New leadership ahead: Tanja Brühl hands over Unite! presidency to Vivien Quéma
Reflections on six transformative years at the helm of the European University Alliance Unite!
After six years of committed leadership, Tanja Brühl, President of TU Darmstadt, is stepping down as President of the European University Alliance Unite! She handed over the baton to her colleague Vivien Quéma from Grenoble, who was unanimously elected by the Unite! Assembly during the last Unite! Dialogue at Aalto University in October 2025.
Tanja Brühl’s involvement with Unite! over the years
As one of the founding figures of Unite!, she has played a key role in shaping the alliance from its early days into a forward-looking, dynamic network of nine universities across Europe.
During Tanja Brühl's presidency, Unite! has made remarkable progress towards a sustainable and impactful European University Alliance: the alliance expanded from seven to nine member universities, launched the first joint degree programmes, and implemented ambitious initiatives such as the Unite! Seed Fund, the Unite! Metacampus, and cross-university teaching offers.
Brühl also oversaw the strategic strengthening of Unite!’s governance, the development of the alliance’s long-term strategy and helped secure continued funding. Under her guidance, Unite! established a distinctive profile based on shared values and anchored in a commitment to contribute to a resilient and vibrant Europe. The alliance evolved into a driving force for shaping future-oriented European higher education, fostering lasting impact in learning, teaching, research, and innovation.
“Six years ago, Unite! was just an idea. Today, it is a lasting alliance, radiating impact across our regions and well beyond. As we move forward, I am certain that our holistic approach will continue to bear fruit. Unite! offers outstanding opportunities for students, researchers at every stage of their careers, and staff alike. We connect groundbreaking, innovative research with meaningful impact. I like to thank all Uniters who help shape our alliance. It is your impressive enthusiasm and remarkable dedication that our journey as an alliance thrives on.“
Her departure marks both a transition and an opportunity to continue building on the solid foundation laid over the past years. Unite! is well-positioned to further integrate its member universities and shape the European Higher Education and Research Area.
Continuity and renewal under Vivien Quéma’s leadership
Vivien Quéma, a computer science professor at Grenoble INP – UGA, brings both academic excellence and leadership experience to his new role as President of Unite!. After successfully leading several projects and mandates within the university, he became Rector of Grenoble INP – UGA in February 2024.
His vision, shared with the Rectors and presented during the Unite! Academic Forum, is to build on the strong legacy left by Tanja Brühl’s ambitious mandate and to continue strengthening Unite! evolving it from an Erasmus+ project into a long-lasting and impactful European university alliance.
Together with the two elected vice-presidents, Anders Söderholm from KTH and Arkadiusz Wojs from Wroclaw University, Quéma’s priorities are to reinforce governance and identify the alliance’s strategic areas of focus for the coming years. His collaborative, forward-looking approach reflects a shared commitment to ensuring that Unite! continues to grow as a dynamic, innovative, and sustainable alliance shaping the future of European higher education.