The University of Granada has participated in the third annual conference of the European Network of Innovative Higher Education Institutions (ENIHEI), which took place on October 5th and 6th at the Technical University of Gabrovo in Bulgaria. This gathering focuses on the fundamental role of higher education in driving innovation in all its dimensions.
ENIHEI is a network that includes 38 leading universities in innovation, with 28 of them designated by member states and 10 higher education centers designated by the European Commission. It was established in 2022 through the initiative of the European Commission with the aim of supporting the European higher education system and strengthening Europe’s position in global leadership. Its work involves developing ideas and recommendations to promote relevant actions in the field of innovation.
In this context, the University of Granada, proposed as a member by the Spanish government, stands out as a key player in ENIHEI, showcasing our leadership in innovation across various areas, including education, research and development, entrepreneurship, public and social innovation, as well as our capacity for innovation in internal management procedures. All of this is guided by our principles of gender equality and inclusivity.
I had the opportunity to represent the University of Granada as the Vice-Rector for Social Innovation, Employability, and Entrepreneurship. This reflects our institutional commitment to innovation and excellence in higher education. In my address, I expressed our university’s willingness to play an active and leadership role within this network, with the aim of contributing at the European level with the best practices developed at our institution, while also learning from and adopting innovations from other European institutions.
The conference featured the participation of Mariya Gabriel, who was a driving force behind the network during her tenure as European Commissioner for Innovation, Research, Culture, Education, and Youth. The current Vice-Prime Minister and Minister of Foreign Affairs of Bulgaria highlighted the significance of ENIHEI as a vibrant platform for the exchange of knowledge and collaboration on ideas at the European level.