EULiST |

EULiST General Assembly 2026: A Turning Point Toward Deep Integration and Strategic Growth

18/05/2026

From May 11th to 13th, the EULiST Alliance gathered at LUT University in Lappeenranta, Finland, for the 2026 General Assembly.

Three days of intensive workshops, strategic presentations, and high-level meetings marked a milestone transition from the alliance’s foundational years to a phase of “deep integration” and structural transformation.

New Leadership and Strategic Partnerships

The Assembly was a landmark for EULiST governance. Following a vote by the Governing Board, Måns Svensson (President of Jönköping University) was announced as the new Chair, with Jens Schneider (Rector of TU Wien) serving as Co-Chair for the 2026–2028 term.
The Management Board also welcomed its newly elected Co-Chairs, Maria Benedetta Mattei University of L’Aquila (UNIVAQ), and Olivier Eppinette (IMT).
Student board members representing all member universities held a dedicated vote to choose their new leadership directly from among their peers. As a result, the newly elected Chairing Team of the Student Board consists of Adam Gašparovič from the Slovak University of Technology in Bratislava (STU), Beatrice Ion from LUT University, and Cristiana Maria Muresanu from Universidad Rey Juan Carlos (URJC).
In a historic move for the alliance’s expansion, an official cooperation agreement was signed with the University of Stuttgart. As a new Cooperation Partner, Stuttgart will play a vital role in strengthening our joint research and innovation ecosystem.

From Activity to Transformation: Reviewing Our Progress & Strategy

The core of the Assembly was dedicated to assessing where we stand today and where we want to be by the 2035 horizon. Through comprehensive updates from the Governing Board, the Secretary General, the Management Board, and Work Package leaders and co-leaders, the alliance evaluated the past year’s progress, analyzed key performance indicators (KPIs), and openly addressed our future challenges and immediate priorities.

To ensure long-term institutional sustainability, the project writing team also held dedicated meetings during the Assembly to work on the upcoming EU project proposal, securing seamless continuity for the alliance.

Building Trust and Collaboration Through Interactivity

The entire event was driven by active participation. Rather than just listening to presentations, attendees actively shaped the alliance’s direction through panel discussions, Q&A sessions, and direct feedback surveys.

A central highlight was a powerful lecture on TRUST—the fundamental key to success for any organization, and a core pillar for EULiST as we deepen our institutional integration. Attendees also enjoyed insightful sessions on Finnish culture, providing a wonderful context to our hosting environment.

The main program concluded with presentations from the Coordination Office, where all Units – the backbone of our daily activities – showcased their achievements, plans, and challenges for the next phase.

Parallel working sessions across various WPs, boards, and units further maximized the value of this face-to-face gathering.

10 Countries, Now 11 Universities, One Single Team: Kiitos, LUT!

Beyond the intense program full of presentations, discussions, meetings, and interactions, the social and cultural activities proved that, despite coming from 10 different countries, EULiST operates as one united team.

The immense success of this General Assembly would not have been possible without the flawless organization and incredible hospitality of our hosts.

We extend our deepest gratitude to Rector Juha-Matti Saksa and the entire LUT University team for providing such an inspiring, welcoming, and beautiful campus environment that fostered deep collaboration, innovation, and lasting friendships.

Together, we are driving a true European transformation.

EULiST Alliance Announces New Leadership: Continuity and Vision for 2026–2028

17/05/2026

Following a recent vote by the EULiST Governing Board, the new leadership for the 2026–2028 term was officially announced during the General Assembly.

In a move that underscores stability and a shared vision for the future, Måns Svensson, President of Jönköping University, has been elected as Chair, and Jens Schneider, Rector of TU Wien, as Co-Chair of the EULiST Governing Board.

A significant moment of the Assembly was the official handover of leadership. The outgoing Chair, Ladislav Janíček (Rector of Brno University of Technology), and Co-Chair Juha-Matti Saksa (Rector of LUT University), passed the symbolic torch to their successors. The Alliance expressed deep gratitude to Rectors Ladislav Janíček and Juha-Matti Saksa for their foundational leadership and commitment during the early stages of EULiST.

The election saw unanimous support from the Rectors of all member institutions. This appointment reflects the Alliance’s commitment to leadership continuity, which is vital for the long-term sustainability and growth of our European University initiative.

EULiST is Strengthening its European Footprint: Welcoming the University of Stuttgart as a Cooperation Partner

12/05/2026

The EULiST Alliance is proud to announce a significant milestone in its expansion and strategic development. The University of Stuttgart has officially joined our community as a Cooperation Partner, paving the way for a deeper integration within the “European Universities” initiative.

A Shared Vision: Society and Technology

The addition of the University of Stuttgart is a natural evolution for EULiST. As one of Germany’s leading technically oriented universities, Stuttgart is renowned for its “Stuttgart Way” – a unique interdisciplinary approach that integrates engineering and natural sciences with the humanities and social sciences.

This philosophy directly mirrors the EULiST mission: linking society and technology to drive the green and digital transitions while strengthening social cohesion across Europe.

Building a Strategic Bridge to 2027 and Beyond

While the current EULiST project framework serves its ten founding members until the end of 2027, the Alliance is firmly focused on long-term sustainability. The inclusion of the University of Stuttgart as a Cooperation Partner acts as a strategic bridge:

Integration: Stuttgart will actively participate in the Alliance’s governing bodies in an observer capacity.
Co-creation: The partnership formalizes a collaborative path for future grant applications and joint initiatives under the European Commission’s forthcoming calls.
Excellence: The Alliance gains world-class expertise in research, innovation, and industry collaboration from one of Europe’s most vibrant industrial hubs.

“For EULiST, being a European University Alliance means bringing technology and society closer together by integrating STEM and the social sciences into one collaborative ecosystem. The University of Stuttgart, with its strong technical excellence and clear commitment to societal impact, is a natural partner to help us advance this mission,” says Ladislav Janicek, Chair of the EULiST Governing Board.

Group photo of all rectors together with the rector of the University of Stuttgart

Looking Ahead

By joining forces today, EULiST and the University of Stuttgart are building a foundation of trust and synergy. This partnership ensures that our future activities are built on a foundation of academic excellence, preparing the ground for Stuttgart to become a full member of our Alliance.

Welcome on board, University of Stuttgart!

More: Press Release

Over 270 Mobility Opportunities for EULiST Early Career Researchers until December 2026

25/03/2026 Date: until December 2026

More than 270 funded mobility opportunities are available for Early Career Researchers (ECRs) in 2026 within the EULiST European University Alliance. These opportunities support short-term research visits (1-3 months) and internships.

Early Career Researchers engaged in academic or professional collaboration with EULiST member institutions are invited to apply for a short-term research internship taking place until December 2026.

All relevant details including application procedures, eligibility criteria, main research areas of each laboratory, research exchange duration, and more, are available on the EULiST website under:
Research > Early Career Researchers Center > Mobility for EULiST Members
https://eulist.university/mobility-for-ecrs/ (To view all opportunities, please log in using your institutional account)

Application deadline: specified within each ECR description

Don’t miss this exciting opportunity to expand your research horizons!

EULiST Alliance Celebrates International Day of Women and Girls in Science with the First “SCI WOMEN PARTY”

12/02/2026

The EULiST Alliance, alongside the Scientific Culture and Innovation Unit (UCC+I), organized the first SCI-WOMEN PARTY on 11 February to commemorate the International Day of Women and Girls in Science. Hosted by the Universidad Rey Juan Carlos (URJC) in Madrid, the event served as a vital forum for reflection on the presence and impact of women in the scientific and professional worlds.

A Space for Reflection and Connection
The initiative brought together sixteen women with diverse professional backgrounds—ranging from academic research to high-level corporate management. This diversity enriched the dialogue, allowing for a deep dive into the different generational, social, and cultural experiences that shape a woman’s career in science today. Participants analyzed both the progress made in recent years and the persistent challenges that still hinder women’s advancement into management and leadership positions.

From Dialogue to Actionable Guidelines
The impact of the SCI-WOMEN PARTY will extend far beyond the event itself. The conclusions drawn from these discussions will be published in a Guide to Best Practices. This document aims to provide concrete strategies to eliminate gender stereotypes and encourage more girls and women to pursue scientific vocations.

Future International Outlook Building on the success of this first edition, the EULiST Alliance and UCC+I are set to promote this initiative. The goal is to scale the project into an international conference featuring partners from all ten European universities within the EULiST network. Through this initiative, the URJC and the EULiST Alliance reinforce their shared commitment to promoting equal opportunities and making the vital contributions of women in science visible on a global stage.

EULiST Welcomes Gabriela Vlková as New Communication Manager

28/01/2026

We are pleased to announce that the EULiST Alliance has appointed Gabriela Vlková as our new Communication Manager. Gabriela joins us at a pivotal time as we continue to strengthen our mission of connecting society and technology through transnational higher education.

Gabriela is a seasoned communications professional with over 15 years of experience in the private sector. She has a proven track record of managing complex internal and external communication strategies for major multinational organizations, including HB Reavis and Embraco. Her expertise spans change and crisis management, digital tool implementation, and award-winning storytelling.

In her new role, Gabriela will lead the overall EULiST communication strategy. She will oversee our internal and external channels, social media, and media relations, ensuring that our messages reach the right audiences and that the EULiST vision is shared authentically with our community of students, researchers, partners, and beyond.

Her transition from the corporate world brings a fresh, dynamic perspective to our alliance, helping us effectively navigate the fast-paced international environment of modern academia.

We look forward to the energy and professional excellence Gabriela brings to the team. Please join us in welcoming her to the EULiST family!

EULiST Student Board Meeting at STU

22/12/2025

The EULiST Student Board met from December 15 to 19, 2025, at STU in Bratislava. Student representatives from the alliance’s partner universities gathered for a week of discussions, planning, and coordination focused on student engagement within EULiST.

The meeting began with a welcome from the host institution and the local coordination team. The program combined introductory activities for new members with discussions on current priorities, student engagement, and cooperation across EULiST structures.

In addition to strategic discussions, the Student Board also addressed several organizational issues. These included planning activities for the coming year, elections to other EULiST governing bodies, and student involvement in the preparation of the alliance’s next grant proposal.

In addition to the working meetings, participants had the opportunity to get to know the STU premises and the city of Bratislava itself. Joint dinners, a Christmas concert, and other informal activities created space for conversations outside the meeting rooms and contributed to strengthening mutual relationships.

“These meetings are essential for us. Without personal contact, we would not be able to function as effectively as is necessary for cooperation across EULiST,” reflected Ludmila Hrachovcová, Chair of the EULiST Student Board.

The meeting concluded with a final section devoted to summarizing the main outcomes and identifying next steps. The discussions confirmed the importance of the Student Council as a space for coordination, exchange of experiences, and joint planning across the alliance. The Bratislava meeting thus contributed to strengthening cooperation between individual universities and created a solid foundation for the continuation of joint activities of the EULiST Student Council in the coming period.

URJC Hosts the First EULiST Global Conference to Advance Climate-Resilient and Sustainable Societies

29/11/2025

The European university alliance EULiST held its first Global Conference on the Aranjuez campus under the title “Co-creating Sustainable Solutions for Climate-Resilient Societies”, in which 230 researchers from 34 countries debated for two days, with European companies and cities also in attendance.

The opening of this Global Conference was presided over by Abraham Duarte, the Rector of the URJC, together with María Luisa García Mínguez, Deputy Director of the European Commission’s Education and Culture Executive Agency (EACEA), Miguel Gómez, Mayor of Aranjuez, and Pablo T. Salvadores, President of the Global Conference Organising Committee.

On 20 November, the rector highlighted the excellent figures and data that support the URJC’s commitment to sustainability, reflected both in global rankings such as “Green Metric World University”, where the URJC is among the most sustainable universities, and in the awards recently received for the best Spanish university in sustainability education and the Energy Efficiency award. Finally, he highlighted the URJC’s commitment to EULiST and the European Universities Initiative, which he considered key to building a more innovative, connected and sustainable Europe.

This Global Conference was structured around a Plenary Session in which various international experts have reflected on the joint work of cities and EULiST, and parallel panels on different topics, always with sustainability as the driving force.

During the final day, participants gathered in parallel thematic sessions and in the closing plenary session to reflect on the major global challenges related to climate change, urban transformation, international cooperation, and innovation in education and technology. In turn, a workshop on Science Communication was held, where this topic was addressed in a practical and interactive way for participants.

The closing ceremony of this exceptional event took place on 21 November and was led by César Cáceres, URJC Rector’s delegate for EULiST; Natia Gamkrelidze, EULiST Secretary General; and Pablo T. Salvadores and Antonia Lampopoulou, heads of the Global Conference Organising Committee.

Finally, as a closing ceremony, Rey Juan Carlos University handed over the baton to the National Technical University of Athens, with a gift for the celebration of the next Global Conference in Athens in 2027.

The conference reaffirmed the commitment of the EULiST alliance to foster cooperation, knowledge exchange and cross-sector collaboration for tackling climate change and promoting sustainable development.

LUT Delegation Visit at NTUA

26/11/2025

On November 5 and 6, 2025, a research delegation from the Department of Separation Science of LUT School of Engineering Sciences visited the National Technical University of Athens (NTUA) to strengthen academic partnerships within the EULiST Alliance and explore opportunities for future research collaboration.

The visit was hosted at the NTUA School of Chemical Engineering. The scientific fields that were explored during the visit were Biorefining, Food Processing Technologies, Metals and Minerals, and P-to-X Chemicals.

The visit was inaugurated by the NTUA Vice Rector for Research, Innovation and Extroversion, Prof. Manos Varvarigos, and the NTUA School of Chemical Engineering Dean, Prof. Glykeria Kakali.

LUT delegation consisted of Assoc. Prof. Sami Virolainen, Assoc. Prof. Ikenna Anugwom, Assoc Prof. Rama Layek, Assist. Prof. Samuel Perez-Vega, Assoc. Prof. Nima Rezaei, Assoc. Prof. Niko Kinnunen, Dr. Katja Lahikainen, and Dr. Taija Hämäläinen.

NTUA delegation consisted of Prof. Sotiris Karellas, Prof. Emer. Katerina Adam, Prof. Andreas Boudouvis, Prof. Costas Charitidis, Prof. Antonis Kokossis, Prof. Magdalini Krokida, Prof. Gerasimos Lyberatos, Prof. Evangelia Pavlatou, Prof. Petros Taoukis, Prof. Evangelos Topakas, Prof. Epaminondas Voutsas, Prof. Anthimos Xenidis, Assoc. Prof. Maria Giannakourou, Assoc. Prof. Stamatina Vouyiouka, Assist. Prof. Kyriakos Lampropoulos, Assist. Prof. Antonis Peppas, Assist. Prof. Stergios Vakalis, Dr. Christos Boukouvalas, Dr. Lazaros Karaoglanoglou, Dr. Vicky Louli, Dr. Efstratios Nikolaivits, Dr. Konstantina Papadopoulou, Dr. Georgia Pappa, Dr. Panagiotis Angelopoulos, Dr. Chrysa Politi, PhD Cand. Maria Modestou, Antonia Lampropoulou.

The visit included plenary sessions with a presentation of the EULiST WP4 “Research and Innovation” activities, with a particular focus on ERIA (EULiST Research and Innovation Academy), topics pitches from both counterparts, visits to Laboratories at the School of Chemical Engineering (Design and Process Analysis Lab, Thermodynamics and Transport Phenomena Lab, Biotechnology Lab) and the School of Mining and Metallurgical Engineering and the Mineralogical Museum.

Most importantly, bilateral discussions took place, and discussions were initiated on developing joint proposals. These discussions have formed a basis for building trust, understanding mutual interests, and establishing a foundation for cooperation in specific funding calls.

The Master Programs of NTUA’s School of Chemical Engineering were presented to explore a potential future EULiST double degree framework between equivalent study programs from LUT and NTUA. As a first step, the delegates will seek to develop EULiST courses exploring the complementarity of existing Master Programs.

This vibrant visit highlights the dynamic cooperation fostered within the EULiST Alliance and underscores the commitment of both institutions to advancing long-lasting and meaningful collaborations in education and research.

Agenda

Students Shape the Future of the EULiST Digital Campus

21/10/2025

As part of the 2nd EULiST Student Conference, an interactive usability workshop brought together 30 students and members of task group 2.1 to collaboratively explore and improve the EULiST Digital Campus. Divided into four groups, participants conducted hands-on usability tests at dedicated tables, each focusing on a specific aspect of the platform:

Table 1: Testing the usability of the Digital Campus, with a special focus on the course catalogue.
Table 2: Evaluating the current workflow for an e-learning course.
Table 3: Helping to clarify course descriptions for better understanding and accessibility.
Table 4: Examining the current communication channels of the platform.

The workshop fostered rich discussions and practical insights, resulting in highly valuable feedback on how to make the Digital Campus more user-friendly, clear, and effective for all students.

We deeply value and appreciate the engagement and efforts of all participants. Their contributions are instrumental, and we have already started to implement their ideas and suggestions to further enhance the EULiST Digital Campus experience.