BUP IROs Network Annual meeting 2025

The first-ever Annual Meeting of the BUP IROs Network was held on 30–31 October 2025 at the University of St. Cyril and Methodius in Trnava, Slovakia. The core organising team consisted of representatives from the BUP National Centres in Slovakia, Czechia, and Latvia, in collaboration with the BUP Coordinating Secretariat. The gathering brought together representatives from 30 universities across 9 countries, including Poland, Lithuania, Latvia, Czechia, Germany, Ukraine, Estonia, Sweden, and Slovakia. Participants from universities across the Baltic Sea Region discussed cooperation opportunities and future perspectives within this newly established network.

The event took place in parallel with the meeting of the BUP National Centre Directors, which created opportunities for joint sessions focused on the development of The Baltic University Programme.

Throughout the program, participants drew inspiration from other networks such as IROICA and the EU Alliance ENLIGHT.

Outcomes of the event

The meeting laid the groundwork for the BUP IROs Network by aligning participants on shared goals, drafting a framework of the network’s purpose and values, and proposing a practical structure supported by suitable communication tools and a light coordination model. Through interactive workshops, participants identified the network’s added value, outlined its key functions, and jointly prepared a draft 12-month action plan including the launch of a communication platform, regular online meetings, a shared contact list, and collaborative activities such as webinars and AI-related training. The program concluded with the presentation of next steps, assignment of responsibilities, and a commitment to continued cooperation.

The joint session between IRO representatives and BUP Centre Directors initiated a structured framework for cooperation between the two groups, with the shared goal of strengthening the BUP and enhancing its influence on the internationalisation efforts of each participating university.

Framework BUP IROs Network (pdf). pdf, 253 kB.

From the organiser’s perspective, the meeting was very constructive and inspiring, marked by open dialogue, high engagement, and a genuine commitment from all participants to strengthen cooperation within the BUP.

Organiser voice

”From the organiser’s perspective, the joint meeting of the IRO Network and the National Directors proved to be a highly successful and inspiring event. The gathering brought together representatives from universities across Europe, creating a space for constructive dialogue, experience sharing, and the development of concrete follow-up actions.

In addition, participants from both groups were joined by guests from participating universities who took part in the five-day Blended Intensive Programme 'Breath, Balance, Build.'. This parallel format provided a unique opportunity to combine strategic discussions with academic and cultural engagement, adding further depth and dimension to the overall event.

The joint meeting not only strengthened professional ties and network cooperation, but also moved the IRO community closer to achieving its strategic goals, particularly in the areas of internationalisation, mobility coordination, and quality enhancement of institutional partnerships.

Overall, the meeting successfully fulfilled its objectives — fostering collaboration, exchanging expertise, and promoting innovation within the network — and served as a clear step forward towards the shared mission of connecting universities through meaningful and sustainable partnerships.”

- Nikoleta Vanková, University of St. Cyril and Methodius in Trnava

Voices of participants

Agata Bruska - Participant from West Pomeranian University of Technology

Before attending, I expected to get to know our National Centre Director and learn about the ways IROs and National Centres could cooperate to promote the BUP and plan and implement joint activities; apart from that, interacting with like-minded, motivated IRO colleagues and finding inspiration on how to network, cooperate and make the BUP more visible.

The best part of the meeting was “linking the dots” by brainstorming and sharing perspectives between IROs and their National Centre Directors, which should result in more national initiatives; another thing was the delivery – workshop mode activated all participants and allowed wide exchange.

From the meeting, I will bring with me the ongoing conviction that the BUP has a rich offer for students and university teachers and staff; it provides a platform for networking, international cooperation for SDG education and research, as well as democracy – all you have to do is to be proactive, seize the opportunities and grow together with others.

Hasmik Hunanyan - Participant from University of Greifswald

Before attending, I expected to get to know the colleagues engaged in BUP activities and to better understand how International Offices coordinate these efforts within their institutions. I was also hoping to build new connections with representatives from other universities and explore potential opportunities for future collaboration.

The most valuable aspect of the meeting was learning about best practices implemented at other universities; how different institutions approach BUP-related work was truly inspiring. In addition, the networking opportunities were excellent: meeting so many committed colleagues created a very positive atmosphere, and I was able to establish several meaningful and promising new connections.

I am taking home many great contacts and potential partners for future cooperation. The meeting also made it very clear that the BUP units and International Offices need to work closely together. Only through strong collaboration can BUP activities be effectively communicated within the university and the full potential and added value of the network be realized. Moreover, we should actively make use of available funding schemes, such as Erasmus, to further strengthen cooperation.

Veiko Karu - Participant from Estonian Business School

I expected to better understand how the BUP and the university IROs can be structured in practice and how my topics – circular economy, raw materials and sustainability – could be meaningfully integrated into the cooperation between BUP partners. I also hoped to meet potential partners for co-teaching, joint student projects and future Erasmus+/BUP initiatives, and to leave with a clearer idea of my opportunities in the BUP.

The best part was the open, collegial atmosphere where we could co-create: discussing, promoting, sharing experiences. The informal exchanges (during breaks, walks and social events) were equally valuable, as they helped to build trust and sparked several joint ideas that go beyond.

I’m taking with me a much clearer vision of how our participation in the BUP can run via IROs, plus several concrete ideas with new colleagues from the participants for the next activities that I can implement. Just as importantly, I’m bringing home new partnerships and a shared intention to develop follow-up collaboration.

Images from the workshop