The inaugural meeting of the Global Innovation Circle on Higher Education (GICHE) – a new international platform that brings together leaders of major university networks from around the world – will take place from 23 to 24 October 2025.
The event is organized under the auspices of the University of Hamburg, in partnership with the German Rectors’ Conference (HRK) and the Volkswagen Foundation.
Held under the theme “Building Innovative Networks in Complex Times: What Lies Ahead for International Collaboration in Higher Education?”, the event will explore how universities can join forces to address global challenges such as geopolitical tensions, climate change, public health crises, and social inequality.
The University of Bucharest (UB) will be represented by Assoc. Prof. Sorin Costreie, PhD, President of UNICA – Network of Universities from the Capitals of Europe, CIVIS Alliance Coordinator at UB, and faculty member of the Faculty of Philosophy
Assoc. Prof. Sorin Costreie, PhD, will participate, together with Prof. Luciano Saso, UNICA Secretary General, in the session “Traditional University Networks and New University Alliances Joining Forces for Common Goals in Education, Research, and Civic Engagement.”
This session will explore how established university networks and new European university alliances can work together to achieve shared objectives, highlighting the ways in which they complement and strengthen one another to build a more connected, resilient, and socially engaged European Higher Education Area.
The Global Innovation Circle on Higher Education (GICHE) aims to provide a platform for dialogue and exchange among higher education leaders, fostering collaboration and innovative solutions to the global challenges shaping the future of international education and research.
More information about the event is available on the GICHE website and the UNICA website.



