SGroup Elects New Executive Committee Members at 2026 General Assembly
21 October 2026
The General Assembly, held on 15 October 2026 during the SGroup Annual Meetings in Gliwice, Poland, welcomed new members to the network’s Executive Committee and renewed the mandate of an incumbent member.
SGroup – Universities in Europe elected new members to its Executive Committee during the General Assembly held on 15 October 2026 at the Silesian University of Technology in Gliwice, Poland, as part of the SGroup Annual Meetings 2026.
The elections represent an important moment for the network’s governance, bringing new perspectives and institutional experience to the Executive Committee as SGroup continues to strengthen international cooperation and collaboration across higher education.
Welcoming the Newly Elected Members
The General Assembly elected two new members to the Executive Committee:
- Sandra Fernandes – University of Minho, Portugal
- Barbara Claeys – Ghent University, Belgium
Both bring their institutional experience and perspectives to the network’s leadership, contributing to SGroup’s continued commitment to fostering collaboration among its member universities and advancing internationalisation in higher education.
In addition, Rūta Jankauskienė from Kaunas University of Technology, Lithuania, was re-elected for a second term on the Executive Committee, recognising her valuable contributions and continued commitment to strengthening collaboration and advancing the network’s strategic priorities.
The newly elected and re-elected members will contribute to achieving SGroup’s strategic objectives, fostering cooperation among member institutions and creating new opportunities for academic collaboration.
Honouring the Dedication and Contributions of Outgoing Executive Committee Members
We extend our sincere gratitude to outgoing SGroup President Dr Arnim Heinemann, University of Bayreuth (Germany), and Executive Committee member Frederik De Decker, Ghent University (Belgium), for their dedication and valuable contributions to the network. We particularly acknowledge Dr Heinemann's strategic leadership during his three terms as President, which helped shape SGroup's direction, strengthen global partnerships, and advance the network's development.
As SGroup enters a new chapter, we warmly welcome the newly elected and re-elected Executive Committee members and thank those completing their terms of office for their commitment and service. We look forward to strengthening cooperation among member institutions and pursuing new opportunities for collaboration across European and global higher education.
Congratulations, Barbara, Rūta and Sandra!
