Three Years of Commitment to INGENIUM: Thank You, Ana Isabel Álvarez

IAȘI, ROMANIA, 29 January 2026.

The INGENIUM Alliance Council convened on 28 January 2026 at the Palace of Culture in Iași, Romania, marking the conclusion of a significant period in the alliance’s development. During the meeting, Professor Ignacio Villaverde, Rector of the University of Oviedo and Chair of the Council, announced a leadership transition and paid tribute to Ana Isabel Álvarez’s contributions over the past three years.

Since the alliance’s kick-off meeting in January 2023, Ana Isabel Álvarez has played a central role in building its foundations and guiding its early development. Professor Villaverde thanked her for her work and commitment in leading a complex initiative during its formative stage. In his words, he recognised “the effort and steadfastness she has shown in carrying forward this task, full of challenges, in launching this major shared project and bringing it to the point where we stand today”.

It was also announced that she will continue contributing to INGENIUM as a member of the Advisory Board, so that “her talent and expertise may continue adding to the future of this university alliance”.

Addressing her directly, Professor Villaverde added: “Dear Ana, I believe I speak on behalf of all the rectors and presidents who form part of this alliance: thank you very much for your work, for your perseverance, and for the care and regard with which you have treated us and all the matters we have addressed.” Ana Isabel Álvarez will now return to her position as Senior Lecturer in the Department of English Philology at the University of Oviedo.

At the same session, Professor Villaverde welcomed Juan Rayón González as the new Director of the alliance, following his tenure as Strategic Manager. He highlighted Mr Rayón González’s professional experience and expressed confidence in his capacity to lead INGENIUM through its next phase and to support its ongoing development.

Before his appointment as Strategic Manager in January 2024, Juan Rayón González served as Policy Assistant in the Higher Education Unit of the Directorate-General for Education, Youth, Sport and Culture at the European Commission. He previously served as President of the Erasmus Student Network for 2 years. Mr Rayón González holds a degree in Law from the University of Oviedo and a Master’s degree in European and International Studies and Law from the University of Granada.

This transition in leadership comes at a pivotal moment for the alliance, as it enters the final year of funding for the 2023 to 2027 project period and prepares to submit a new proposal under the forthcoming European Universities call, which closes in March.

With this proposal, INGENIUM seeks to secure a minimum of two additional years of Erasmus+ funding, extending support until December 2028. The aim is to consolidate and strengthen the International Campus and to progress from the alliance’s pilot phase to the next stage, centred on systemic integration.

The Alliance Council, as the highest decision-making body of INGENIUM, brought together the Rectors and Presidents of the ten member universities, together with representatives of the newly restructured Student Board. The meeting addressed the alliance’s strategy for the 2026 funding application, progress towards establishing the European Grouping of Territorial Cooperation as the legal and institutional framework, and preparations for the launch of the INGENIUM European Campus in the 2026/2027 academic year.