EUA reinforces its team with new senior management

EUA is pleased to announce that it is strengthening its Secretariat with the appointment of two new senior team members.

As of 1 October, Monika Steinel will serve the Association as Deputy Secretary General. Monika has worked for EUA since 2010, initially in the Governance, Autonomy and Funding unit where she implemented EUA’s flagship Autonomy Scorecard project. In 2012, she moved to the Secretary General’s office to support EUA leadership in overall policy development and association management. As Deputy Secretary General, Monika will share strategic oversight of different elements of EUA’s work and contribute to the Association’s organisational development, including the implementation of a new membership strategy. She will also deputise for the Secretary General when necessary. Monika holds degrees from University College London, the London School of Economics, and the University of York.

Monika will replace Tia Loukkola, who will join the OECD as the Head of the Innovation and Measuring Progress Division at the Directorate of Education and Skills. EUA is greatly indebted to Tia for her long year career at the Association. She has made a notable contribution to the development of European quality assurance frameworks and to supporting universities in developing internal quality assurance and quality culture. She has also played a key role in EUA’s strategic and organisational development while overseeing flagship activities such as the Institutional Evaluation Programme, the European Quality Assurance Forum and the European Learning & Teaching Forum, as well as EUA’s advocacy work on these topics.

EUA is pleased to announce that Tia will be replaced in her previous role as Director of the Institutional Development Unit, by Maria Kelo as of 4 January 2022. Maria has been the Director of ENQA, the European Association for Quality Assurance in Higher Education, since 2011. During this time, she has led the ENQA Secretariat, supported and coordinated ENQA’s members, managed international projects, represented the association in policy making processes at the European level and spoken regularly in international events on related issues.

Prior to joining ENQA, Maria worked for nine years in the field of international higher education. She is a graduate of University College London and the London School of Economics.

“This is an exciting time for EUA and I am looking forward to working with Monika and Maria as we implement a new strategic plan,” said Amanda Crowfoot, EUA Secretary General. “We are very proud that Tia has been recruited to such a prestigious position, and seasoned experts like Monika and Maria are well positioned to work with Europe’s universities as we look towards the future.”

EUA congratulates Monika, Tia and Maria for their success and thanks them for their long and proven dedication to Europe’s universities.

This article was first published on September 23 by EUA.