The EUTOPIA Central Office is the management home of the core central secretariat of the alliance. The Central Office Secretariat team is based in Brussels and it is led by a Secretary-General who is supported in its role by a Deputy Secretary-General and a Central Office Administrator. The main responsibilities of the Central Office Secretariat include:
coordinating governance processes, providing support and policy advice to the alliance, through the Board of Directors,
overseeing the progress of the alliance's activities, working closely with Institutional Coordinators, ensuring synergies between projects and initiatives,
monitoring European developments in Education and Research policy, providing policy expertise and advice to the alliance,
engaging with stakeholders and policymakers at European level, promoting EUTOPIA's vision, strategy, and policies.
The Central Office Secretariat works closely with the Impact and Dissemination Unit based at CY Cergy Paris University.
Mattia holds Bachelor's and Master's degrees from Politecnico di Milano, Italy, and a PhD from KU Leuven, Belgium. Mattia began his career as a researcher at KU Leuven, conducting research in the field of Manufacturing Processes and Digital Technologies. He later joined EIT Digital, one of the Knowledge and Innovation Communities of the European Institute of Innovation and Technology (EIT). At EIT Digital, Mattia coordinated the operations of the EIT Digital Entrepreneurial Academy and its participation in EU projects, and contributed to several pan-European higher education programmes, such as the HEI Initiative, EIT Digital Doctoral School and EIT Digital Master School. Mattia leads the EUTOPIA Central Office, coordinating the implementation of the strategy of the alliance, delivering on governance processes and promoting EUTOPIA's vision.
Melinda has previously served as Deputy Director at EQAR (The European Quality Assurance Register for Higher Education) and as a consultant for several international organisations. Her career encompasses roles at the European Parliament and the European Students’ Union. Earlier, Melinda worked for the Bologna Follow-Up Group Secretariat under the aegis of the Romanian Ministry of Education. She holds a Master’s in Educational Management from Babeș-Bolyai University, Romania. Melinda advises and supports the Secretary-General in harmonising the alliance’s multiple projects and contributing to ensuring connections, synergies and coherence of initiatives across projects.
Ilenia Sutto holds a Master’s Degree in Languages and Economic and Legal Institutions of Asia and Mediterranean Africa from Ca’ Foscari University of Venice. Ilenia is fluent in Italian, English, French, Arabic and Spanish and boasts six years of experience as the International Relations and Partnerships Coordinator at the International University of Rabat, Morocco, one of the Global Partners of EUTOPIA. Ilenia's expertise lies in planning and coordination, developing partnerships, and managing Erasmus+ projects. As Central Office Administrator she is sustaining the Central Office’s missions, assisting with implementation of activities, management of the office, planning events, and supporting activities involving EUTOPIA Global Partners or students from EUTOPIA member universities.
