Babes-Bolyai University to Host Conference: "The Future of Higher Education - Evidence Based Approaches and Practices"

Babeș-Bolyai University (UBB) invites the EUTOPIA community to the first edition of the International Conference on the Future of Higher Education – Evidence-Based Approaches and Practices (FOHE), taking place May 16-17, 2025, in Cluj-Napoca, Romania. This event is organised by the Center for Innovation in Teaching and Learning (CIPI) and the UBB Teaching Council, with the support of the Department of Educational Sciences within the Faculty of Psychology and Educational Sciences.

Over the past decade, researchers and practitioners have worked to bridge the gap between research and educational practice. This conference will bring together educational leaders, educators, and researchers to provide a platform to discuss the critical challenges and opportunities that higher education faces today.

The topics of discussion include:

• Rethinking teaching – using evidence for effective educational practices
• Technology-enhanced learning
• Fostering international collaboration in evidence-based educational research
• Neuroscience and education
• Learning outcomes 
• Multidimensional approaches to globalisation and other current changes impacting education
• International exchange and academic mobility as drivers of professional development

One of the key speakers at the conference will be Professor Jo Angouri, Deputy Pro-Vice Chancellor for Education and Internationalisation at the University of Warwick and co-lead of EUTOPIA’s Learning Communities Development and Curriculum Design.

Her presentation, "Reimagine the Future of Higher Education: Balancing Competing Trends," will explore how universities can adapt to shifting global challenges, the rise of AI, and the demand for more flexible learning pathways. Drawing on her experience in international education and cross-border collaboration—including her work with EUTOPIA—she will discuss how institutions can balance innovation with academic depth, and how European University Alliances support institutional resilience and impact. This is one of many key discussions that will explore the challenges and opportunities shaping higher education.

Other keynote speakers include: 

• Professor Stephen L. Chew (Samford University, USA) – The Cognitive Challenges of Effective Teaching
• Pedro de Bruyckere (Utrecht University, Netherlands) – The Psychology of Great Teaching
• Professor Romiță Iucu (University of Bucharest, Romania) – New Learning Pathways in European University Alliances

If you would like to participate in the conference, we invite you to submit an abstract for an oral presentation or a poster session. Workshops on professional development will also be available for participants. The deadline for abstract submissions is 1 April.

Check out the conference website and the dedicated Facebook page for more information.