EULiST |

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.

Matchmaking event at JU makes new research collaborations possible

17/12/2025

On 3–4 December, Jönköping University (JU) organized a matchmaking event in collaboration with Science Park and Crowdhelix, focusing on upcoming calls for proposals within Horizon Europe. Over two half-days, researchers and stakeholders from various sectors, primarily academia, gathered to create new collaborations within sustainability, digitalization, and how technology can be developed with people at the center.

Nearly 80 participants gathered at Science Park, including approximately 40 from EULiST, to make new contacts and explore opportunities for research and collaboration. The tone was set upon arrival when each participant received a colour-coded event pass linked to thematic areas of interest, which would facilitate networking.

The theme of the event was “Human-Centered Digital Transformation for Sustainable Societies” and emphasized how technological development and social issues need to go hand in hand, in line with the alliance’s vision of “Linking society and technology.” JU has been a member of the European University EULiST – European Universities Linking Society and Technology – since 2023, and this year’s matchmaking event was an important opportunity for member universities to meet in person and deepen their collaboration.

International opportunities through Crowdhelix and Horizon Europe

Together with JU’s partner Crowdhelix, questions round how international projects can be strengthened through Horizon Europe (the EU’s major research and innovation initiative) were explored. Crowdhelix organizes similar matchmaking events across Europe and offers researchers support through both carefully selected speakers and AI-based services to develop competitive applications.

“The event was a great success, and it wouldn’t have been possible without the invaluable support of my wonderful colleagues. However, the real work begins now, in the post-event phase. The event served as an ‘aperitif’, merely the starting point. As the hard work begins, I hope the event significantly boosted our efforts in submitting competitive Horizon Europe applications, with JU involved in as many as possible,” says Shira Becker, senior grants advisor at the International Office at JU, who initiated the event.

Focus on collaboration

On the first day, selected participants presented their research ideas. Visions, challenges, and experiences were shared at a rapid pace, and for many, the pitches marked the start of new collaborations.

The event consisted of equal parts presentations and networking. Speakers included Åsa Fritzon and Johan Lindberg from Vinnova, Ingrid Wadskog, Dean and Managing Director of the School of Engineering at JU and Vice President for Internationalization, Salem Seifeddine, Executive Vice President with responsibility for JU’s quality work and research, and JU’s President Måns Svensson.

“You gain a deeper understanding”

Pitches, workshops and networking activities provided participants with both new perspectives and concrete ideas for future projects.

“What I take away from these days is the importance of feeling committed to an issue and building partnerships with other parties,” says Sofia Kjellström, professor at the School of Health and Welfare at JU, who led a group during the event.

Among the guests were also participants from far away, such as Marian Sebena from the Slovak University of Technology in Bratislava, one of the universities in the EULiST-alliance.

“I wanted to meet people from different areas and with different levels of skill. For me, learning and gaining knowledge is a wide concept. When you share your skills, the people around you can improve, and when you communicate with people from different parts of the world and from universities with different systems, you gain a deeper understanding – not only in research, but also in how universities function and so on,” said Marian.

URJC leads the 1st Spanish National Forum of Alliances with FOREU4ALL

17/12/2025

In early November, Rey Juan Carlos University in Madrid hosted the 1^st Forum of Universidades Españolas en Universidades Europeas (UEUE), the Spanish national network bringing together representatives from 62 Spanish universities actively involved in European Universities alliances, including six institutions holding the Seal of Excellence.

Dorothy Kelly, Coordinator of Arqus, current UEUE President and a member of the FOREU4ALL Forum Board moderated the session where Meritxell Chaves, leader of Communication & Dissemination of FOREU4ALL, contributed to this first national meeting, which marked an important step toward strengthening collaboration among Spanish universities engaged in the European Universities Initiative.

Over the course of two days, participants discussed shared experiences and common challenges, while identifying new opportunities for cooperation. The sessions addressed key topics such as the development of joint degrees, mobility programmes, and the reinforcement of the digital and institutional transformation capacity of alliances.

The UEUE group, closely aligned with FOREU4ALL’s objectives and governance model (an Assembly and an Executive Committee), aims to promote synergies at the national level and enhance the collective impact of European University alliances in Spain. Like FOREU4ALL, UEUE is structured around thematic working groups that foster dialogue and collaboration between alliances, complementary to FOREU4ALL, focusing particularly on national policy coordination and visibility.

The Forum was officially inaugurated by the Secretary General for Universities at the Spanish Ministry for Science, Innovation and Universities, Rector Amaya Mendikoetxea of the Autonomous University of Madrid in representation of the Spanish Rectors’ Conference and Rector Abraham Duarte of the host university, all of whom underlined the importance of alliances for the transformation and enhancement of the European university system. The programme also featured Ioana Dewandeler, representing the European Commission’s Directorate-General for Education and Culture (EAC), and the Spanish Erasmus+ Agency, SEPIE, who shared insights into current European and national support mechanisms for university alliances.

You can read the full article here.

EULiST Open Day: Celebrating Two Years of the EULiST European University at NTUA

16/12/2025

On Monday, December 8, 2025, an institutional event entitled “European University EULiST: Opportunities and Prospects for the NTUA Community” was held with great success at the Event Hall of the Administration Building on the NTUA Zografou Campus. The event was organized on the occasion of the completion of two years since the launch of the activities of the European Project concerning the European University Alliance EULiST “European Universities Linking Society and Technology,” with a total budget of €14.6 million and a duration of four years, in which the National Technical University of Athens (NTUA) participates.

The event was opened with welcome addresses by the Vice-Rector of NTUA and Co-chair of the EULiST Management Board, Prof. Athanasios Zisis, as well as by representatives of other European Alliances that are already in their second cycle of European funding: Mr. Ilias Antoniou (CIVIS, National and Kapodistrian University of Athens), Ms. Vera Haritou (EU-CONEXUS, Agricultural University of Athens), and Assoc. Prof. Omiros Iatrellis (INVEST, University of Thessaly). They emphasized the most significant achievements of their alliances, such as joint master’s degree programmes and shared education and research infrastructures.

Subsequently, EULiST activities were presented by the NTUA Scientific Coordinators. Prof. Emer. Katerina Adam highlighted the importance of continuity, excellence, and the exchange of good practices through the network of partners, identifying as a key objective the implementation of goals for a sustainable and inclusive university campus in a clear and measurable manner. Prof. Sotiris Karellas presented the progress in supporting Research and Innovation (WP4), underscoring NTUA’s leading role and the development of a common research strategy with the other EULiST universities. He also referred to initiatives such as “Fridays for Research” for the development of research proposals in cutting-edge fields, and the “EULiST Global Conference” for the advancement of technological innovation for the benefit of society and for strengthening urban resilience in the face of contemporary challenges.

This was followed by a roundtable discussion on the opportunities, prospects, and challenges faced by the different members of the NTUA community—faculty members, researchers, administrative staff, and students. Prof. Efi Dimopoulou, Coordinator of the EULiST Digital Campus, focused on the role of the Digital Campus as a multiplier of opportunities for faculty, through access to a European Teaching and Learning Ecosystem. Dr. Efstratios Nikolaivits referred to the immediate benefits for early-career researchers, emphasizing networking and interdisciplinarity. Ms. Antonia Lampropoulou, EULiST NTUA local coordinator and Deputy Head of the Department of International Relations and the EU, highlighted the important role of cooperation among different departments of the administrative services in the implementation of the Project, focusing on the optimization of administrative procedures and opportunities for personal and professional development. Finally, undergraduate student Evilia Chatziparaskevaidou, a member of the EULiST NTUA student team, focused on the active contribution of students to decision-making through their participation in the Student Board and presented new types of student mobility opportunities, such as participation in student conferences and Blended Intensive Programmes (BIPs).

An open discussion followed, during which the need for broader information dissemination within the NTUA community as well as the challenges in the recognition of courses with ECTS credits were highlighted. Interventions were made by representatives of other Greek universities participating in European University Alliances, and good practices related to these issues were exchanged. Finally, emphasis was placed on cultivating a culture of active participation in the opportunities offered by EULiST, as well as on its establishment as a sustainable, long-term institutional framework.

Overall, the event attracted more than 120 participants, including the former Rector and founding member of EULiST, Prof. Andreas Boudouvis; the Executive Director of NTUA, Dr. Maria Vardaki; NTUA General Director of Administrative Support and Studies, Ms. Eleni Papayianni; members of the entire NTUA community; faculty and researchers from the nine schools of NTUA; administrative staff; and students at all levels. The presence and intervention of Mr. Ioannis Katsanevakis, representing the Secretary General for Higher Education of the Greek Ministry of Education, were also particularly significant.

The event highlighted the pivotal role of the European University EULiST as a strategic choice for outreach, offering significant opportunities for education, research, and professional development for all members of the NTUA community, while simultaneously strengthening NTUA’s role in shaping the European Higher Education Area.

NTUA at the 2nd Forum “Greek HEIs in European Alliances: Challenges and Next Steps”

12/12/2025

The second forum “Greek HEIs in European Alliances: Challenges and Next Steps” took place on Friday, 28 November 2025, hosted this time by the National and Kapodistrian University of Athens (NKUA) in the historic premises of the Propylaea, following last year’s highly successful co-organization with the National Technical University of Athens (NTUA).

The event was attended by Vice-Rectors and Coordinators of Greek Universities participating in European University Alliances, as well as representatives of the Greek Ministry of Education, Religious Affairs and Sports and the Hellenic Authority for Higher Education (HAHE), within the framework of the ongoing dialogue on the role of Greek HEIs in the European Higher Education Area.

Opening remarks were delivered by:

Prof. Sofia Papaioannou, Vice-Rector for Academic Affairs, International Relations and Outreach of NKUA,
Prof. Athanasios Zisis, Vice-Rector for Academic Affairs and Lifelong Learning of NTUA,
Mr. Ioannis Katsanevakis, special advisor for international and European affairs, on behalf of the Secretary-General for Higher Education of the Ministry of Education
Mr. Periklis Mitkas, President of HAHE

The main thematic areas of the discussion included:

Development of joint programmes (Bachelor, Master, BIPs, AI tools), best practices and challenges, certification procedures
Management and support of alliance operations within Greek universities: overall framework – organization – interactions with other university services, Digital Campus
Development of joint research fields and infrastructures, centres of excellence and skills/micro-programmes within the European alliances
Management and support of alliance operations within Greek universities: reporting, new proposals, organization and networking
Integration of European alliance activities into Greek universities – Strategy for ensuring the sustainability of the European University Alliances initiative, Synergies, Use of national and European resources

Distinguished members of the academic community participated in the forum.

On behalf of NKUA, the following actively contributed to the discussions:

Prof. Sofia Papaioannou, NKUA Vice-Rector and academic lead of CIVIS at NKUA,
Prof. Maria Daskolia, WP9 Leader of CIVIS “Accredited Shared Undergraduate (BA) & Graduate (MA) Educational Offer” coordinating the panel on joint programmes,
Mr. Ilias Antoniou, Institutional Coordinator of CIVIS at NKUA, coordinating the panel on the management and support of alliance operations within Greek universities, with emphasis on the overall framework, organization, interactions with other university services, and Digital Campus.

On behalf of NTUA, the following actively contributed to the discussions:

Prof. Athanasios Zisis, NTUA Vice-Rector and EULiST Management Board Co-Chair,
Prof. Sotirios Karellas, WP4 “Research & Innovation” Leader of EULiST and Scientific Coordinator of EULiST at NTUA, coordinating the panel on the development of joint research fields, infrastructures, and centres of excellence and skills,
Prof. Emer. Katerina Adam, Scientific Coordinator of EULiST at NTUA and EULiST Management Board Deputy Co-Chair, coordinating the joint session on integrating alliance activities into Greek universities and the strategy to ensure the sustainability of the initiative,

Prof. Efi Dimopoulou, Task 2.1 “Digital Campus” Leader of EULiST,
Prof. Nikolaos Mitrou, also an active member of EULiST Task 2.1 “Digital Campus”,
Ms. Antonia Lampropoulou, local coordinator of EULiST at NTUA and Head of the Department of International Relations and EU Affairs at NTUA.

Overall, the 2^nd forum served as a key reference point for the national dialogue on the European orientation of Greek Higher Education, once again highlighting that Greek universities participating in European University Alliances contribute substantially to the transition toward a more collaborative, innovative, and internationally connected academic environment.

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

EULiST Task Group 2.1 Seminar on the European Digital Campus

04/11/2025

From October 6 to 8, 2025, Institut Mines-Télécom (IMT) hosted the Task Group 2.1 seminar of the EULiST Work Package 2 – Digital Campus, on its Palaiseau and Évry campuses. Bringing together representatives from ten European partner universities, the event provided an opportunity to review progress on the joint project and to further develop a shared vision for the digital interoperability of institutions.

Discussions focused

on strategic topics such as the Digital Campus Course Catalog, the Student Dashboard, the integration of AI, and technologies for interoperability between systems.

EULiST : building a shared and interoperable digital campus

The sessions included demonstrations, discussions, and experience sharing, with a view to the imminent launch of the first version of the Course Catalog and associated digital services.

A European dynamic to respond to major challenges

These three days were marked by a strong collaborative dynamic, team spirit, and constructive exchanges, as participants explored the IMT campuses and contributed to shaping the next steps of the EULiST Digital Campus. The meeting fully reflected EULiST’s mission — to connect science, society, and technology in support of digital and sustainable transitions, emphasizing diversity and complementarity among European regions.

Delegations from LUT and IMT visit STU in Bratislava

29/10/2025

In September and October 2025, the Slovak University of Technology in Bratislava (STU) had the pleasure of welcoming delegations from Lappeenranta-Lahti University of Technology (LUT) and Institut Mines-Télécom (IMT), as part of the ongoing collaboration within the EULiST Alliance. These visits offered valuable opportunities to strengthen academic partnerships, exchange institutional expertise and future collaboration.

LUT visited STU to explore opportunities for cooperation

LUT visited STU on October 2 to focus on opportunities within the Faculty of Civil Engineering. The visit was part of a broader tour of the Central European region, which also included meetings with partner universities TU Wien and Brno University of Technology. The delegation met with STU counterparts to exchange insights on curriculum development, department structure, and research priorities. The visit also included presentations on STU’s work in the field and discussions around possible areas of collaboration.

“Our Finnish partners gained information about our study system, the structure of our study programs, subjects, and areas of research. Although LUT University does not currently offer studies in the field of civil engineering, representatives of both institutions have already identified areas of overlap in research, which represents potential for future cooperation”.

~ prof. Ing. Katarína Gajdošová, PhD., Vice-dean of the Faculty of Civil Engineering

Institut Mines-Télécom made two visits to STU

The first IMT visit, from September 9 to 11, centered on exploring research synergies and academic cooperation. The delegation toured STU’s facilities, met with faculty members, and identified potential topics for joint research projects and doctoral supervision. Discussions also touched on the idea of launching an international Master’s programme.

The second IMT visit took place on October 15 and 16, with a group of 11 participants. On the first day, the delegation visited key faculties in Bratislava, including Civil Engineering, Computer Science and Information Technology, Mechanical Engineering and Electrical Engineering and Information Technology. Then they spent the second day in Trnava at the Faculty of Materials Science and Technology, concluding the trip with a city tour. The agenda covered a broad range of research topics from materials and production systems to ICT and industrial risks. It highlighted interest in joint projects, European funding opportunities, and academic exchanges.

The visit, which took place in a friendly and positive atmosphere, provided an opportunity to establish new contacts and strengthen existing ties between the two institutions. The identified thematic overlaps and inspiring discussions also created an excellent basis for further deepening cooperation.

~ Ing. Libor Ďuriška, PhD., Vice-dean of the Faculty of Materials Science and Technology

These visits exemplify the active collaboration taking place within the EULiST Alliance and reflect the shared ambition of the partner institutions to build long-term, impactful partnerships across both education and research.

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.