From the vision of a European university to the future of CIVIS: professor Romiță Iucu takes office as Secretary General

Involved from the very beginning in the development of one of the first European University Alliances, the University of Bucharest professor is taking on a strategic mandate for the future of CIVIS and for strengthening the role of universities in the European construction.

On Wednesday, October 21^st 2026, Professor Romiță Iucu, PhD, President of the Board of Trustees of the University of Bucharest, professor at the Faculty of Psychology and Educational Sciences, and corresponding member of the Romanian Academy, took office as Secretary General of CIVIS – the European Civic University Alliance. His term will run from October 2026 to September 2028.

In 2019, Professor Romiță Iucu was among those contributing to the shaping of CIVIS’s vision and initial development priorities, at a time when European University Alliances were still an ambitious experiment in European higher education. Seven years later, following his sustained involvement in the Alliance’s evolution and in the development of some of its most important academic initiatives, the University of Bucharest professor is taking office as Secretary General, assuming a new role in defining CIVIS’s strategic direction and future.

In this position, Professor Romiță Iucu will support the work of the Board of Rectors, the Steering Committee, and the Alliance’s other governance bodies. His responsibilities include ensuring continuity and consistency in governance processes, supporting the preparation and follow-up of decisions made by governing bodies, and maintaining effective communication between CIVIS’s various structures. As Secretary General, he will also contribute to coordinating the governance and day-to-day operations of the CIVIS legal entity (aisbl), the Alliance’s legal structure.

Professor Romiță Iucu was unanimously elected to this position on Friday, June 12th  2026, at a meeting of the CIVIS Board of Rectors, with the votes of all 11 European universities that are members of the Alliance. He thus becomes the second Secretary General of CIVIS since the position was established in 2024.

The Secretary General’s role is strategic and representative in nature, helping to strengthen cooperation among member universities and develop a shared vision for the future of European higher education. It also involves supporting the Alliance’s strategic dialogue with European institutions, other European University Alliances, and organisations working in education, research, and innovation.

Beyond cooperation: the ambition of an integrated European university

The start of his term comes at an important moment in CIVIS’s development, as the Alliance pursues the implementation of its long-term strategy, extending to 2035. The objective is to strengthen CIVIS as an effective and inclusive space for collaboration, an agent of democracy, prosperity, and well-being, and a force for transformation within its member universities.

What is at stake in the next phase? Turning European cooperation from an opportunity offered to universities into a natural part of everyday academic life.

Among Professor Romiță Iucu’s priorities for his term are strengthening trust and strategic coherence within the Alliance’s governance, deepening academic integration, developing joint programmes and flexible learning pathways, consolidating the role of the CIVIS legal entity, and reinforcing CIVIS’s contribution to European and global academic diplomacy.

A central priority will be to continue transforming CIVIS from a collection of innovative projects and initiatives into a deeply integrated European inter-university campus. Joint programmes, learning pathways aligned with the principles of the European Degree, micro-credentials, credit recognition, inclusive mobility, staff professional development, and digital interoperability must become natural components of cooperation among member universities. These elements will help make CIVIS an increasingly integrated European inter-university campus.

At the same time, CIVIS will be able to strengthen its role as a civic alliance committed to defending academic freedom, democracy, university autonomy, open dialogue, and trust in science. Cooperation with the six partner universities in Africa and the development of equitable international academic relationships also remain essential components of CIVIS’s vision.

On the occasion of his election as Secretary General, Professor Romiță Iucu highlighted the importance of a new phase in the Alliance’s development, based on integration, sustainability, and the strengthening of its European profile:

“The Alliance has already proved that it can be innovative. The next challenge is to become more integrated, more sustainable, and more influential, without losing the human and civic spirit that has made CIVIS unique from the very beginning. I will dedicate my mandate to supporting CIVIS in building its own future: as a respected and important European voice, as a civic and co-creative alliance, as a transformative force in higher education, and as a responsible actor in the academic diplomacy of the future.”

A career closely linked to CIVIS’s evolution

For Professor Romiță Iucu, this new mandate represents the continuation of a journey that began with the Alliance’s earliest steps. Involved in CIVIS’s development ever since 2019, when the Alliance was first being established, he participated in its initial processes of institution-building, negotiation, and academic design. He subsequently took on responsibilities within various CIVIS governance and coordination structures.

Over the years, he has served as a member of the Steering Committee,  labor group leader, President of the Educational Council, and coordinator of initiatives dedicated to developing the Alliance’s joint educational offer. His work has included designing joint programmes, developing flexible curricular frameworks, and contributing to policies on micro-credentials, academic mobility, and the European Degree. Within the SMARTT project, Professor Romiță Iucu contributed as a lead expert to testing criteria and formulating recommendations concerning the European Degree and the development of joint programmes.

His experience at CIVIS is complemented by extensive work in university governance and higher education policy. Professor Romiță Iucu served as interim rector of the University of Bucharest and as Vice-Rector for Academic Affairs for more than 16 years. He currently serves as President of the University’s Board of Trustees.

At European level, he coordinates the UNICA EduLAB group, is a member of the FOREU4ALL Board, and co-chairs the thematic group dedicated to the European Degree. He is an Ambassador of the Magna Charta Observatory and a member of the European Higher Education Area working group on the future of the Bologna Process.

About CIVIS

CIVIS – the European Civic University Alliance – is one of the first European University Alliances and reunites 11 comprehensive, research-intensive European universities and six associated partner universities in Africa.

CIVIS aims to build an integrated European inter-university campus, develop joint education and research programmes, expand mobility opportunities, and consolidate the civic role of universities. Through cooperation among its member institutions, local communities, and international partners, the Alliance promotes academic freedom, democracy, European integration, participatory governance, diversity, equity, sustainability, and civic engagement.