As a board member of EUNIS (European University Information Systems), a European partner network of EDUCAUSE, and a member of the Digital Office at the Karlsruhe Institute of Technology (KIT), I had the opportunity to attend this year’s EDUCAUSE Annual Conference in San Antonio, Texas. This conference is one of the leading events on digitalization in higher education and offered me the chance to gain exciting insights into global trends and to deepen the transatlantic exchange.

One of the main themes of this year’s conference was the topic of trust. Dieses Vertrauen steht im Mittelpunkt der Top 10 IT Issues 2024an annual list published by EDUCAUSE as a guide for strategic decisions in higher education. At the time of publication, the election results were not even known. Politics aside, there is a perceived decline in confidence in technology, research, institutions and education in the United States. I was startled by the numbers involved. It is about technical aspects such as cyber security, data protection, transparent algorithms, clear communication strategies and, in particular, the question of how universities can maintain their role as trustworthy educational institutions in a world in which digital services are increasingly provided by private companies. Students and teachers not only expect low-threshold access to digital tools, but also the certainty that these tools are used safely, fairly and sustainably. I find the discussion about whether society should continue to regard universities as central places of educationparticularly interesting.

The atmosphere at EDUCAUSE was characterized by openness. What particularly impressed me was the positive tone of the discussions. Instead of focusing on the risks, people talked openly and constructively about how solutions can be found. Discussions on topics such as artificial intelligence, personalized learning and institutional changes were conducted in a solution-oriented manner. Mistakes were not seen as an obstacle, but as learning opportunities. Compared to many discussions, especially in Germany, I found this attitude very inspiring. While we often focus on the risks of new technologies, EDUCAUSE shows how a positive discourse can help to tackle challenges and develop solutions together.

Another important point for me was the question of how European networks such as EUNIScan work together more closely with global actors like EDUCAUSE. Both organizations share the goal of supporting universities on their path to digital transformation, but there are differences in their perspectives, target groups and framework conditions. Europe has the potential to learn from the North American experimentation and solution orientation solutions, while in return our strong cultural traditions can contribute. European universities often operate in highly regulated environments, which brings with it extensive expertise in the development and implementation of standards. This knowledge can be helpful for North American institutions, especially given the growing global requirements for data protection, security and interoperability. Zudem profitieren Europäische Hochschulen von umfassender öffentlicher Unterstützung und einer ausgeprägten Kultur der Zusammenarbeit zwischen Bildung, Forschung und Wirtschaft. Dieses Modell kann Inspiration bieten, wie Bildungseinrichtungen gestärkt und Innovationen gemeinsam vorangetrieben werden können, without having to rely exclusively on private investment. So closer cooperation can help us to combine the best approaches of both worlds. One consequence of my visit to the conference is that EUNIS and EDUCAUSE will further expand their collaboration and put it in writing. The first meeting is already planned for January 2025.

For both educational institutions that I represent, I ask myself how we in Europe can benefit from the findings of EDUCAUSE. The topics discussed there are not so different from ours. I believe that the issue of trust, which was the focus in San Antonio, will increasingly come to the fore here too. This could provide an important impetus for our work in the digital transformation. The EDUCAUSE Annual Conference made it clear to me how crucial an open and solution-oriented discourse is there. Europe can learn a lot from the network’s positive attitude and willingness to experiment. By intensifying the exchange with international partner networks and focusing on concrete solutions, we can strengthen our innovative power and ability to act in a targeted manner. If you would like to find out more about my experiences or the EDUCAUSE Top 10 IT Issues, I would be delighted to hear from you. After all, it is dialog that helps us all move forward – both locally and globally. I find it exciting to pass on these insights and actively promote exchange between the various stakeholders in higher education.

Isabel Gallin has many years of professional experience in the digital transformation of educational institutions. As Vice President of EUNIS she brings her professional expertise, commitment and network to the mission of EUNIS to promote digital excellence, sustainability and innovation at European universities. She works at the Karlsruhe Institute of Technology (KIT) since 2015 as Business Relationship Manager in the KIT Digital Office, where she promotes digitalization in higher education and leads key projects on digital transformation.

Isabel Gallin holds a PhD in Legal History from the Faculty of Law of the University of Amsterdam (NL) and Master’s degrees in Philosophy, German Studies and History from the University of Amsterdam.