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About Conference
We are pleased to invite you to attend LUMEN 2026, taking place on 17–18 November 2026 at the Auditorium Maximum of Jagiellonian University in Cracow.
The Key Higher Education Event for Central and Eastern Europe
This year’s edition of LUMEN will carry exceptional international significance, becoming a major meeting point for higher education leaders from across Central and Eastern Europe.
Organized in partnership with Times Higher Education, LUMEN 2026 will host the inaugural launch of the THE CEE Spotlight Edition — a brand-new dedicated ranking of the top 100 universities in Central and Eastern Europe, drawn directly from the THE World University Rankings 2027. This makes the conference a landmark occasion highlighting the growing academic strength and global importance of universities in our region.
THE Statuette Gala – Honouring the Best Universities in the Region
The annual Times Higher Education Statuette Gala will return this year in a special expanded edition, reflecting the significance of this historic moment for Central and Eastern European higher education.
During the Gala, the CEE Spotlight ranking results will be unveiled and certificates will be awarded to the Top 50 universities in the region. The event will serve not only as a celebration of achievement, but also as a powerful symbol of the region’s collective progress in higher education.
The inaugural THE Ranking - CEE Spotlight will recognise the top 50 universities across Central and Eastern Europe at a formal gala ceremony.
Thought leaders, rectors, and innovators from leading academic institutions across the region and beyond.
A well-established conference with a strong track record of convening higher education leaders
Building on the success of previous editions, LUMEN continues to grow as the region's premier higher education even
The inaugural THE Ranking - CEE Spotlight will recognise the top 50 universities across Central and Eastern Europe at a formal gala ceremony.
Thought leaders, rectors, and innovators from leading academic institutions across the region and beyond.
A well-established conference with a strong track record of convening higher education leaders
Building on the success of previous editions, LUMEN continues to grow as the region's premier higher education even
Why Attend LUMEN 2026?
Times Higher Education (THE) is honoured to invite you to the launch of a special new Central and Eastern Europe spotlight edition of the World University Rankings. This will be a unique, new regional lens exclusively of CEE nations, filtered directly from the THE World University Rankings 2027 edition.
The results of the inaugural CEE spotlight will be formally presented at the LUMEN 2026 Conference in Kraków, Poland. On this occasion, the CEE Top 50 universities will be unveiled, alongside regional performance insights. University leaders from across Central and Eastern Europe will gather for a formal ceremony and gala, during which certificates recognising the performance of the Top 50 CEE universities will be awarded.
Yours sincerely,
Phil Baty
Chief Global Affairs Officer & COO
Times Higher Education
The Speakers
Meet Our Special Speakers
Meet the speakers who will share their experience, insights, and proven solutions supporting the development of modern higher education institutions.
PCG Polska
Adam Mickiewicz University in Poznań
Times Higher Education
Jagiellonian University in Kraków
Times Higher Education
The Foundation of Polish Rectors
Experience LUMEN 2026
Get a glimpse of what awaits you in Cracow. From inspiring keynotes and expert panel discussions to enriching workshops and genuine networking – LUMEN is where higher education leaders connect, exchange ideas, and build lasting relationships. Click here to watch the highlights from LUMEN 2025 and see you in November.
Agenda
Conference Programme
LUMEN 2026 brings together a rich agenda designed for higher education leaders. Across two days, explore sessions covering university rankings and reputation, institutional strategy, modern management and the latest tools shaping the future of academic excellence.
Leadership & Strategy
Day 1 examines what drives CEE university competitiveness in the global landscape through data on rankings, reputation, and research quality. The day synthesizes insights on policy frameworks and academic solidarity into actionable strategic conclusions for institutional and government leaders.
09:00 - 10:00
Registration
Pick up your conference badge and materials, then start your LUMEN experience by connecting with fellow participants.
10:00 - 10:30
Opening & Ragional Context
This block sets the tone for LUMEN 2026 by presenting the debut of the THE CEE Spotlight Edition. Participants gain clarity on why the global higher education community views Central and Eastern Europe as strategically important and what competitive opportunities this creates.
10:30 - 12:00
Seen and Heard - CEE Universities on the Global Stage
This block provides data-driven analysis of how CEE universities rank globally and showcases institutional case studies of reputation-building. It brings rectors together to examine the region's competitive position and set collective ambitions for the decade ahead.
12:00 - 12:35
Coofe break
Enjoy a fresh cup of coffee, connect with conference partners, and take advantage of informal networking with fellow participants.
12:35 - 13:35
National Policy & Funding
This block positions government as a strategic partner in university competitiveness and frames rankings as part of national strategy. It examines how Poland deploys EU structural funds to build research and digital infrastructure that translates into ranking performance gains.
13:35 - 14:20
Lunch break
Enjoy lunch with fellow participants, visit our partners' exhibition stands, and continue building valuable professional connections.
14:20 - 15:20
Research Quality as a Strategic Asset
This block decodes research quality indicators used in ranking methodology and their direct implications for CEE institutions. It examines whether European university alliances and international research consortia generate measurable gains in research visibility and influence.
15:20 - 15:40
Coffe break
Enjoy a fresh cup of coffee, connect with conference partners, and take advantage of informal networking with fellow participants.
15:40 - 16:30
Academic Solidarity in Wartime
This block examines CEE's response to Ukraine through research collaboration, institutional support, and humanitarian action from universities and civil society. It recognises the region's role as closest partner to Ukrainian higher education and addresses protecting academic infrastructure.
16:30 - 17:10
Closing panel
This block synthesizes Day 1 insights into actionable conclusions for institutional and government leaders. It surfaces strategic trade-offs between short-term metric gains and long-term mission integrity, closing with concrete commitments.
19:30 - 23:00
THE CEE Spotlight Gala & Official dinner
Award ceremonies recognise the Top 50 CEE universities in the THE World University Rankings – THE CEE Spotlight Edition, and the Top 10 in the THE Impact Rankings across the Sustainable Development Goals. The gala brings together rectors, government leaders, and academic decision-makers for an evening of recognition.
Research, Innovation & the Future of Learning
Day 2 tackles innovation and transformation in CEE higher education, from AI's impact on research and teaching to solutions for demographic challenges. The sessions explore open science infrastructure, digital transformation of university operations, and showcase how technology and strategy can reshape CEE universities by 2030.
08:30 - 09:30
Registreation
Pick up your conference badge and materials, then start your LUMEN experience by connecting with fellow participants.
09:30 - 10:30
Science in the Age of AI
This block examines AI-assisted publication proliferation and its impact on academic quality standards and research integrity. It addresses how AI transforms research workflows and teaching simultaneously, requiring integrated institutional governance approaches.
10:30 - 11:05
Coffe break
Enjoy a fresh cup of coffee, connect with conference partners, and take advantage of informal networking with fellow participants.
11:05 - 12:20
The Student at the Centre
This block presents demographic data on CEE's student recruitment crisis and showcases strategic institutional responses through internationalisation and flexible learning. It tests whether digital transformation can genuinely address retention challenges while improving student outcomes.
12:20 - 13:05
Lunch break
Enjoy lunch with fellow participants, visit our partners' exhibition stands, and continue building valuable professional connections.
13:05 - 14:05
Research Infrastructure & Open Science
This block presents concrete open access implementations across CEE and explains how persistent identifiers and metadata quality shape research visibility in global systems. It defines minimum viable open science infrastructure for CEE universities to adopt within five years.
14:05 - 14:25
Coffe break
Enjoy a fresh cup of coffee, connect with conference partners, and take advantage of informal networking with fellow participants.
14:25 - 15:25
Digital Transformation of Universities
This block showcases successful digital transformation examples from higher education in HR, finance, and administration. It explores what digital maturity means by 2030 and how back-office efficiency drives institutional competitiveness.
15:25 - 15:45
Partners' Gala & Conference Closing
This block celebrates LUMEN partners' contributions to digital transformation with the Building Tomorrow Awards. It synthesizes key insights from both days and positions LUMEN as an ongoing platform for shaping the future of CEE higher education.
Venue and date
November 17-18, 2026
Auditorium Maximum at Jagiellonian University in Cracow
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Partners:
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