Session
✅ Included for all participants
This session will explore why India is a strategic partner for Europe in higher education, highlighting current collaboration and future frameworks such as the European Education Area, the Union of Skills and the Global Gateway. Speakers will share policy insights and practical examples – including Norway's bilateral funding scheme with India – followed by interactive discussion. We welcome both newcomers and experienced practitioners to share challenges, solutions and lessons learned.
Filip van Depoele is an economist by training (University of Leuven, Belgium) and subsequently studied European Economic Integration (College of Europe, Bruges, Belgium) and International Relations (Johns Hopkins University, Bologna, Italy). He worked for a number of years in the private sector (banking) before joining the European Commission in 1997. Filip held several positions in the Directorate General for Employment and Social Affairs and the Directorate General for Competition before moving to the Directorate General in charge of Education, Youth, Sport and Culture. After having managed the Policy Coordination unit for 5 years, he is currently heading the International Cooperation unit.
Unni Kvernhusvik Sagberg is a Senior Adviser at the Norwegian Directorate for Higher Education and Skills (HK-dir), where she works on international higher education cooperation, partnership development, and knowledge diplomacy, with a particular focus on India and global engagement. She has extensive experience in developing and managing international cooperation programmes, supporting institutional partnerships, and strengthening links between higher education, research, and public policy.
Prior to joining HK-dir, Unni worked at the University of Bergen's Centre for International Health, where she was involved in the administration and development of international research and education collaborations, including support for doctoral education, capacity building, and global health partnerships. She has also served as a Seconded National Expert at the European Commission, Directorate-General for Education, Youth, Sport and Culture (DG EAC), where she worked on international cooperation and relations with Asian countries, contributing to European higher education policy and international engagement.
Throughout her career, Unni has worked closely with universities, ministries, embassies, and international organisations to advance higher education cooperation. She is also actively engaged in the international higher education community through leadership, training, and expert roles within the European Association for International Education (EAIE).
Dr. Richa Verma is an Indian Administrative Service (IAS) officer with over 14 years of experience in public administration, grassroots governance and policy implementation in India. A qualified dentist by profession, she joined the IAS in 2012 and has since served in diverse administrative roles.
She currently serves as Director in the Ministry of Education, Government of India, where she works on international cooperation in education and Skilling in Higher Education.
