The Aurora board is pleased to welcome Dr Ramon Puras as its new Secretary-General, effective 1 May, 2024, marking the beginning of a new era within Aurora.
The Secretary-General serves as chief operational officer and is the most senior appointed official within the Aurora network. Dr Ramon Puras will succeed Frans Snijders, who has been the interim Secretary-General. Ramon Puras, previously Dean of the Faculty of Education at Amsterdam University of Applied Sciences, brings a robust portfolio of achievements to Aurora. He has led educational and research initiatives that have substantially advanced the pedagogical landscape in Amsterdam. His dedication extends to employing cutting-edge research and emerging technologies to enrich and continuously innovate higher education programmes. Apart from his managerial commitments, Dr Puras finds joy in teaching an innovative course, Gastronomy, the Art and Science of Cooking, bridging his interests in science, cooking and education. This multifaceted approach highlights his drive to explore and foster interdisciplinary connections within the academic realm.
The Aurora board believes Ramon will bring great expertise to Aurora as Secretary-General, focusing on engagement with Aurora’s member and partner universities. Aurora’s President, Jón Atli Benediktsson, expressed: “Dr Puras is an outstanding fit for Aurora. His lifelong background in higher education, international experience, and prior leadership positions are particularly relevant to Aurora. Furthermore, his perspective that students must be engaged with research from the very beginning of their undergraduate studies is nothing short of inspiring. Dr Puras has all the makings of a successful Secretary-General for the international network that Aurora is, and I welcome him warmly.”
With Ramon at the helm, Aurora anticipates a strategic leap towards matching academic excellence with societal relevance. Ramon notes: “The combination of excellence in academia to create positive societal impact speaks to my heart. I’m excited to be part of Aurora and lead its future development towards achieving this objective.”
As Aurora embraces this new chapter in its leadership, its community welcomes Ramon on board and supports the innovative directions he envisions to drive profound and impactful change.
