In this interview, Dr. Marina Cino Pagliarello explores how universities and academia shape the European Union’s foreign policy through soft power and informal diplomacy. From Ukraine to Africa, we examine the opportunities and challenges of academic diplomacy in today’s shifting geopolitical landscape.

Chapters

00:00 – Introduction

01:43 – Universities as Informal Diplomatic Actors in EU Foreign Policy

07:43 – Academic Diplomacy During the War in Ukraine

13:32 – Balancing Academic Autonomy and EU Foreign Policy Goals

19:37 – Challenges in Authoritarian or Contested Environments

25:00 – EU–Africa University Cooperation Frameworks

28:31 – Promoting EU Norms: Human Rights, Sustainability, and More

33:04 – EU Funding Mechanisms: Erasmus+, Horizon, MSCA

40:50 – Reforming and Strengthening EU Academic Programmes

44:54 – Institutional Hierarchies in Academic Diplomacy

48:15 – Geopolitical Pressures on Academic Engagement

53:36 – Inclusivity vs. Elitism in EU Academic Deployment

01:00:12 – Gaps and Underresearched Areas in Academic Diplomacy

About the Guest

Dr. Marina Cino Pagliarello is a strategic advisor and consultant specializing in academic diplomacy, university positioning, and international partnerships.

With extensive experience in European alliances and high-level institutional engagement, she has built a distinguished career at the intersection of academia and policy.

Currently a Marie Skłodowska-Curie Research Fellow at the European University Institute and Senior Research Associate at LSE Consulting, Dr. Marina’s work focuses on EU politics, public policy, and transnational higher education. Her expertise contributes to shaping impactful strategies for universities and institutions in an increasingly globalized academic landscape.

Official Website:

https://irthinker.com/

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