For the 10th time in the Alliance’s history, EUniWell partners gathered in the city of Konstanz on April 22-24 for this year’s first Rectors’ Assembly. The event brought together university leaders, institutional coordinators, student representatives, and experts from across the Alliance.
Semmelweis University was represented by a delegation of seven: Kata Püski, Director General for Strategic Organizational Development, Dr. Miklós Kellermayer, Director of the Department Institute of Biophysics and Radiation Biology; Dr. Tamás Hegedüs, Director for International Relations and Alumni Affairs; Dr. Ádám Orosz, Assistant Professor at the Department of Biophysics and Radiation Biology; and Fanni Matyasovszki, International Expert and EUniWell Institutional Coordinator at the Directorate of International Relations and Alumni Affairs. The Semmelweis local Student Board was represented by Dr. Márk Havasi, Member of the EUniWell Student Executive Team, and Ace Pagkaliwangan, local Student Board Member.
A platform for strategic exchange
The biannual Rectors’ Assemblies are among the most important governance forums within the EUniWell Alliance, providing an opportunity for member institutions to align strategic priorities and reflect on ongoing initiatives. This year’s spring event, hosted by the University of Konstanz, served as a key platform for strategic dialogue, focusing on advancing collaboration in research, education, and societal engagement, all centered around the shared goal of improving well-being.
The Assembly opened on the April 22 with preparatory meetings of the Institutional Coordinators and the EUniWell Board. Later that day, the program continued with a welcome reception and boat cruise on Lake Constance. The program was enriched by scientific insights from the University’s Limnological Institute.
The second day of the Assembly featured a closed Rectors’ Assembly session dedicated to strategic discussions among university leadership, followed by an open session that invited broader participation. The open program included keynote lectures on the concept of “togetherness” and its implications for European cooperation, as well as a series of parallel workshops focusing on teaching, research, and diversity.
These sessions emphasized the importance of interdisciplinary approaches and highlighted the need to translate shared values into concrete joint actions within the Alliance.
The day concluded with a wrap-up session summarizing key outcomes, followed by a networking dinner on the island of Mainau, further strengthening ties among participants.
Well-Being on Campus: sharing best practices and engaging communities
The “Well-Being on Campus” initiative on the final day of the event showcased best practices from across EUniWell partner universities and encouraged dialogue between academic communities and local stakeholders.
Semmelweis University’s experts actively contributed by presenting two initiatives:
- Kata Püski presented the poster “The University as a Life-Course Friendly Workplace,” highlighting Semmelweis University’s Family-Friendly University programs and their role in supporting employees across different life stages.
- Dr. Ádám Orosz introduced the poster “Cultivating Connections, Strengthening Communities,” presenting the Biopsychosocial-Spiritual (BPSS) model for well-being used at the Semmelweis Institute of Mental Health, as well as the upcoming joint EUniWell master’s program named Well-Being Oriented Healthcare.
By connecting institutional strategies with real-life campus initiatives, the program underlined EUniWell’s commitment to embedding well-being into everyday university life.
Semmelweis University’s importance within the Alliance
Semmelweis University was actively represented at the Assembly, contributing to both strategic discussions and collaborative exchanges. Participation across leadership, coordination, and student representation levels reflects the university’s strong commitment to the EUniWell initiative and its objectives.
The outcomes of the Konstanz Rectors’ Assembly will serve as a foundation for future initiatives, further reinforcing EUniWell’s shared vision: to build a more connected, inclusive, and resilient European higher education landscape.
Semmelweis University’s involvement in the EUniWell program is supported by the National Research, Development and Innovation Fund (NKFIH).
Image and text: Directorate of International Relations and Alumni Affairs
The EUniWell project is co-funded by the Erasmus+ Programme of the European Union.
Disclaimer: Views and opinions expressed are those of the author(s) only and do not necessarily reflect those of the European Union or the European Education and Culture Executive Agency (EACEA). Neither the European Union nor EACEA can be held responsible for them.
