Michael Hörig

DAAD: German Academic Exchange Service, Belgium

Michael Hörig is the Director of the DAAD Brussels Office and he has held this position since January 2022. He is responsible for representing DAAD towards the institutions of the European Union, partner organisations and German representations in Brussels. Furthermore, the DAAD Brussels Office is supporting the development, acquisition and implementation of EU-funded projects. Michael has a keen interested in the collaboration with strategic partner regions such as Africa, ASEAN and the Middle East. Furthermore, he is actively engaged in the improvement of transatlantic relations. Since 2022, DAAD Brussels has successfully hosted three transatlantic dialogue events together with Institute of International Education (IIE). Michael joined DAAD in early 2011. He has held different positions at DAAD headquarters in Bonn, covering a broad range of topics from Strategic Planning to Development Cooperation and Higher Education Projects. 

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Olusola Oyewole

University of Agriculture, Abeokuta, Ghana

Professor Olusola Oyewole is the Secretary-General of the Association of African Universities (AAU), headquartered in Accra, Ghana, and a Professor of Food Science and Technology (Food Microbiology and Biotechnology) at the Federal University of Agriculture, Abeokuta, Nigeria, where he is currently on sabbatical. He served as Vice Chancellor of the University from May 2012 to May 2017 and has over 36 years’ experience in African higher education, with more than 100 scholarly publications. He was Senior Expert for Quality Assurance, Mobility and Scholarships at the African Union Commission (2009–2010), Coordinator of the British Government–funded "Mobilization of Regional Initiatives for the Revitalization of Higher Education in Africa" at AAU (2007–2009), and Project Officer for the World Bank "Quality Assurance for African Higher Education Systems" project (2006–2009). Prof. Oyewole has coordinated multinational research and development programmes, with expertise in international and inter-governmental relations, advocacy, and research funding. His focus areas include quality assurance, leadership, management, and research systems in African higher education. He coordinated the Mwalimu Nyerere Scheme at the AU, covering the AQRM, Mwalimu Nyerere Scholarship, and Africa–EU–ACP Mobility schemes. He serves on the OECD Advisory Group on Innovation, Higher Education and Research for Development, the Tuning Africa Quality Assurance programme, and is sub-cluster coordinator for CESA on Research and Graduate Studies.

Claire Herrmann

European Commission, Belgium

Claire Herrmann is working in the European Commission, Directorate-General for Education, Culture, Youth and Sport.  She is policy officer in the unit responsible for International cooperation (beyond Europe). 
She works mainly on the implementation of the Erasmus+ programme in Sub-Saharan Africa and cooperation mechanisms in the Vocational Education and Training sector. 
From previous positions, she has experience in international cooperation and programmes in education and youth, employment and social inclusion (European Social Fund) and anti-discrimination issues.