When: 18–22 May 2026
Where: Vienna and Linz
Focus: Equity, inclusion and the social dimension of higher education
What are Country Reviews?
Country Reviews provide EHEA member states with expert feedback on their social dimension policies and their implementation. The review process is based on interviews with national stakeholders, complemented by the analysis of existing data and policy documents.
Who are the review experts?
The review team brings together experts with extensive experience in higher education policy from across the European Higher Education Area:
Ligia Deca from Romania, Vice-Rector and former Minister of Education; Thomas Boland from Ireland, international education consultant and former Chief Executive of Ireland’s Higher Education Authority; Iris Kimizoglu from Germany, higher education policy expert and former Vice-President/President of the European Students’ Union; Martin Unger from Austria, senior researcher at the Institute for Advanced Studies; Ninoslav Scukanec Schmidt from Croatia, CEO of the Institute for the Development of Education and former Co-Chair of the BFUG Working Group on Social Dimension.
What has happened during the visit?
The team has met with representatives of the Austrian Federal Ministry responsible for higher education, higher education institutions, student organisations, quality assurance bodies, social partners and other key stakeholders. The team also had an interview with the Austrian federal Minister responsible for higher education and research Ms Eva-Maria Holzleitner on 18 May 2026 in Vienna.
What is the purpose?
The review is not an evaluation. It is a process of evidence-informed international expert feedback, which will contribute to a final Country Review report with recommendations for further policy development.
Who organises the Country Review?
The Country Review is organised by the Institute for the Development of Education (IDE) on behalf of the Erasmus+ project INSPIRE, in cooperation with the Federal Ministry for Women, Science and Research (BMFWF) of the Republic of Austria and the Austrian Institute for Advanced Studies (IHS). The Erasmus+ project ‘INSPIRE – Inclusive National Strategies for the Implementation of European Higher Education Area Principles for the Social Dimension’ supports the Bologna Follow-up Group’s work on social dimension.