From data to practice: Navigating challenges and daily actions in the European Universities Initiative

Linking session insights with two doctoral research projects

The European Universities Initiative (EUI) is increasingly framed as a catalyst for institutional transformation, yet its effects within universities remain underexplored. This paper bridges quantitative and qualitative perspectives by combining two doctoral research projects with insights from an interactive EAIE conference session. Using a performative “dialogue” between quantitative and qualitative approaches, the study links large-scale survey data from 105 universities with in-depth interview evidence on sensemaking among middle managers. Findings show that while leadership vision and educational innovation drive institutional change, sustainable transformation depends on relational practices of communication and trust-building.