The European Commission launched ENLIGHT in 2020 as a pilot project. ENLIGHT is a European education network whose purpose is to increase mobility between higher education institutions through new, joint education initiatives. The aim is to strengthen cooperation between the European universities and highlight questions of strategic leadership.

The ENLIGHT leadership programme has its roots in the U4 network. Besides Uppsala University, the former U4 network, which operated for many years, included the universities in Göttingen, Ghent and Groningen. But the programme is now being implemented within the ENLIGHT Alliance – an alliance of ten European universities, including the former U4 network universities.

Leadership development a special responsibility

Within ENLIGHT, Uppsala University has a special responsibility for leadership development. The ENLIGHT Academic Leadership Programme has been designed and is led by Carin Eriksson Lindvall, Anna Westin and Rabbe Hedengren of the Career and Leadership Development Centre, which is a unit within the University Administration. From Uppsala University, Marcus Lindahl, Department of Civil and Industrial Engineering, Åsa af Geijerstam, Department of Education, and Tove Fall, Department of Medical Sciences, will be participating in the programme.

The first session of the ENLIGHT Academic Leadership Programme was held here in Uppsala in September 2025. The theme was Culture & Challenges. In 2025 and 2026, sessions will be held in Bratislava, Galway and Ghent. All sessions are provided on site, not digitally.

What did you think of the programme's first session, Åsa af Geijerstam?
“It was a very good session, and a very promising start to the programme! The combination of lectures, plenty of time for reflection on the role of academia, practical exercises and social activities was well thought out and meaningful. The structure reflected and acknowledged the breadth of the task of leadership within academia – the more formal aspects as well as the interpersonal.”

Do you feel that you are getting something out of participating in this programme?
“Yes, very much so! The programme provides an important opportunity to draw attention to and understand each other’s perspectives at the different universities from which we come. It’s exciting to see both similarities and differences – but mostly similarities, actually, especially in the challenges we face. In addition, it’s valuable for Uppsala University’s collaboration within ENLIGHT that more of us acquire contacts and gain insights from the entire network.”

Was there something you thought was especially good, and that you would like to highlight?
“The Career and Leadership Development Centre have really managed to put together a great programme. The structure of the programme and its leadership were impressive. Having created relevant and meaningful content in each programme point in such a thoughtful way – including the social activities – gave us participants a feeling of time well spent. Thanks to the structure, and not least Anna Westin’s responsive leadership throughout, a generous climate quickly emerged where participants shared experiences and challenges. It really helped make the content come alive and engage us.”

After just one session, do you feel that anything was missing?
“Not really, but I’m curious about the next sessions. Because the world is changing rapidly right now, it feels especially valuable to have the time and space to discuss the role of academia in our times within this group.”

What are you looking forward to in the next sessions?
“I’m looking forward to being able to delve into the upcoming themes, which are very topical and relevant. Questions about the future of internationalisation, leading through change, and the role and responsibility of universities in the world are important, and are the kinds of things I don’t always have the time and space to immerse myself in, in my day-to-day work. I’m also looking forward to getting to know three other universities and their environments a bit better.”

Ulrika Hurtig