Post by European University Association

The 2026 European Learning & Teaching Forum wrapped up yesterday. The last day left us with a simple challenge: which dots are we actually connecting? Drawing on her experience as a researcher and academic developer, Katarina Mårtensson, Lund University, delivered a keynote on ‘Connecting the dots: How can staff development be (re-)designed to have a greater and longer-lasting effect on the quality and relevance of higher education? Referring to Ruth Graham’s study on rewarding teaching in academic careers and the #STAFFDEV_EU survey report on staff development in learning and teaching, Katarina offered a striking comparison: imagine a doctoral candidate who refuses to talk to anyone about their research or read what’s already known. Research couldn’t work that way. Yet, teaching has long been treated as something that happens behind closed doors, as each teacher’s personal business. Do we talk with colleagues about our teaching as routinely as we do about our research? Peer exchange is a norm in research; it needs to be a norm in L&T too. Many colleagues already have small “significant networks” they trust, but we can build on this by enabling more and better conversations, supported by leaders and institutional structures. A panel discussion with Lana Par, European Students'​ Union (ESU), and Manuel Joao Costa, Universidade do Minho, pushed this further: what is the role of institutions and leadership in staff development, and how do we think about impact? Creating space for constructive feedback from students matters, especially when students are included early through open and honest dialogue. But impact also starts with a deceptively hard question: do we really know who’s in our classroom? Do we see students as customers, or as individuals and members of society, with different needs and aspirations? Honest conversations about strengths, weaknesses and development can also show students it’s OK not to be perfect. One metaphor captured the dot-connecting challenge: ants. 🐜 Each has its own role and path, but the work becomes collective through a culture of sharing. The task for universities is to connect dots between micro-cultures so good practice doesn’t stay locked within disciplines, teams, or units. Ivanka Popovic, EUA Vice-President, reflected on a key dilemma: the competitiveness often associated with research can contrast with the solidarity expected in teaching. But since these missions are tied together, we need the right rhythm to keep both moving forward, “singing fado as one voice”, for a doable transformation. EUA President Josep M. Garrell picked up that same thread of unison, by reminding #EUALearnTeach participants that "EUA is you, every single member of this association. And this association is our way, our instrument, our tool to collectively shape European university voices." We would like to thank all speakers, participants and our host for this year, Universidade Católica Portuguesa. 📸 João Porfírio