comes together in Mannheim for our 2017 annual conference. This year’s conference is focusing on how universities can successfully network with their cities, regions and companies, writes Nic Mitchell, and the event takes place from June 29 to July 2. Registration is open until 12 June – the same date entries are required for this year’s EUPRIO Awards. Ideal venue to discuss networking…

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Places filling on EUPRIO conference sessions  

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Places are filling up fast on some of the most popular workshops and masterclasses for EUPRIO’s 2017 annual conference in Mannheim, with the maximum number of participants limited to 40 per workshop or lecture. The event’s theme is Networking for a better future: Universities, Cities, Companies and Regions and speakers from all over Europe will be sharing examples of best practice in how universities can effectively network with society for…

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Time to enter the EUPRIO Awards

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With less than two months before EUPRIO’s 2017 conference in Mannheim, Germany, it is time to polish up entries for the prestigious EUPRIO Awards. The EUPRIO Awards are a chance to showcase university communication projects that make a real difference and share best practice with colleagues across Europe, writes Nic Mitchell. Entry is free, but restricted to institutions with at least one representative attending EUPRIO’s annual conference. Judging and presentations…

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Networking is key theme for EUPRIO 2017

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Registration for EUPRIO’s 2017 annual conference, which takes place from 29 June to 2 July in the German city of Mannheim, is now open. Here Nic Mitchell takes a first look at some of presentations and workshops on offer. The theme for the Mannheim conference Networking for a better future: Universities, Cities, Companies and Regions is built around the concept of universities as key connectors in wider local, regional, national…

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U-Multirank reveals ‘hidden gems’ in the world’s universities

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European universities are once again able to compare and contrast their activities with rivals around the world and demonstrate that research is far from being the only way of measuring what makes a ‘good’ university. So says U-Multirank, the comparative global university ranking initiative funded up to now by the European Union’s Erasmus+ programme. The fourth edition of U-Multirank (UMR) – which claims to have broken the mould of international…

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What does Brexit mean for European higher education?

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Britain is not leaving Europe. It is just starting divorce proceedings from the European Union. Here Nic Mitchell explores some of the implications for European higher education in his Brexit blog for EUPRIO members.   The starting gun for the official process of Britain leaving the European Union was fired on 29 March 2017 by UK Prime Minister Theresa May, pictured, and British and European higher education and research leaders…

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Happy birthday Erasmus!

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Hundreds of EUPRIO members are familiar with Erasmus, either from going abroad as exchange students themselves and doing short work placement at other European universities, or by promoting the European Union’s mobility programme as part of their institution’s internationalisation strategy.   ERASMUS celebrates its 30th anniversary this year after being relaunched in 2014, with a budget of €14.7billion for the seven years up to 2020, when seven previous European Union…

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EUA response to British Prime Minister’s Brexit speech

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The European University Association (EUA) issued a press statement on 17 January responding to British Prime Minister’s Theresa May’s Brexit speech. We publish the full text below for information. EUA applauds focus on science, research and innovation Despite its regret about the UK leaving the EU, the European University Association (EUA) is pleased that UK Prime Minister Theresa May explicitly highlighted science, research and innovation in a much-anticipated speech on Brexit…

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Networking under the spotlight in Mannheim

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‘European networks on the rise’ proclaimed the headline in the Times Higher Education magazine on 3 November 2016.   So how timely that EUPRIO should be organising its next conference in Mannheim on precisely this theme, writes Nic Mitchell. Mannheim is the ideal venue to discuss networking Networking for a better future: Universities, Cities, Territories and Enterprises is the title of our 2017 annual gathering of higher education marketing and…

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Applying science to society wins EUPRIO Awards

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A pattern emerged from this year’s EUPRIO Award winning entries – with a strong focus on increasing public understanding of what universities and their talented experts do for society at large, writes Nic Mitchell.   The two top slots were won by institutions of applied sciences, with Hogeschool von Amsterdam, the Amsterdam University of Applied Sciences, or AUAS, being the overall EUPRIO Award 2016 winner for its series of ‘making…

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EUPRIO keeps on growing

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Over 280 participants from the world of European university communications and higher education marketing came together for the 2016 EUPRIO conference hosted by the Belgium’s University of Antwerp in early September.   The conference, under the theme of Living the brand, saw representatives from Croatia and Montenegro take part for the first time as EUPRIO celebrated the 30th anniversary of its founding in Belgium back in 1986, writes NIC MITCHELL…

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Deadline soon for EUPRIO’s 2016 conference

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The deadline is rapidly approaching to register for EUPRIO’s 2016 annual conference being hosted by the University of Antwerp in Belgium from September 1-3, writes Nic Mitchell   Waiting your arrival: Central Station, Antwerp The closing date to sign-up for this year’s event is Monday 22 August, which is also the revised deadline to enter the EUPRIO Awards. Unsurprisingly, the 2016 conference has attracted considerable interest as it is focusing…

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Rectors condemn attack on academic freedom in Turkey

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European university leaders have condemned the crackdown on academic freedom following the failed coup in Turkey, writes Nic Mitchell. The European University Association (EUA), which represents 850 members in 47 countries, said the education sector, including higher education, has been targeted, with 15,200 education staff suspended and Turkey’s Higher Education Council (YÖK) ordering the resignation of all Deans from both Turkey’s public and foundation universities. Four university rectors in Turkey…

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New features for the EUPRIO 2016 conference

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  With numbers signing up for EUPRIO’s 2016 annual conference in Antwerp topping the 200-mark last week, and growing every day, organisers are confident it will be a great event, writes Nic Mitchell Several new features are being introduced this year to help participants get the most out of #EUPRIO2016, which is being hosted by the University of Antwerp, Belgium, from 1-3 September. New for this year is the Open…

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In or out of the EU, EUPRIO will stay together

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Speculation is mounting about the impact on universities of the UK’s #BREXIT referendum on European Union membership, especially in areas like student and staff mobility and research cooperation, writeS Nic Mitchell. But for EUPRIO the message is clear! “In or out of the EU, our European association of university communication colleagues will remain together”, said EUPRIO’s President Christine Legrand. “We are colleagues with same questions, exchanges and experience and we are…

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Clock ticking to EUPRIO Awards deadline

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The clock is ticking towards the deadline for entries to the prestigious EUPRIO Awards, writes Nic Mitchell. Entry is free, but restricted to universities who will have at least one delegate attending EUPRIO’s annual conference, which this year takes place at Belgium’s University of Antwerp, from September 1-3, 2016. EUPRIO Awards offer members the chance to showcase professional excellence and originality in their public relations, marketing and communication activities and…

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Don’t miss out on EUPRIO 2016 in Antwerp

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Sessions are filling up fast for the 2016 EUPRIO conference and organisers say those planning to join us in Antwerp, Belgium should register now and reserve their place at the workshops and talks that appeal to them, writes Nic Mitchell. This year the overall theme for the EUPRIO conference is branding – and how university communicators can, and need to, develop their brand to flourish in an increasingly competitive marketplace.…

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EUPRIO extends its reach to the South Pacific

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Just as Australia is now part of the Eurovision song contest, so EUPRIO has extended its reach to the heart of the South Pacific Ocean by welcoming the University of New Caledonia as one of its newest members, as Nic Mitchell reports.   Sylvian Raffard-Artigue Sylvian Raffard-Artigue must be EUPRIO’s furthest flung member from the European heartlands of Brussels and Paris, but he is now very much part of our…

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Branding under the EUPRIO spotlight in Antwerp

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Registration for EUPRIO’s 2016 conference in the delightful Belgian port city of Antwerp is now open. here Nic Mitchell takes a first look at what is on offer in the workshops and presentations. Why should fee-paying international students travel half way round the world to study with you? And what will make scientists and other research partners choose your institution as their preferred partner? The answer often rests on how…

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Branding was the focus for Italian communicators

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Two EUPRIO presidents, one from the present and the other from the not so distant past, attended the annual meeting of the Italian association of higher education communication professionals, AICUN, in Rome. Current president Christine Legrand, from CPE Lyon in France, took part in a round table discussion on university branding with Paolo Pomati, from Università del Piemonte Orientale in Italy, who was out president from 2008-12. Also taking part…

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End of the one-way communication street!

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Leading figures from the world of international higher education gathered at Groningen University in the Netherlands for the first ‘Student of the Future’ conference organised by Dutch-based study choice platform, StudyPortals. Here NIC MITCHELL looks at key issues raised for marketing and communication practitioners. The digital age means an end of the one-way messaging from universities to the next generation of students. Tony Lee from Study Group So says Tony…

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Universities want UK to stay in European Union

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British and European universities have decided they can’t afford to stand idly by in the big debate about whether the United Kingdom should remain or leave the European Union, writes Nic Mitchell.   With a referendum on the matter called for June 23, and opinion polls showing the UK’s voting public pretty evenly split, the British rectors’ association – UniversitiesUK – has come down firmly in favour of staying within…

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Huge rise in English-taught courses across Europe

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There has been a rise of nearly 1,000% in the number of English-taught programmes offered by universities in non-English speaking European countries since 2002, reports Nic Mitchell. The number has gone up from 725 when the Academic Cooperation Association (ACA) carried out its first study in 2002, rising to 2,389 in 2007 and 8,089 in 2014. The study, English-Taught Programmes in European Higher Education, can be accessed via the PDF…

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Living the brand at EUPRIO’s Antwerp conference

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How can universities encourage their staff and students to live the brand? That’s the key question for EUPRIO’s 2016 conference at the University of Antwerp, Belgium, from September 1-3. Here Nic Mitchell talks to the organiser Jan Dries and Sofia Moestedt-Westerberg, chair of the conference programme, to find out more about ‘Living the brand’. Antwerp’s Cathedral clock is ticking towards #EUPRIO2016 Universities as corporate brands Universities are now often portrayed…

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Merry Christmas Euprians !

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Merry Christmas and a Happy New Year from EUPRIO’s President Christine Legrand and executive board members Paola Scioli, Uwe Steger and Marcin Witkowski to all our members and supporters. We look forward to seeing you all at #EUPRIO16, the ‘Living the Brand’ conference in Antwerp September 1-3. We will be having a competition for our new logo in 2016 and will be giving further details in the New Year. and…

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What’s driving European university mergers?

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Universities across Europe are talking about merging or forming alliances and concentrating faculties like never before, writes Nic Mitchell. Since the turn of the century, the European University Association (EUA) has recorded nearly 100 on its interactive merger map. And the pace is accelerating, with eight super-universities or clusters identified in 2012; 12 in 2013 and 14 in 2014. So, what’s driving the merger mania? Is it a response to…

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European Universities for Openness and Tolerance

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European universities have launched a campaign, ‘European Universities for an Open World’, which calls on universities to reaffirm their commitment to the fundamental values of openness, tolerance and solidarity. The initiative comes after many students, teachers and researchers were among victims of the Paris terrorist attacks. Speaking on behalf of Europe’s higher education community, the European University Association (EUA) sent a message of solidarity and support to the French Conférence…

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Nic wins Higher Education Journalism Award

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Freelance writer and EUPRIO contributor Nic Mitchell has won the prestigious Award for Outstanding Higher Education Journalism from the UK’s Chartered Institute of Public Relations (CIPR) Education & Skills Group. The award sponsored by IFS University College was announced at the annual CIPR Education Journalism Awards 2015 in London on 12 November. Nic was up against full-time national journalists and won the prize for a feature for the BBC online…

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Liberté Égalité Fraternité! And solidarity!

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EUPRIO President Christine Legrand has thanked the many members who have sent her and other French EUPRIO representatives messages of sympathy and support after the gun attacks and suicide bombings in Paris on Friday night (13 November). “These terrible events not only concern France but also Europe, the world and universities everywhere. Liberté Égalité Fraternité! And solidarity! I’m so sad today,” said Christine. “What happened in Paris on Friday followed…

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Innovative selfies campaign wins EUPRIO Award

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An innovative social media campaign encouraging student engagement through ‘selfie’ online images certainly caught the eye of judges and participants at this year’s EUPRIO conference in Perugia. For the #IAMIN campaign, launched to boost the recruitment of top-flight students to England’s Loughborough University, was the overall winner of the 2015 EUPRIO Award, writes Nic Mitchell. Second place went to the University of Lodz, Poland, for their ‘SmartUni” network of mobile…

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EUPRIO looks at the future of universities

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Great Italian food and weather combined with thought-provoking workshops and speakers helped to make EUPRIO’s 2015 annual conference one of the most successful in recent years. A total of 284 participated, among them 28 speakers, for the three days of intensive networking and learning and sharing fresh ideas in the beautiful historic setting of Perugia, capital of Italy’s Umbria region. There were representatives from 27 countries, including a delegate from…

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Changing face of European higher education

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We talk a lot in EUPRIO about the need to face up to rapid change, so how timely is a new report from the European University Association giving us some facts and figures on major trends in European higher education over the past five years. Here NIC MITCHELL takes a look at the key findings. A YEAR ago at EUPRIO’s Innsbruck conference, we asked: How to communicate in a world…

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Join us in Perugia and enter the EUPRIO Awards

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Over 200 people have already registered for #EUPRIO2015 in Perugia, but there is still time to join us next month when we hold our annual conference once again in a beautiful part of Italy, from September 6-9. The deadline for registrations is Friday, August 21 – see here for details including travel and accommodation. This is the same deadline now set for the EUPRIO Awards – see here for more…

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UK universities launch campaign to stay in Europe

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LUCY SHACKLETON explains in a guest blog why Universities UK, or UUK, has launched Universities for Europe, a campaign to highlight how the European Union helps universities to support individuals, the economy and society in the UK. UUK, the British national rectors’ conference, represents 133 British universities; and the country’s higher education institutions appear to be speaking with one voice in support of promoting the benefits for universities of the…

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Don’t leave it too late for Perugia!

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Before you pack your bags and head for the sun, don’t forget to register for EUPRIO’s 2015 conference in Perugia, Italy, says NIC MITCHELL. This year’s theme of Turn it upside down reflects the upheaval higher education is going through across the European continent and beyond. The conference opens on Sunday, September 6 – a change from the usual Thursday start – and is the fourth to be held in…

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European students warn of lack of Bologna progress

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The European Students’ Union, or ESU, has warned that the Bologna Process, which seeks to harmonise and reform higher education across the continent, is in danger of becoming obsolete because of uneven implementation and poor follow-up of commitments by many European countries, writes Nic Mitchell. The ESU report Bologna with Student Eyes: Time to meet the expectations from 1999, is based on responses from national union of students’ organisations in…

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Make the most of EUPRIO conferences

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NIC MITCHELL has been attending EUPRIO conferences in 25 years. Here, he offers some tips on how to get the most out of the annual gathering of European higher education communicators. EUPRIO’s conferences are really something special. Held in either late June or early September, they move across the continent of Europe – often meeting in out of the way venues that you might never visit otherwise! My first was…

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French higher education communicators celebrate 30th anniversary

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France’s association for higher education communication professionals, ARCES, has been celebrating its 30th anniversary. To mark the occasion, ARCES has organised anniversary communication awards, which attracted 51 entries from 28 institutiorns. There were six categories and a list of the winners can be found here – (in French). Jobs survey ARCES members have also been taking part in the 6th French Observatory survey of jobs in communications. The biannual survey…

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Spain to pioneer new mobile master’s loans

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Spain has been picked to pioneer the European Union’s new Erasmus Loan Guarantee Scheme. The scheme, launched in June, offers loans of up to €12,000 for a one-year master’s degree in another European country or €18,000 for a two-year masters abroad. The initiative will eventually receive around €500 million from the budget of the huge Erasmus+ student mobility programme, which the European Commission says will help to raise up to…

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POLISH UP YOUR EUPRIO AWARD ENTRIES

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Time to polish up your entry for the European higher education communications ‘Oscars’ and gain the recognition you deserve from PR and marketing peers across the continent. Gisella Bengtsson from Uppsala University (R) receiving the EUPRIO 2014 Award from Sys Christina Vestergaard. The annual EUPRIO Awards shine the spotlight on outstanding campaigns and projects and encourage the sharing of best practice by university communication teams all over Europe. Judging and…

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MOOCS AND UNIVERSITY COMMUNICATIONS

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Guest blogger RÉGIS FAUBET looks at the communication challenges of promoting MOOCs now they have lost much of their novelty value. THREE years ago, when MOOCs started gaining attention, it was relatively easy for Higher Education Institutions (HEIs) to benefit from the novelty aspect and get several thousands of students to register for a MOOC. MOOCs growth trends In March 2015, the number of MOOCs, or Massive Open Online Courses…

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ARE YOU READY FOR PERUGIA?

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Registration for EUPRIO’s 2015 annual conference in the heart of Italy’s Umbria region is now open and here NIC MITCHELL takes a look at what’s on offer.   The three-day event promises to be a great opportunity to share the latest thinking on university communications and marketing with colleagues from all over Europe in the splendid historical setting of Perugia. The conference is being organised by Università per Stranieri di…

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Seasonal message from EUPRIO’s President

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  EUPRIO President Christine Legrand I have enjoyed a busy few months since taking over the Presidency of EUPRIO from Denis Ancion at the end of our excellent annual conference hosted so superbly by the University of Innsbruck in September – and this is the first of what I hope will be regular news updates during my time serving as your President.   Spanish meetings I went to Spain with…

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EUPRIO brought a ray of sunshine to Innsbruck

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Despite dire weather warnings for the Austrian Alps in early September, EUPRIO members brought a ray of sunshine to Tyrol when they arrived for the Innsbruck conference, writes Nic Mitchell. EUPRIO conferences are held in either late June or early September and bring together public relations and marketing professionals from over 20 countries to discuss and share best practices in university communications. This year we had over 250 participants coming…

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‘Stop inflating the language if you want to be trusted’

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Universities should ‘stop inflating the language’ in their marketing communications and return to old-fashioned virtues, such as truthfulness, integrity, modesty and dedication if they want to win back public trust. That was the blunt warning from Dr Sijbolt Noorda, the opening keynote speaker at EUPRIO’s Innsbruck conference. The former President of the Association of Universities in the Netherlands and current President of the Academic Cooperation Association, or ACU, said he…

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Christine is new EUPRIO President

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Christine Legrand is the new President of the European Public Relations and Information Officers’ association (EUPRIO). EUPRIO’s new President Christine Legrand She is the Director of Communications and Industrial Relations at CPE Lyon in France and took over as EUPRIO President at the end of the association’s annual conference, held this month (September) at the University of Innsbruck, in Austria. She will serve for two years. EUPRIO has nearly 700…

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Reward scientists who are good communicators, says think tank

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Among measures to improve the way science is communicated to society, a German think tank is recommending rewarding scientists who are good at engaging with the public, reports NIC MITCHELL. Scientists who engage with the public deserve not just support and appreciation, but also “remuneration and incentives,” says a position paper from the Siggen Circle. The paper entitled, The Siggen Call for Action – Shaping science communication – followed a…

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EUPRIO Awards deadline extended to August 10th

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Following requests from a number of members, the deadline for entries to this year’s EUPRIO Awards has been extended to August 10th, writes NIC MITCHELL. The Awards offer a unique opportunity for university public relations and communications professionals to be peer-judged by their European colleagues and celebrate outstanding vision and practices throughout the continent. But the July 1st deadline proved difficult for some to meet – coming at the end…

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Time to enter the European HE communication ‘Oscars’ !

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As the academic year starts to draw to a close, it is time to prepare your university’s entry for the European higher education ‘communication Oscars’. Every year at our conference, a competition to win the annual EUPRIO Awards takes place to showcase the excellence of our members’ work in communications. It is free for EUPRIO members to enter and the top prizewinner gets an invitation to present a workshop on…

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Get ready for EUPRIO 2014

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Registration for EUPRIO’s 2014 conference at the University of Innsbruck in Austria is open and here NIC MITCHELL looks at some the sessions on offer. The annual conference, titled ‘How to communicate in a world dominated by change’ takes place from 4-7 September 2014. Among the highlights will be several sessions looking at the ever-closer relationship between business and higher education & research – a development high up the agenda…

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Science communication spotlight on the Czech Republic

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Alexandra Hroncová, the Czech member on EUPRIO’s Steering Committee, will be among the presenters at AFO – the 49th International Festival of Science Documentary Films, taking place from April 15-20, 2014. AFO aims to present science as an attractive, dynamic and diverse sector through films charting natural, humanities and social science disciplines. The event is hosted by the University of Olomouc in the Czech Republic, and Alexandra, pictured, says: “It…

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#EUPRIO14: Keeping up with the pace of higher education change

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The pace of change in higher education is accelerating and those on the frontline explaining what is going on have never faced such challenging times. With cuts to government spending, and demographic trends reducing the flow of 18 and 19-year-olds, the need to communicate the value – and values – of higher education have never been greater. So, it is timely that EUPRIO’s 2014 conference in Innsbruck, Austria (pictured), should…

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Russian focus on visual communications gets EUPRIO backing

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A web conference being organised by a Russian university is being supported by EUPRIO. The webinar-style event will focus on visual communications in new media and is being hosted by Tomsk State University, from May 20-22, 2014. EUPRIO’s President Denis Ancion said: “I’m delighted to accept an invitation for us to be an official information partner and hope EUPRIO members with expertise in this field will put themselves forward as…

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Challenges and opportunities for EUPRIO members in 2014

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Funding cuts, immigration controls and higher tuition fees are just three of the challenges facing European universities in 2014 and beyond. But there are exciting developments, too, with the internationalisation of higher education and the opening up of online learning, which offer fresh opportunities for European universities to spread their influence far and wide. So, it is not surprising that EUPRIO’s next conference will be around the theme ‘How to…

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Let us hear from you about EUPRIO 2014 in the Alps!

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MEMORIES of the sunny (and rainy) days of EUPRIO’s last conference in the historic English city of Canterbury are now fading, but the team responsible for organising our annual gatherings of European higher education communicators are busy working on the 2014 annual conference, to be held in the equally historic city of Innsbruck in the Austrian Alps, from 4-7 September. With Europe and higher education in general in a state…

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Denis communicates the value of EUPRIO at German conference

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EUPRIO’s President Denis Ancion, pictured, was a guest at the three-day annual conference of communicators from German universities, held in Hannover, from 11-13 September 2013. Denis was invited to give a workshop on impulses, strategies and visions for communication and marketing experts in the rapidly changing world of European higher education. A key theme was that EUPRIO is becoming more effective by building up from its grassroots at a national…

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Changes ahead for Belgium French-speaking higher education

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The government of the French-speaking community of Belgium has began a project aimed at reorganising higher education, reports Véronique Eloy. The plans have been examined by the State Council and are expected to get parliamentary approval at the end of September. The hope is that they will be implemented by all institutions of higher education in Brussels and Wallonia for the beginning of the 2014-15 academic year. The reforms aim…

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National Geographic link-up wins 2013 EUPRIO Award

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EUPRIO’s new look award scheme created quite a buzz at the Kent conference with delegates helping to pick the winning entry after a poster session during one of the lunch breaks. A bit like Eurovision, the views of delegates were combined with the judging panel and this year’s top prize – an all-expenses paid invitation to attend and present at next year’s annual conference in Innsbruck – went to Universiteit…

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Canterbury proves ideal for EUPRIO tales

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From the opening ceremony in the shadow of Canterbury’s magnificent cathedral, one sensed that the 2013 EUPRIO conference was going to be something special. And so it turned out right through to the EUPRIO Awards and gala dinner on the last night, with a smooth transition from Paolo Pomati’s Italian presidency to the first conference under the guidance of Denis Ancion, from Maastricht, in the Netherlands. EUPRIO delegates bid farewell…

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Registration for EUPRIO 2013 closes on 14 June

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Demand for places at the EUPRIO 2013 annual conference being held at the University of Kent in Canterbury from 27-29 June has exceeded expectations and registrations will close at midnight on Friday 14 June. With 200 delegates already signed-up, the organisers achieved their target number of delegates with four weeks to spare at the end of May. This year’s conference marks EUPRIO’s return to England after a ten-year break when…

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Getting ready for EUPRIO 2013

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Registration for EUPRIO’s 2013 Conference at the University of Kent in the UK is open. The annual conference, titled ‘Students, alumni and staff – the best university brand ambassadors’, takes place this year from 27-29 June at the University’s campus in Canterbury. EUPRIO President, Denis Ancion says: “The conference will be tackling some really hot issues as European universities face up to the major challenge of securing their positions in…

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Change is coming, but are we ready?

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EUPRIO’s President Denis Ancion tells NIC MITCHELL about a meeting of Dutch members which focused on the vital role of internal communications – a key theme for our forthcoming annual conference in Canterbury this June. The image shows international students at a “Mix & Mingle” event in Maastricht, a key audience for university branding worldwide. Creating more visibility for EUPRIO. This is one of the most important ambitions for the…

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EUPRIO 2013 all set for June take-off at the University of Kent

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Venues are all booked, the keynote speakers are in place and it’s all systems go for take-off for EUPRIO’s 2013 conference at the University of Kent in the UK. The annual conference provides EUPRIO members with a stimulating opportunity to discuss best practice, hear about new trends and do some serious networking. This year it takes place from 27-30 June at the University of Kent’s lovely Canterbury campus, set in…

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‘European mobile student loans will help banks not students’ – ESU

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With the Erasmus scheme running out of money and fears that 2013 is going tougher financially, the European Commission has proposed an ‘EU Erasmus Loan Guarantee Facility’ for master’s students studying abroad. But the plan has come under attack from the very people it is said to support, as NIC MITCHELL reports. ________________________________________ A PROPOSED loan scheme to support master’s students studying abroad, part of ‘ Erasmus for all’, is…

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Ban on foreign students at UK university sparks protests

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THE Vice Chancellor of the London University banned from enrolling foreign students from outside the EU has claimed the decision will have a “profound impact” on international confidence in the entire British higher education sector: London Met banned from enrolling overseas students After days of uncertainty, the UK Border Agency confirmed on 29 August that London Metropolitan University was losing its “highly trusted status” for sponsoring international students. The announcement…

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Heavy weight issues under the spotlight at EUPRIO 2012

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Venue for EUPRIO 2012: Gothenburg, Sweden There are some really heavy weight issues to be discussed at this year’s annual conference of the European Universities Public Relations and Information Officers association (EUPRIO) in Gothenburg, Sweden, from September 6-8, 2012. “Under the theme of ‘The social contract between universities and society’ we will be looking at how European universities should use communications as a key tool to win public support in…

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