Nik Heerens has been working in the fields of higher education and development for the last 20 years, mostly related to the Bologna Process, Quality Assurance, students’ engagement and regional and international development, taking in a wide range of roles, countries and responsibilities.

After studying Rural Development Studies at Wageningen University in the Netherlands, including several years as a student representative on the local, national and European level, Nik’s professional career has been focused on higher education and on international development, including senior management positions in both areas.

Nik has undertaken PhD research at the University of Exeter in the UK, in which he studied the European, national and regional policies and practices around universities as an instrument for regional development, with a focus on peripheral regions in Europe.