Speakers
Worshop
As European higher education adapts to demographic shifts and emerging student needs, the demand for accessible, practice-oriented professional development is pressing. This interactive session examines how training programmes can better serve Student Services and Affairs practitioners across diverse institutional contexts. It draws on partnerships between national and international associations to build distinctly European approaches. These approaches respect varied national traditions while addressing shared challenges.
Since 2022, EucA has embarked on a journey to elevate the European Student Services and Affairs profession by developing multiple international professional development pathways, including a one-year online postgraduate Master's at LUMSA University (Rome), the annual European Conference on Student Services and Affairs, and online masterclasses.
This session invites delegates to collaboratively rethink credentials and formats that address the realities of professionals who face time and budget constraints yet remain committed to professional development. Delegates will engage in structured brainstorming exercises to address questions such as: How can programmes become more accessible and effective? Which training areas require strengthening? What forms of association partnerships can enhance content delivery? What role should internationalisation and cross-border exchanges play in Student Services and Affairs development within the European higher education area?
The objective is to gather ideas that can inform a foundation for collaborative professional development opportunities and reimagine international partnerships between associations, universities, and individuals.
Mariagrazia Melfi is a psychologist and professional counsellor with over 20 years of experience in student development and soft skills training in higher education. Her areas of expertise include communication, problem-solving, counselling psychology, and collaborative work with students and colleagues.
She serves in the management team of Fondazione RUI, a network of 14 Colleges of Merit across Italy, where she coordinates educational projects and cultural activities, oversees student selection and retention processes, and provides mentoring and tutoring to undergraduate and graduate students. She is responsible for delivering and assessing soft skills development programmes.
As EucA's Director for Professional Development and Research, Mariagrazia has been instrumental in advancing the professionalisation of student affairs across Europe. Since March 2022, she has co-directed the Master in Training of Experts in Student Affairs and Campus Life, a partnership between EucA and LUMSA University in Rome, contributing to the development of European approaches to student affairs practice.