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“Passionate about the power of education”: Interview with the new ENGAGE.EU Secretary General Sabine Sainte-Rose

Born and raised in France, Sabine Sainte-Rose worked for many years in the French Foreign Affairs cultural network and gained 27 years of experience in international education, leading initiatives across six countries. In January 2025, she took over the role of Secretary General for ENGAGE.EU. Previously, she served as Programme Director (2020-2024) at the Aurora European University Alliance in the Alliance Secretariat at the Free University Amsterdam and before that as Institutional Coordinator (2016-2020) at the Université Grenoble. Currently, she lives in Utrecht, Netherlands, with her husband and two teenagers.

What are your key tasks at ENGAGE.EU?
I connect the alliance’s governance bodies and working groups, ensuring clear communication and alignment across the network. I am also focused on long-term strategy and evaluating our impact, both internally and on a broader scale. This includes external representation towards the European Commission, with formal groups of alliances, and the larger higher education sector. I want to ensure that ENGAGE.EU becomes deeply embedded within our member institutions, creating lasting value rather than being seen as a temporary initiative.

What is your vision for ENGAGE.EU?
I want ENGAGE.EU to be more than just an alliance – it should be a transformative tool that inspires innovative teaching, builds intercultural skills, and creates opportunities for students and lifelong connections. For staff and academics, it should spark new initiatives, enhance their work, and strengthen research networks. In a world leaning toward protectionism, ENGAGE.EU can show the benefits of international collaboration.

Could you tell us more about your journey before joining ENGAGE.EU?
My passion for international education started when I was 16 and dreamed of becoming a primary school teacher abroad, for example in Africa or Latin America. After studying linguistics and didactics, I taught French as a foreign language. My first job abroad was in Northern Ireland at a time of significant social division. Witnessing the power of education in bridging divides was transformative for me and solidified my belief in education’s power to foster understanding.

Over the years, I moved into leadership roles, including Associate Director at a French-American school in Seattle. Later, I was the director of French cultural and educational institutions in the Czech Republic and Canada. After returning to Europe, I joined the university sector, focusing on research, innovation, and international networks, which naturally led me to ENGAGE.EU.

You have lived in many countries. Where do you feel most at home?
Home isn’t one place for me – each place has its own unique flavor. I grew up on the French Riviera which is deeply tied to my childhood memories, but I’ve also been shaped by the warmth of the Irish, the entrepreneurial spirit of North America, and the pragmatism of the Dutch. I feel home, where I have a sense of belonging.

What are you most looking forward to in your new position?
I’m excited to immerse myself in this vibrant, welcoming, and dynamic community. At the annual conference in Vienna, I was struck by the enthusiasm of everyone involved. I look forward to learning more about our member institutions and the incredible people shaping ENGAGE.EU.