From 16 to 19 June 2026, the University of Rijeka hosted the annual meeting and expert gathering of the Global Observatory of Higher Education Changes (GOHEC) at InnovaLab. GOHEC is an international network that brings together researchers and research groups from across the world, dedicated to studying transformations in higher education and the evolving role of universities in contemporary society.
Participation in the network represents a significant international recognition for the University of Rijeka and its researchers, Prof. Bojana Ćulum Ilić, PhD, and Prof. Nena Rončević, PhD, both from the Faculty of Humanities and Social Sciences, who are full members of this global initiative. This year’s meeting in Rijeka has brought together representatives of universities and research centres from Europe, Asia, Australia, North America, and Africa, further strengthening the University of Rijeka’s international profile as a place committed to dialogue, collaboration, and innovation in higher education.
Participants were welcomed by Associate Professor Nina Pereza, PhD, Rector’s Assistant for Educational Innovation, and Professor Tamara Mohorić, PhD, Vice-Dean for Research and International Cooperation at the Faculty of Humanities and Social Sciences. Both emphasized the importance of international collaboration and the active involvement of Croatian researchers in global discussions on the future of higher education.
Presenting the University of Rijeka, Associate Professor Pereza highlighted its long-standing identity as an open, progressive, and socially engaged institution, one that is willing to embrace innovation and take on new challenges. Professor Mohorić stressed the value of international cooperation that extends beyond European frameworks and warmly thanked colleagues who had travelled to Rijeka from China, Japan, Australia, the United States, and other parts of the world.
The working programme also featured contributions from Lorena Matek of the University Centre for Research and Innovation (EU Programmes Department) and Valentina Janjetić Leporić, Senior Advisor at the University Centre for Support in Preparing Competitive Research Projects. They presented current European funding opportunities and explored possibilities for developing international and interdisciplinary research projects within the GOHEC network.
A particularly important part of this year’s meeting was the public presentation of two international inventories developed by the network. The first provides an overview of research centres and research groups dedicated to the study of higher education and the role of universities in society, while the second offers the first systematic mapping of doctoral programmes focused on higher education studies worldwide. These resources represent an important contribution to strengthening international collaboration, increasing the visibility of higher education research, and fostering new partnerships among institutions and researchers.
The Global Observatory of Higher Education Changes (GOHEC) is an international network of researchers and research groups dedicated to examining changes in higher education worldwide. The network was established in 2024 in Krems, Austria, where its first members’ meeting was held and a Memorandum of Understanding was signed. The network is coordinated by the Department for Higher Education Research at the University for Continuing Education Krems.
At a time marked by artificial intelligence, demographic change, new models of international collaboration, and growing expectations regarding universities’ societal contributions, GOHEC provides a unique platform for understanding and monitoring global developments in higher education. Hosting this year’s meeting further confirms the University of Rijeka’s active role in international discussions on the future of universities and their contribution to society.
