Summer School 2026 Programme
All times CEST
12:00
Webinar introducing the Summer School teams, the case studies and overview of the arrangements.
14:30
Registration and coffee
15:00
Welcome and introduction to the Summer School – Leading and managing change in strategy and policy: School aims; teams’ work; institutional cases; getting to know your peers
Nadine Burquel, Director General, HUMANE, BE
16:00
Workshop
Gavin McLachlan, Vice Principal, Chief Information Officer and Librarian, The University of Edinburgh, UK
17:00
Return to hotels
19:00
Welcome dinner
09:00
Welcome to Central European University
Carsten Q. Schneider, Interim President and Rector, Central European University, AT
09:10
Transformation strategy and execution at Copenhagen University
Søren Munk Skydsgaard, University Director, University of Copenhagen, DK
10:40
Coffee break
11:10
Transformation strategy with the use of Artificial Intelligence
Gavin McLachlan, Vice Principal, Chief Information Officer, The University of Edinburgh, UK
12:40
Lunch
14:00
Transformation strategy and execution at University College Ghent
Koen Goethals, President, University College Ghent, BE
15:30
Summer School team task: assigning roles, approaches to the task; clarifying team objectives, defining key questions for the case work
17:00
Campus Tour
19:00
Dinner
09:00
Reflections and Key Takeaways from the previous day
Nadine Burquel, Director General, HUMANE, BE
09:10
Processes for defining a transformational strategic model: visioning a future state, clarifying requirements and benefits, and setting objectives
Grete Kvernland-Berg, Partner, PA Consulting Norway, NO
10:15
Coffee break
10:30
Designing the new operating model: making difficult choices, meeting challenges and dealing with organisational dilemmas
Grete Kvernland-Berg, Partner, PA Consulting Norway, NO
11:30
Coffee break
11:45
The tactics of executing a strategic organisational transformation: power, politics, action…and watchouts for the uninitiated
Grete Kvernland-Berg, Partner, PA Consulting Norway, NO
12:30
Lunch
13:30
Summer School team task: working on case analysis and preparing key questions
Coffee available
14:30
Summer School case study: Transformation at the University of Turin
Conversation and Q&A with the speaker
Andrea Silvestri, Director General, University of Turin, IT
16:00
Networking event in Vienna
19:00
Dinner
09:00
Key takeaways and reflections from the previous day
Nadine Burquel, Director General, HUMANE, BE
09:10
Summer School case study: Transformation at the University of Exeter
Conversation and Q&A with university case speaker
Mike Shore-Nye, Senior Vice President, Registrar and Secretary, University of Exeter, UK
10:40
Coffee break
11:10
Rethink Work and HR in the Age of AI. Leading people
Liselotte Schoell, HR Director, Central European University, AT
12:15
Lunch
13:30
Mastering change communication
Samantha Lancet Grant, Director of Communications, University College London, UK
15:00
Summer School team task
Coffee available
18:00
Teams’ networking evening
09:00
Key takeaways and reflections from the previous day
Nadine Burquel, Director General, HUMANE, BE
09:10
Optimising Resource Allocation for Large Scale Transformation Programmes: People and Finances
Stephan van Galen, Secretary and Director General, University of Groningen; HUMANE Board member, NL
10:40
Coffee break
11:00
Leading large transformations
12:30
Lunch on campus
13:30
Summer School team task: finalising the written assignment
Teams’ outputs to be finalised; executive brief to be submitted by no later than 16:00.
Coffee available
16:00
Free time for participants
20:00
Dinner
09:00
Parallel Sessions (part I): Teams present their work and receive feedback from the HUMANE Summer School Panel
09:50
Coffee break
10:10
Parallel Sessions (part II): Teams present their work and receive feedback from the HUMANE Summer School Panel
11:00
Coffee break
11:30
Plenary Session: Feedback to all teams from the Panel
Graduation and final words
12:30
Closing lunch
Important information:
Neither HUMANE nor the Central European University (CEU) are liable for any losses, accidents or damage to persons or objects during the Summer School in Vienna. Participants attending the Summer School in Vienna do so at their own risk and responsibility.