EULiST |

EULiST at EAIE 2025 in Gothenburg

02/09/2025

We are excited to announce that EULiST will participate in the EAIE (European Association for International Education) Conference and Exhibition 2025 taking place in Gothenburg, Sweden, from September 9^th to 12^th. This marks our second presence at this leading international event in higher education.

You will find us in the exhibition hall, among the European University Alliances, at booth P44.
At our stand, we will showcase how EULiST – a network of ten universities across Europe – connects students, researchers, and staff and present the opportunities and benefits of being part of our alliance.

Our team looks forward to:

Exchanging knowledge and best practices
Exploring opportunities for collaboration
Showcasing how EULiST partner universities can shape a more sustainable and innovative future together.

We warmly invite you to visit our stand and engage with us during the conference!

EULiST is Now on Instagram

30/08/2025

We are excited to announce that EULiST has officially launched its Instagram account:

Username: @eulist.university

Account name: EULiST European University

Follow us to stay updated on the latest news, events, activities, and opportunities and gain insights into how our diverse community connects students, researchers, and staff across Europe.

By showcasing our work in a more engaging and visual way, we invite you to discover the shared vision of all partner institutions – how EULiST links society and technology, empowers students and researchers as change agents, and works towards climate action, digital transition, and social cohesion – shaping a sustainable, inclusive, and innovative Europe!

👉 Follow us on Instagram: @eulist.university

“The Waltz of Pioneers” – Celebrating Europe’s Top Early-Stage spin-offs

31/07/2025

As part of the ViennaUP Festival, The Waltz of Pioneers took place on May 12th, 2025, at TU Wien – an event spotlighting academic spin-offs from across Europe. Organized by the TU Wien Innovation Incubation Center (i²c) and powered by the EULiST European University Alliance, the event marked the launch of the first-ever EULiST pan-European spin-off pitch competition.

The competition brought together participants from 28 countries and nine leading European universities, each showcasing their most innovative ventures through ten inspiring pitches spanning a diverse range of industries. TU Wien was represented by co2ol Catalyst, a pioneering startup converting CO₂ into methanol – a crucial step toward a more sustainable future.

A jury of experts provided feedback and posed insightful questions, while the networking session that followed gave spin-offs the opportunity to connect directly with investors and key figures from Europe’s innovation ecosystem. The event was further supported by the Austrian Business Agency, the Vienna Business Agency, and TU Wien’s SpinOff Factory.

Competition Highlights:

Best EULiST Spin-off 2025: Replico (IMT, France) – awarded for their 3D-printed anatomical models with integrated nerve structures. The team received a €3,000 prize sponsored by SpinOff Factory and a media package from Brutkasten.

X-ECD took second place and was awarded a professionally produced promotional video.

The Waltz of Pioneers not only celebrated Europe’s vibrant academic spin-offs but also strengthened the cross-border collaboration and knowledge exchange at the heart of the EULiST Alliance.

EULiST Student Conference 2025 in Douai, France: A Week of Collaboration, Innovation and Cultural Connections

15/07/2025

From June 30th to July 4th, 2025, the IMT Nord Europe in Douai, France, hosted the second edition of the EULiST Student Conference. Bringing together 200 students of all levels (undergraduate, postgraduate, and PhD), with diverse fields of study, from across the 10 EULiST partner universities and countries, this marks the alliance’s largest student event.

On 30^th June, the conference opened with a warm welcome from the Mayor of Douai, Dr. Frédéric Chereau.

Day 1 – Opening and Thematic Workshops

On 1^st July, a hot sunny day in Douai, the conference officially began with an inspiring Opening Ceremony. Welcoming addresses were delivered by the Director of IMT Nord Europe, Céline Fasulo, the EULiST Secretary General, Dr. Natia Gamkrelidze, the IMT Vice-President for Academic and International Affairs and EULiST Management Board member, Dr. Frédérique Vincent, and the Chair of the EULiST Management Board and Director of Internationalization at URJC, Pablo Tomás Salvadores Alonso. In addition, the ceremony featured an engaging panel discussion with the former Rector of NTUA, Professor Andreas Boudouvis, and the Policy Officer for Higher Education at the European Commission, Ioana Dewandeler, who shared valuable perspectives on the role of university alliances in shaping Europe’s educational future. Students from the organising team also took the stage to welcome participants and encourage everyone to make the most of the diverse opportunities ahead.

In the afternoon, participants took part in seven interactive workshops designed to foster group work, critical thinking, and creativity – encouraging students to think “outside the room” both figuratively and literally. The thematic workshops, a central part of the conference, were held in two sessions, Session 1 on the first day, and Session 2 on the third day. A highlight was the EULiST Digital Campus workshop, where students tested the first pilot version of the Digital Campus platform and shared their feedback.

The workshops provided students with the opportunity to tackle key topics, solve problems collaboratively, and work with peers from different countries. Participants chose workshops aligned with their interests and joined mixed groups of students, researchers, and professionals. Together, they explored issues shaping the future of academia and society, aiming to develop solutions with real impact beyond the conference.

At the end of the day, the International Evening was a memorable event, where each country’s delegation brought traditional snacks and drinks for everyone to try, giving all participants the chance to experience different European flavours.

Day 2 – Pitch Sessions, Hackathon, and Cultural Activities

The second day of the EULiST Student Conference was filled with fresh perspectives and forward-thinking ideas. The EULiST Pitch Sessions gave students the opportunity to present their academic projects and innovative solutions to some of tomorrow’s most pressing challenges. Organised into three 45-minute rounds, the sessions encouraged lively exchanges and inspired new ways of thinking.

Hackathon teams also began developing ideas with real-world applications, setting the foundation for projects that will continue to grow beyond the conference.

Participants supported each other enthusiastically, creating a positive and collaborative atmosphere.

A true highlight of the day was the inspiring keynote speech by Marianne Heiß, former CEO, advisory board member, bestselling author, and advocate for female leadership and sustainable business. In her talk, Design Your Career in International Business, she encouraged students to be bold, clear, and authentic in shaping their professional paths. Her message resonated strongly with participants, offering honest insights and practical advice for navigating the international business landscape.

In the afternoon, participants stepped outside the classroom to discover Douai’s rich heritage — exploring historic mines, visiting the planetarium, and taking a guided walking tour through the heart of the city.

Day 3 – Thematic Workshops, Poster Session, and Closing Gala

On 3^rd July, the second round of thematic workshops took place. This was followed by the EULiST Poster Session, where participants had the chance to dive into exciting research, meet inspiring people, and spark new collaborations.

The day also featured a thought-provoking keynote by Dr. Tim Flohrer, Head of the Space Debris Office at the European Space Agency (ESA), and a leading expert on the growing challenge of space debris, who highlighted how science, policy, and industry must work together to ensure a sustainable and safe orbital environment.

Finally, a Closing Gala at the Louvre-Lens Museum brought together participants, partners, and guests from across Europe for a night of celebration, discovery, and connection.

Overall, the 2nd EULiST Student Conference in Douai was an enriching experience for everyone involved, providing countless opportunities for personal growth, academic development, and intercultural exchange. It was a week that embodied the shared vision of all partner institutions — fostering collaboration, innovation, and meaningful connections while shaping the future of higher education and society in Europe together.

For the full program of the Student Conference, please visit its website.

First EULiST In-Person PR Unit Meeting: Three inspiring days in Athens

14/07/2025

The first in-person EULiST PR Unit meeting was successfully hosted by the National Technical University of Athens from 23 to 25 June 2025 in the vibrant city of Athens, Greece.

Representatives from nearly all ten EULiST member universities gathered to meet each other and work face-to-face for the first time on shaping the future of the alliance’s communication and outreach. This meeting was also the first in-person gathering attended by EULiST’s new Secretary General, Dr. Natia Gamkrelidze — an honour for the entire team.

The agenda focused on strategic alignment, message harmonisation, communication tools, and joint campaigns to showcase the strength and impact of EULiST — 10 universities, 200,000 students, and 20,000 staff across Europe.

On the first day, each university presented its local PR structure, followed by a fruitful exchange of best practices and a presentation of the FOREU4ALL alliance.
The second day included discussions on the alliance’s strategic positioning, project flagships, work package deliverables, and the overall narrative. LUT University (Finland) also shared an update on the progress of the new logo and branding. Finally, the team reviewed existing EULiST communication channels and explored ideas for new ones to enhance outreach and engagement.

On the final day, discussions focused on the PR Unit’s contribution to several major upcoming events, including the 2^nd EULiST Student Conference (30 June – 4 July), the EAIE Conference and Exhibition in September, and the 1^st EULiST Global Conference in Madrid this November. Next implementation steps were defined in line with the EULiST Communication and Dissemination Strategy, alongside the upcoming recruitment of a Communications Manager.

Beyond the working sessions, many social events — including dinners and outings in the centre of Athens with breathtaking views of the Acropolis — gave members the chance to build strong personal connections and set the foundation for more direct and effective collaboration in the months ahead to further enhance EULiST’s visibility and impact across Europe.

The energy, creativity, and dedication of each participant were invaluable. Together, we continue to build a stronger EULiST — linking society and technology for a sustainable, inclusive, and connected Europe!

Detailed Agenda

EULiST WP3 “Teaching and Learning” Workshop in Athens: Advancing the EULiST Agora for Education

10/07/2025

From June 17th to 18th, 2025, the National Technical University of Athens (NTUA) hosted the in-person workshop of Work Package 3 “EULiST Teaching & Learning”.

The main objective of the meeting was to bring together WP3 partners and experts to further develop the implementation plan for key WP3 outputs, specifically Deliverable 3.2 “Pilot implementation and evaluation of EULiST Agora Education tools” and Milestone 9 “AI for Education Toolkit”.

The agenda also included:

A joint session between WP2 “EULiST Campus” and WP3 focusing on the advancement of the EULiST Joint Course Catalogue, finalizing its structure and content and aligning it with the broader EULiST Agora for Education
Discussions on integrating innovative teaching methodologies and defining workflows for the pilot courses.
Discussions on strategies for implementing microcredentials within the EULiST framework.
Live demonstrations of AI tools, which will be included in the first release of the AI toolkit and integrated into the EULiST Digital Campus.
Discussions with TG 1.5 on how to integrate SDGs into Education: a proposed project for Professional Faculty Development focused on including environmental and social responsibility into everyday teaching.

This workshop fostered collaboration and meaningful connections among the member universities and stood as strong proof of the shared vision of all partner institutions: working together to advance teaching and learning and shape the future of higher education across Europe!

Second Language Services Working Group (LSWG) Meeting in Athens

07/07/2025

Hot temperatures and cool ideas: Report from the 2^nd meeting of the Language Services Working Group (LSWG), 12-13 June 2025, Athens

The Language Services Working Group (LSWG) has just had its second meeting – this time at the National Technical University of Athens (NTUA). Despite the unusually hot weather for June, we set about discussing and clarifying the scope and goals of the five subprojects defined at the first meeting at the Leibniz University Hannover (LUH) in October 2024. These five subprojects were given the green light by their respective WPs and include both tandem- and project learning, creating a glossary and offering a blended intensive programme. We also began a sixth subproject: the creation of a EULiST language centre with 20 language courses, which has been defined as one of the key performance indicators (KPI) within EULiST.

It was great to see that eight of the ten EULiST universities were able to participate, either in person in Athens or online. The meeting, meticulously organised by our colleague Goni Togia (NTUA), began with a warm welcome by Professor Athanasios Zisis, Management Board Co-Chair and Vice Rector for Academic Affairs and Life-Long Learning, Professor A. Zisis. He was followed by the NTUA Executive Director, Dr. M. Vardaki and the EULIST Scientific Coordinator, Professor Emeritus K. Adam. The presence of local members of various EULiST WPs helped in connecting our discussions to ideas in the wider project.

We then continued with progress reports from the five subgroups, starting with subgroup 2 on the EULiST tandem platform, led by Klaus Schwienhorst (LUH). We plan to open the tandem platform to all EULiST students in October 2025 and hope to solve any challenges we face until then. This involves creating a short tandem video, organising webinars for teachers and workshops for tandem counsellors, editing texts in the interface and adding new functionality.

After an excellent lunch, we continued with subgroup 3 on project-based learning and language courses, led by Ben Hill (IMT). This group aims to compile a good-practice guidebook and conduct a survey on project-based learning, followed by a pilot programme in 2025-2026. We also discussed how we could contribute to the EULiST student conference in Douai, which had been requested at very short notice. We welcomed the request, and agreed that Ben would discuss our ideas with the organising committee. In the evening, NTUA invited us to a fabulous outdoor dinner at a tavern not far from the Acropolis.

The second day started with a presentation by Professor Mitrou from the School of Electrical and Computer Engineering, NTUA, on controlled vocabularies and subject classification. This provided an excellent introduction to subgroup 4, whose goal is to create a EULiST glossary and select a standard variety of English to be used in EULiST. The subgroup is led by Joy Reid (LUH), assisted by Chris Schubert (TUW). Jolana Tlukova (BUT) will coordinate a more short-term project on the compilation of a glossary for Erasmus student journeys to facilitate student exchanges. The whole LSWG agreed that British English should be used consistently throughout all EULiST documentation (e.g. the website, brochures, announcements, protocols). This involves mostly spelling, but also choice of vocabulary. We will inform the relevant WPs shortly.

After lunch, we moved on to subproject 5 which plans to set up a Blended Intensive Programme (BIP) on global citizenship education and languages in intercultural communication. This BIP is organised by Pasi Puranen (LUT) together with Dagmar Schimmel (LUH) and Natalja Zabeida (LUH). The group plans to have all promotional materials ready by October 2025, so that the BIP can take place as planned in early 2026.

We then also discussed subproject 1, which would compile all language services by EULiST partners on a web site by October 2025. WP 3 will define how the language services can be linked to the EULiST course catalogue. Klaus Schwienhorst leads this subgroup together with Goni Togia .

We also turned our attention to a new subproject (no. 6) which deals with the creation of 20 language courses, one of the key performance indicators (KPI) within EULiST. Magda Sučková (BUT) leads this subgroup and will arrange a first online meeting to discuss the framework for these language courses. The goal is to enable students from all EULiST universities to achieve rudimentary language skills in all EULiST languages to facilitate exchanges and other study visits. It was encouraging that several LSWG could start as early as winter semester 2025. Finally, the group nominated Klaus Schwienhorst as LSWG coordinator, and Ben Hill as assistant coordinator. Additional NTUA participants in the second day’s discussions included: Prof. E. Dimopoulou (Task 2.1 lead), E. Skordalaki (Task 2.5) and A. Iliakis (Task 5.4).

The second LSGW meeting ended with a delicious meal in Athens’ old town. Many thanks to Goni Togia for the great preparation, fabulous hospitality and excellent organisation of the meeting. The next LSWG meeting is planned for early December 2025 in Madrid where will hopefully be able to review how our first projects have been implemented.

From left to right: Joy Reid (LUH), Klaus Schwienhorst (LUH), Verónica Morgade Cuña (LUH), Chris Schubert (TUW), Magda Sučková (BUT), Tushar Chaudhur (LUH), Eleutheria Skordalaki (NTUA), Pasi Puranen (LUT), Ben Hill (IMT), Goni Togia (NTUA), Eva Karasová (STU), Benjamin W. Doty (STU)

The 2nd Student Conference Kicks Off in Douai, Northern France!

01/07/2025

The 2nd EULiST Student Conference officially launched in Douai, hosted by IMT Nord Europe, welcoming over 200 participants and esteemed guests to a vibrant international gathering.

What’s Ahead:

Participants can look forward to engaging workshops, inspiring keynote speakers, and a dynamic program designed to foster cross-university collaboration and shared innovation. Stay tuned for more updates throughout the week!

Day 1 Highlights – Arrival & Welcome

Welcoming Our 2025 Cohort

We were thrilled to reconnect with the brilliant EULiST students whose energy and passion continue to drive our shared mission forward. This year, we placed a stronger emphasis on sustainability, highlighting the importance of collaboration across institutions and shared learning experiences across borders.

Reception at Salle Anchin & Welcome Address from the Mayor of Douai

The day concluded with a warm reception at the historic Salle Anchin, where we were honored to be welcomed by Dr. Frédéric Chereau, Mayor of Douai. His inspiring address emphasized the city’s support for the European University Initiative and its commitment to regional and European collaboration.

We are grateful to the city of Douai and to IMT Nord Europe for their outstanding hospitality and continued partnership within the EULiST Alliance.

Fabio Graziosi is the New Rector of the University of L’Aquila

26/06/2025

Professor Fabio Graziosi has been elected as the new Rector of the University of L’Aquila for the 2025–2031 term.

Born in L’Aquila on July 28, 1968, Professor Graziosi graduated with top honors in Electronic Engineering from the University of L’Aquila in 1993. He is currently a professor of Telecommunications at the Department of Information Engineering, Computer Science and Mathematics (DISIM), where he also serves as director. He will officially assume office on October 1, 2025.

Professor Graziosi’s scientific work initially focused on performance evaluation of wireless systems in complex propagation environments. Over time, his research has expanded to include topics influenced by interdisciplinary collaboration with the fields of electronics, computer science, and automatic control. His work in this area includes research on sensor networks and, more broadly, networked embedded systems.

EULiST Alliance Welcomes Dr. Natia Gamkrelidze as Secretary General

25/06/2025

The EULiST European University Alliance is excited to announce that Dr. Natia Gamkrelidze has officially assumed the role of Secretary General.
In this role, Dr. Gamkrelidze will lead the strategic and operational coordination of the alliance across ten member universities, working closely with all governance bodies and institutional partners to further establish EULiST as a model for transnational collaboration in higher education.
Dr. Gamkrelidze brings a broad background and experience in international education, policy expertise, and operational coordination. She holds a Ph.D. in Political Science from Linnaeus University and has completed a postdoctoral fellowship in International Security at the Belfer Center, Harvard Kennedy School. Her previous research affiliations include Malmö University, Columbia University, Harvard University, and the University of Oxford.
A decade ago, Dr. Gamkrelidze was herself an Erasmus Mundus scholarship holder. She understands firsthand the transformative power of European cooperation in education—and strongly believes in its lasting impact on individuals and society.
We are happy to welcome her to the EULiST community, and we look forward to this next chapter of shared growth, innovation, and connection.