FORUM THEME

EAIR 36th Annual Forum 2014, 27-30 August 2014 Essen, Germany

In the context of changes such as budget restrictions, growing demands of stakeholders such as employers and students and the changing nature of its key functions of research and teaching, we see an increasing professionalization of administration and management of higher education institutions. At the same time, diversity and excellence are the very core of all higher education processes, but how are we to balance these new demands with the existing ones and further economic restrictions?

In these demanding times EAIR is the network organization of higher education professionals, itself striving for diversity and excellence. Building on the success of the previous conferences in Warsaw, Stavanger and Rotterdam, the programme for the 36th Forum in Essen will be attractive to (institutional) researchers, managers, administrators and policy makers. In addition, we want to increase the attractiveness significantly especially for international delegates as well as young(er) researchers and the «new professionals» in higher education. Therefore, the Programme Committee has acted upon participants’ feedback in establishing an “open track” for new and innovative topics, looking for diversity as well as excellence in our field.