Meeting participants
Presidents and international officers from Christian higher education institutions across Europe gathered on April 10, 2026, at NLA University College in Bergen, Norway, for the biennial INCHE Europe leadership meeting. The gathering focused on strengthening regional cooperation, aligning with INCHE’s global strategy, and developing concrete plans for collaboration in the coming years.
The meeting opened with discussion of governance and leadership within INCHE Europe. Participants noted upcoming changes to the regional board, including the appointment of Dirk Wakker (VIAA, the Netherlands) as a new board member beginning in May 2027 and the anticipated departure of Marlene Wall (LCC). The group emphasized the importance of clarifying board roles and responsibilities and encouraged institutions to begin identifying potential future candidates to ensure continuity and strong regional representation.
Deborah Haarsma, INCHE’s newly appointed Executive Director, provided an update from the global office and shared her vision for the network’s future. She reaffirmed INCHE’s core mission to inform, connect, and equip Christian higher education institutions worldwide and highlighted the network’s growing reach across approximately sixty institutions. Haarsma emphasized that Christian higher education plays a vital role in forming graduates with not only professional skills, but also wisdom, integrity, and moral leadership—qualities urgently needed in today’s complex global context.
Regional updates from Africa, Asia, Latin America, and North America demonstrated the continued momentum generated by INCHE’s 50th anniversary conferences and subsequent initiatives. These include faculty reading circles, research collaboration, published scholarship, and conferences addressing themes such as sustainability, democracy, holistic intelligence, artificial intelligence, and student wellbeing.
A substantial portion of the meeting was devoted to the INCHE Europe Project Plan 2026–2030. Participants stressed that the plan’s success will depend on translating vision into action through clear priorities, measurable goals, and institutional commitment. A key proposal gaining strong support was a “one theme per year” strategy, designed to encourage focus, deepen engagement, and produce tangible outcomes. Four thematic priorities were reaffirmed: democracy and citizenship, leadership, sustainability, and the integration of faith and science.
Brainstorming
Institutions identified numerous opportunities for collaboration, including joint research projects, shared academic programs, student and staff exchanges, and coordinated applications for European funding such as Erasmus+ and Horizon Europe. Practical initiatives discussed included reading circles beginning with the theme “Integration of Faith and Sciences,” continued work on holistic intelligence and ethical AI, and improved communication through more frequent online meetings and a Europe-focused newsletter.
Looking ahead, participants confirmed plans for an INCHE Europe student program to be hosted by Evangelical Theological Seminary in Croatia in April 2027, focusing on hope, world citizenship, and Christian engagement in contemporary society. Preparations also advanced for the INCHE Europe Conference in 2028, with LCC International University identified as the preferred host and a shorter, three-day format proposed.
The meeting concluded with a strong shared commitment to focused, structured collaboration. Participants affirmed that by strengthening ownership, improving communication, and working together around shared priorities, INCHE Europe can enhance its collective impact and support Christian higher education institutions across the region.