Interoperability without Borders: European Models for Scalable, Trusted Infrastructure

Wednesday, October 29, 2025 | 2:15PM–3:00PM CT | Meeting Room 209 AB, Level 2
Session Type: Breakout Session
Delivery Format: Presentation/Panel Session
As higher education undergoes rapid digital transformation, institutions across the globe are grappling with shared challenges: vendor lock-in, fragmented systems, and the urgent need for secure, scalable, and learner-centered infrastructure. But what happens when you try to make 10 universities in 10 countries operate as one integrated system? That’s exactly what’s happening in Europe. This session is co-hosted by EDUCAUSE and EUNIS: the European community driving digital transformation in higher education. You’ll hear from two EUNIS board members: the president from SURF (Netherlands) and the Vice President of EUNIS and representative of a participating German EPICUR university. Together, they’ll explore what it takes to build digital trust and interoperability across borders. Whether you’re navigating statewide systems, credentialing reforms, or enterprise architecture decisions, this global perspective will spark fresh ideas. Join us to: explore how SURF’s national approach to interoperability balances innovation and institutional autonomy; learn how the EPICUR Alliance is creating cross-border student mobility and shared services; discover open infrastructure models powering 500+ European institutions; reflect on credentialing, digital sovereignty, and trust as strategic design principles; and exchange ideas across the Atlantic—and beyond—on how higher ed can build resilience together. Education is no longer a national conversation. Let’s shape the global infrastructure it needs.

Presenters

  • Isabel Gallin

    Business Relationship Manager, Karlsruhe Institute of Technology

  • Evelien Renders

    President of EUNIS & Advisor international education, European University Information System - EUNIS

Resources & Downloads

  • Session slides

    Updated on 10/29/2025