CIREAD-IFCU Participation at the ACCU Annual Meeting 2026 “Through the Lens of Mission” (Washington, D.C., USA)

The International Centre for Research and Decision Support (CIREAD) of the International Federation of Catholic Universities (IFCU) participated in the 2026 Annual Meeting of the Association of Catholic Colleges and Universities (ACCU), held in Washington, D.C., from January 30 to February 2, 2026.

The ACCU Annual Meeting is a key annual rendezvous for IFCU, offering a unique platform for dialogue with university presidents, senior administrators, scholars and institutional partners. This year’s edition, centered on the theme “Through the Lens of Mission”, highlighted the growing need for Catholic universities to reaffirm their identity and mission in a rapidly changing and often polarized higher education environment.

Montserrat Alom, Director of CIREAD, together with François Mabille, Secretary General of IFCU, attended the meeting and jointly led an IFCU breakfast session, which provided an opportunity for in-depth exchanges with leaders of Catholic higher education institutions in the United States.

The meeting also provided valuable opportunities to strengthen ties within the IFCU network as two members of its Administrative Board were also present in Washington: Katia Passerini, Rector of Gonzaga University (USA), and David Sylvester, President of University of St. Michael’s College, University of Toronto (Canada). In addition, fruitful discussions took place with Riccardo Cinquegrani, Director of AVEPRO, the Vatican agency for quality assurance in higher education, with which IFCU is pleased to collaborate.

Throughout the meeting, several major concerns currently shaping Catholic higher education in the United States emerged clearly from plenary sessions and thematic panels. Among them were:

• The protection of religious liberty and institutional mission, particularly in relation to evolving regulatory and political contexts affecting academic freedom and faith-based education.
• The challenge of Catholic identity, including how to engage “cultural Catholics,” respond to declining religious practice, and articulate mission in ways that resonate with students, faculty and staff.
• Enrollment pressures and demographic change, prompting reflections on mission-driven recruitment strategies, messaging and the balance between market realities and institutional values.
• Institutional sustainability, with discussions on alternative models to mergers, governance innovation and data-informed decision-making.
• Global engagement, especially regarding migration, refugees, social justice and the role of Catholic universities as actors of the common good.
• Leadership in times of crisis, emphasizing ethical governance, community cohesion and the integration of faith, reason and service.

Overall, participation in the ACCU Annual Meeting once again confirmed the strategic importance of sustained dialogue between Catholic universities worldwide. These exchanges are essential to better understand emerging trends, support informed decision-making and contribute to the ongoing reflection on the future of Catholic higher education at a global level.