Association milestones: EUA & IAU
We find ourselves at the start of a new year, a moment of both reflection and celebration. In the case of two of the EAIE’s partner associations, there is indeed much to celebrate: IAU, the International Association of Universities, just marked its 75th anniversary in 2025, while EUA, the European University Association, will observe their 25th anniversary now in 2026. These wonderful milestones offer timely reasons to touch base with these impressive associations to reflect on their pasts, consider the main points on their agenda for the new year and look toward the future.
In this episode, EAIE Podcast host Laura Rumbley is joined by Amanda Crowfoot, Secretary General of EUA, and Hilligje van’t Land, Secretary General of IAU, to talk about these impressive milestones. We travel back in time to when these associations were formed to understand their original aspirations. We hear about key moments from the archives and lessons learned over the years. And we get a glimpse into some of the notable directions, priorities and aspirations for these organisations as they plan their next steps.
About Amanda Crowfoot
Amanda Crowfoot has been Secretary General of the European University Association – the collective voice of Europe’s universities, with approximately 900 members, since January 2020. She is responsible for implementing the Association’s strategic plan, acting as an ambassador for its members and leading its Secretariat. Amanda previously served as the first Director of Science Europe, the association representing major European public research funding and performing organisations. From 2001 to 2012, Amanda worked at the UK Research Office, the Brussels office of the UK research councils, first as a European Advisor and then as Director of the Office. With a background in linguistics, Amanda taught and conducted research at several UK universities and served as Projects Manager at the Centre for Research and Policy in Disability at Coventry University.
About Hilligje van’t Land
Dr Hilligje van’t Land serves the global higher education community as Secretary General of the International Association of Universities (IAU) - a global NGO with UNESCO Associate Status. For the past two decades, she has fostered the key role of higher education in societal transformation. She supervises the overall programme activities at the IAU, develops the Association’s strategic plans and oversees the everyday work of the secretariat. She positioned the IAU as a UNESCO partner in work on Education for Sustainable Development and the Futures of Education Initiative, and is an advocate for higher education as a key stakeholder for the UN Agenda 2030 – Transforming our World.
Dr van’t Land represents the IAU in various working groups and expert committees at the UN and UNESCO, the Council of Europe, and organisations around the world. She publishes on higher education issues that are relevant locally and globally. She holds a PhD in comparative francophone literature, held T&L and Research positions in the Netherlands, Canada and France, and strongly believes in the importance of international cooperation and intercultural understanding and has developed multilateral projects supporting this vision.
Additional resources
For further insights into the topics touched on in this episode, the following resources may be of interest:
→ EUA – Universities without walls: A vision for 2030
→ EUA - How universities can protect and promote academic freedom: EUA principles and guidelines
→ IAU – Strategy 2030
→ IAU - IAU Horizons: Dimensions of Trust in Higher Education
→ EAIE Podcast: Fanta Aw & LaNitra Berger: NAFSA turns 75!
