Lars Lynge Nielsen, former President of EURASHE (27/03/1948 – 16/10/2024)

A tribute by Honorary Secretary General Stefan Delplace.

LL Nielsen, former President of EURASHE, passed away on 16 October at the age of 76.  

For all those who knew him, Lars was a genial person, with an outgoing personality who held strong views along deeply humanistic lines. He cherished many friendships both in EURASHE circles and in Central Europe and the Balkans, because of past professional experiences in these countries. He held a degree in psychology from Copenhagen University, and participated in a UN mission in Bosnia-Herzegovina, as a Danish ministerial expert during the particularly challenging times of the wars in the Western Balkans.  

During his Presidency between 2006 and 2011, EURASHE started the extension of its membership towards the new EU member countries, and gained its reputation as the promotor of Lifelong Learning while fully endorsing the ‘Social Dimension’ in the Bologna Process, with a growing attention for student involvement on the European and institutional levels.  

Lars’ Presidency at EURASHE will be further remembered for his messages at European events like the Bologna Ministerial conferences, permeated by strong feelings about general humanity and concerns for inclusiveness and equal opportunities for all through education. This was epitomised in “EURASHE’s 10 Commitments for the European Higher Education Area in 2020”, published for the anniversary celebration of 10 years of the Bologna Reform, laying down the Association’s long-term objectives. 

Lars Lynge Nielsen had a distinguished career in education and public service in Denmark. He was the rector of Fyns Pædagogseminarium (later integrated in Lillebaelt University College) from 1995 to 2004 and was a consultant at the Danish Ministry of Education from 1983 to 1986.  He first became involved in European-level initiatives particularly in the field of education and post-conflict reconstruction in the Balkans during the 1990s. His work has often focused on improving educational systems and supporting teacher training programs. He was engaged in various projects aimed at fostering peace and reconciliation through education. His involvement in EURASHE, as a representative of Danish professional higher education, later also as a Vice-President and finally as a President of the association, was greatly impacted by these earlier commitments.  

To his beloved wife Kirsten and daughter Sarah we offer our profound condolences.