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Vice-rectors for Education

Janette Walde

Universität Innsbruck
Janette Walde is an accomplished Austrian statistician and dedicated academic leader, currently serving as Vice Rector for Teaching and Students at Universität Innsbruck. In this role, she is responsible for the entire student life cycle, higher education didactics, digitalisation in teaching and learning, and the promotion of interdisciplinary and additional competencies. Her office also supports student services, student associations, and the development of teaching-related skills for academic staff.  Walde began her academic journey at the Akademisches Gymnasium Innsbruck and went on to study physics at Universität Innsbruck from 1987 to 1993. She then pursued doctoral studies at the Faculty of Social and Economic Sciences, earning her PhD in 2000 with a focus on machine learning. Her postdoctoral research was supported by an Erwin Schrödinger Fellowship from the Austrian Science Fund, which took her to the Department of Economics at the University of California, San Diego (2001–2002). In 2006, she completed her habilitation in statistics and econometrics.  Walde has been a professor at the Department of Statistics at Universität Innsbruck since 2019 and has served as Dean of Studies at the Faculty of Economics and Statistics since 2021. On September 24, 2024, she was elected Vice Rector for Teaching and Students, officially taking office on October 1, 2024.  With a strong background in research and teaching, Janette Walde is known for her commitment to academic excellence, her advocacy for quality education, and her interdisciplinary work in statistical modeling across economics, biology, and medicine.  

Montserrat Pinent Armengol

Universitat Rovira i Virgili

Montserrat Pinent Armengol is at the Vice-Rectorate for Teaching Projects and Students at the Universitat Rovira i Virgili. This Vice-Rectorate is responsible for innovation in teaching, teaching methodologies and educational resources and for student reception, student services, internships and academic orientation. It also promotes student involvement in university life and supports student associations and representative bodies.

Wilbert van der Meer

International Office Director of CBS

As International Office Director, Wilbert van der Meer is responsible for international academic partnerships at Copenhagen Business School (CBS). He works closely with both internal and external stakeholders to strengthen CBS’s global network, including collaborations on educational programs, research initiatives, and strategic alliances. Wilbert is responsible for CBS’s policies and strategies for internationalisation.

Previously, he held the position of Head of Education at CBS and, prior to that, served as Deputy Secretary General at Universities Denmark.

Wilbert van der Meer represents the CBS Vice-Rector of Education, Anna Thomasson, in the Aurora European universities alliance.

Ragna Benedikta Garðarsdóttir

University of Iceland
Ragna Benedikta Garðarsdóttir is Pro-Rector of Education and a Professor of Social Psychology at the Faculty of Psychology. She earned her BA in Psychology from the University of Iceland in 1995, an MSc in Social Psychology from the London School of Economics in 1997, and a D.Phil. in Social Psychology from the University of Sussex in 2006. She joined the Faculty of Psychology as an Assistant Professor in 2011, was promoted to Associate Professor in 2014, and became a full Professor in 2021. Ragna has served on the board and negotiating committee of the Association of Professors at State Universities. Ragna‘s research has focused on consumer societies, well-being, values and identity.

Francesco Palumbo

Università Federico II of Naples
Francesco Palumbo is Full Professor of Statistics at the University Federico II of Naples, where he served as Director of the Department of Political Sciences. He taught Statistics and Psychometric Statistics. His research focuses on multivariate data analysis and the application of statistics in public decision-making processes. He has coordinated national and international research projects and contributed to the development of innovative statistical methodologies. He is the author of numerous scientific publications and actively participates in conferences and seminars in the field of applied statistics. 

Karen Shire

University of Duisburg-Essen
Karen Shire holds the chair for Comparative Sociology and Japanese Society and is currently Vice Rector for University Culture, Diversity and International Affairs at the University of Duisburg-Essen. Her research is broadly focused on the comparative-historical study of work and organizational changes, how these shape transformations of employment and labor relations, as well as their consequences for social inequalities. Her research interests include the emergence of cross-border labor markets in Europe and the Asia-Pacific, the employment dynamics of welfare markets, gender regimes in historical and comparative perspective and the political economy of human trafficking. Karen Shire held the post of director for both the Institute of East Asian Studies and the Essen College of Gender Research in the past.

Jacqueline van Muijlwijk-Koezen

Vrije Universiteit Amsterdam
Jacqueline van Muijlwijk-Koezen is a distinguished academic and leader in the field of chemistry and pharmaceutical sciences. She currently serves as the Chief Education Officer at Vrije Universiteit Amsterdam, where she has held various leadership roles since 2006. Jacqueline’s extensive experience includes positions such as Vice Dean of the Faculty of Science and Full Professor of Innovations in Human Health & Life Sciences. Her academic journey began with a Ph.D. in Chemistry from Vrije Universiteit Amsterdam, focusing on the design and synthesis of antagonists for the human adenosine A3 receptor.  Throughout her career, Jacqueline has been actively involved in educational innovation, receiving multiple awards for her contributions, including the Science Teaching Innovation Award. She has also played significant roles in various boards and committees, such as the Supervisory Board of the Theological University Utrecht and chairing the Executive Board of European Consortium ULLA. Her dedication to integrating education and research is evident in her numerous publications and successful grant applications.  Jacqueline’s work style is characterized by her commitment to collaboration and leveraging networks to enhance educational and research outcomes. She emphasizes the importance of academia’s role in society, advocating for a reciprocal relationship where both the academic community and society at large recognize and utilize each other’s strengths. Jacqueline is dedicated to fostering partnerships that underscore the societal relevance of academic work while ensuring that the contributions of academia are clearly communicated and valued.   

Jitka Petrová

Palacký University Olomouc