Heads of University Management & Administration Network in Europe

HUMANE Annual Conference

Building Strength – Sharing Resilience Strategies for Universities

Hosted by The University of Edinburgh (UK)

June 10-12, 2026

Robust institutional resilience is a critical capability for higher education institutions, to navigate in an increasingly complex and volatile environment: the ability to anticipate and change proactively ; to adapt and renew in rapidly changing contexts, addressing disruptive challenges; to dare to take difficult decisions and change practices that have become irrelevant, using existing resources in a more efficient way. 

To thrive in dynamic environments, universities need strategic, proactive planning and a positive organisational culture that values awareness and agility. Resilient institutions anticipate stakeholder needs to advance their mission and strategic goals, while also adapting to external factors like modernisation, technological advancements, policy changes, and economic shifts. By seizing opportunities and adopting a growth mindset, they sustain organisational agility, enhance effectiveness, and empower people to support change initiatives.

The conference will look at institutional resilience strategies in higher education, around key themes and perspectives.   

The conference will start on Wednesday 10 June at 17:00 and end at lunchtime on Friday 12 June.

Save the date! You can already register here.

Staff from HUMANE Member Institutions and Residential School Alumni benefit from the members rate of €785. Non HUMANE Members will be charged €1,085.

The fee includes the two lunches on Thursday and Friday, the reception on Wednesday evening, the dinner on Thursday and coffee breaks. It does not include travel or accommodation.

Non HUMANE Members may attend if they meet the following criteria: they are from a higher education institution that delivers degree programmes in at least two of the three Bologna cycles (BA, MA, doctorate). Non-member applications are subject to review before acceptance. The Secretariat will apply the correct fee.

Annual Conference Steering Committee Members

  • Leon van de Zande, Secretary General, University of Amsterdam (UvA), NL; Steering Committee Chair
  • Moritz Bosse Biskup, Managing Director at Zentralbereich Neuenheimer Feld, University of Heidelberg, DE
  • Mahee Ferlini, Director General, Università del Piemonte Orientale, IT
  • Tiina Kosunen, Head of Conferences and Events, Communications and Community Relation, University of Helsinki, FI
  • Riika Mäki-Ontto, HR and Service Director, University of the Arts Helsinki, FI
  • Neil McGillivray, Chief Operating Officer, Bayes Centre, University of Edinburgh, UK
  • Klaus Rümmele, Head of International Affairs Business Unit (INTL), Karlsruhe Institute of Technology (KIT), DE
  • Norbert Sabic, Chief Operating Officer, Central European University, AT
  • Karen Vandevelde, HR Director, University of Antwerp, BE