Celebrating the life and contributions of EAIE Past President Iris Schwanck

It is with deep sadness that we announce the passing of Iris Schwanck, former Vice-President and President of the EAIE (1998-1999). Her presidency of the EAIE took place in a landmark year for the sector with the signing of the Bologna Declaration and the launch of the Internationalisation at Home movement.

Linda Johnson (EAIE President 1997-1998) remembers Iris fondly: "Iris and I worked closely together and we got to know each other well. We talked a lot and saw each other frequently at a juncture in our lives, when we were both juggling the twin demands of careers we loved and kids, whom we also loved! We both felt tremendously privileged to have found ourselves in the exciting new field of internationalisation of higher education. It was splendid to work so closely with someone who understood and was experiencing the same challenges as I was. Iris was always elegant and unflurried and had an infectious sense of humour. I learnt from her that humour can sometimes be more effective than analysis and argumentation. Iris had a light touch, combined with intelligence and determination. Iris brought colour and fun to many lives, including my own. She was also a consummate networker who contributed hugely to the development of Finnish internationalization and to the EAIE during the decade in which she worked in the field."

Born in Geneva into a bilingual and bicultural family, Iris embodied internationalism from an early age. Throughout her distinguished career, she devoted herself to fostering understanding across borders through education and academic cooperation.

With an educational background in linguistics and a doctorate in French philology from the University of Helsinki, she held key roles in international education, including serving as the planner for international affairs at the University of Helsinki from 1990 to 1995 and Deputy Director at the Centre for International Exchange of Persons (CIMO) from 1995 to 1999.Later, Iris returned to a cultural path as Director of the Finnish Institute in France, before continuing her career as Director of the Finnish Literature Exchange (FILI) organisation from 2001 to 2015.

After retiring, she served as chair of the Finlandia Prize jury in 2015, on the boards of literary and theatre societies, and as a Finnish language teacher for immigrant women.

Sara López Selga, EAIE’s current president, shared, "The EAIE community and present and past presidents deeply regret the loss of Iris Schwanck, one of the first generation of leaders in the EAIE's 36-year journey. Her contribution to the field of cultural exchange from her linguistic and humanistic background is highly regarded in her home country Finland. We are grateful to her for having served and led the EAIE, with an international vocation and human vision she brought to all her projects."

We will always remember Iris for her remarkable passion and dedication to promoting internationalisation. Her radiant energy and enthusiasm inspired everyone who had the pleasure of working with her.

We extend our heartfelt condolences to Iris’s family and loved ones.