On September 23, 2026, research leaders from Christian universities across Europe met online for the first time as INCHE (International Network of Christian Higher Education) Europe research departments. LCC International University’s Center for Research on Faith and Human Flourishing took part, and its Director, Elena Šiaudvytienė, presented the Center’s work.

The meeting was chaired by Lydia Bor and opened by INCHE Executive Director Deborah Haarsma. It followed the April 2026 presidents’ and international officers’ meeting of INCHE Europe in Norway, which highlighted the need to connect research departments. Participants came from the Netherlands, Croatia, Hungary, Lithuania and Norway.

Elena Šiaudvytienė introduced the Center as an interdisciplinary space that brings together faith, scholarship and diverse disciplines around one question: what helps people and communities flourish? She spoke about how the Center supports faculty and students to engage with contemporary intellectual voices, encourages dialogue across LCC’s liberal arts model, and supports faculty-student research and international partnerships.

She also shared the Center’s plans for this fall, including its faculty research seminar series, the international policy conference “Connecting the Dots, Connecting the People” on October 29, and the research symposium “Christianity and Civil Society” on October 30-31. On the international side, she noted that the Center led LCC’s Horizon Europe project proposal on democratic citizenship education, and spoke about LCC’s participation and interest in COST Action activities, as well as its involvement in the INCHE Europe reading circles. She invited partners across the network to consider research exchange, joint proposals and research fellowships at LCC.

Colleagues from the Christian University of Applied Sciences (Netherlands), NLA University College (Norway), and the Biblical Institute and Evangelical Theological Seminary (Croatia) also presented their research work, from societal challenges such as polarization to new doctoral programs and theological research.

Participants discussed possible cooperation, including research networks, joint European applications, shared events and online seminars. A follow-up meeting is planned for December 9, 2026.