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  • ENGAGE.EU Staff Week in AI and Higher Education Administration at Université Toulouse Capitole

ENGAGE.EU Staff Week in AI and Higher Education Administration at Université Toulouse Capitole 

Connecting ENGAGE.EU universities in Toulouse: Staff members across the alliance create new ideas, new collaborations and learn together.

Université Toulouse Capitole recently had the pleasure of hosting the ENGAGE.EU Staff Training Week on Artificial Intelligence in Higher Education Administration, held from 20 to 24 April 2026.

The event brought together 35 administrative staff members from eight partner institutions within the ENGAGE.EU European university alliance, offering a valuable opportunity to strengthen cooperation and share expertise across the network.

Throughout the week, participants engaged in a rich programme dedicated to the evolving role of artificial intelligence in higher education administration. Sessions focused on the exchange of best practices, the responsible and ethical use of AI tools, and broader reflections on the societal challenges currently shaping the higher education sector.

The programme featured contributions from a range of academic and professional experts:

  • Discovering AI – Julien Aligon (Université Toulouse Capitole)
  • From AI Strategy to Practice: The Tilburg University Approach – Lea Nockemann and Matthijs van Gils (Tilburg University)
  • WU’s Pro-AI Project – Sophia Pricher (WU Vienna)
  • Legal Issues Surrounding AI in Higher Education Administration – Ronan Pons (PhD in Law, Researcher in AI Law)
  • Supporting Administrative Staff in the Use of Generative AI: A Toulouse Initiative – Élodie Guillon (Université Toulouse Capitole) and Jean-Arnaud Grimal (ANITI)

What participants had to say

“I found participation in the ENGAGE.EU Staff Training Week in Toulouse on the topic “Artificial Intelligence in higher education administration” highly valuable, as the programme created a well-balanced and intellectually engaging environment by combining top-down strategic perspectives with practice-oriented, bottom-up approaches to AI. The diverse use cases discussed offered direct relevance for my role and enabled immediate application, while the exchange with peers from across Europe fostered meaningful connections and opened up new perspectives. At the same time, the programme strengthened my foundational understanding of technological concepts, which is essential for shaping the responsible and effective integration of AI in academic and administrative contexts.” Barbara Haas, Executive Director of the Master’s programme in Business Innovation (MBI), University of St.Gallen (HSG)

“Joining colleagues from across Europe in Toulouse for this Staff Exchange on the topic of AI in Higher Education Administration was very inspiring. Seeing how other universities use AI brought me fresh ideas, and I’m excited to continue collaborating as the field evolves.” Hendrik Morkel, Operations Manager, Vaasa Startup Factory, Hanken School of Economics

“I truly had a very positive experience. The combination of lectures, workshops, and opportunities for discussion made the week both engaging and valuable. I especially appreciated the chance to connect with colleagues from across the ENGAGE network and exchange perspectives.” Staff week participant

Looking forward 

This week of collaboration, dialogue and shared learning was made possible through the active engagement of all participants and speakers. The week reconfirmed the active role that staff members play in fostering ENGAGE.EU’s commitment to innovation and excellence in European higher education.