Evelien Renders, SURF B.V., Netherlands

Short bio

Evelien Renders drives international collaboration in higher education at SURF, the cooperative organisation for IT in Dutch education and research. As President of EUNIS, she advocates for system interoperability and tracks international IT architecture and standards for education, contributing to flexible global education.

Previously, Evelien worked at Radboud University as the Erasmus+ coordinator for non-EU partners and as an information manager for education, reforming admissions and enrolment.

Committed to public values and open standards, Evelien serves on the board of 1EdTech Europe, where she champions communication, trust, and collaboration among IT stakeholders in education. Her leadership fosters a cooperative environment, advancing educational technology and international collaboration. LinkedIn profile.

Motivations:

  1. Why do you want to join the EUNIS Board?
    I’m re-applying for the EUNIS Board because I believe in the power of community to drive the kind of innovation we need in European higher education. My motivation comes from a desire to ensure that EUNIS members, whether from large or small institutions, feel supported and empowered to do their best work—together.Because the challenges ahead are simply too complex to solve alone. The EUNIS Strategy rightly prioritises resilience, collaboration, and the strategic role of digital professionals. I see it as our role to make this vision real: by making connection easier, sharing resources smarter, and enabling meaningful exchange across borders, roles, and backgrounds.

    My personal interest in digital transformation is rooted in its potential to remove friction from the learning experience. When the digital logistics of education are well-designed—interoperable, secure, and supportive—teachers can focus on teaching, students can focus on learning, and institutions can focus on creating space for curiosity, critical thinking, and lifelong learning. That’s the bigger picture: digital transformation isn’t the goal, it’s the enabler. And if we get it right, we create not just efficiency, but educational ecosystems that are more humane, inclusive, and future-ready.

  2. How will you contribute to EUNIS and its strategic priorities?
    Over the past year as EUNIS President, I’ve helped guide the organisation through a much-needed professionalisation phase—streamlining roles, clarifyinginternal processes that actually work for a distributed, part-time, volunteer-driven team. It’s like running a startup—but with a warm heart and a European soul. At SURF, the Dutch NREN, I work across institutional, national, and European levels to facilitate digital transformation in higher education. I’ve led projects that require close collaboration across cultural and organisational boundaries, helping stakeholders align on shared goals without losing local nuance. Bridging the gap between business and IT. My past experience as a startup founder taught me to value clarity and momentum over bureaucracy. In EUNIS, I aim to build simple, smart processes that support the board and support team to do their best work—without burdening the organisation with unnecessary overhead. The next step is to create more year-round value for our members—beyond the annual congress. We’ve made a strong start in the past year, but there’s still so much potential to unlock. I’d love the opportunity to continue this work and help EUNIS grow into a more connected, vibrant, and supportive community—staying nimble and personal while increasing our impact.