EULiST |

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.

Mourning at the University of L’Aquila. Rector Edoardo Alesse has passed away

09/10/2025

The University of L’Aquila announces, with immense sorrow, the passing of Professor Edoardo Alesse, rector of this university from 2019 to 2025. Professor Alesse had ended his term of office on 1 October. It was under his farsighted guide that the University of L’Aquila joined the EULiST Alliance.

Born in Leonessa, in the province of Rieti, on 17 February 1958, Prof. Alesse enrolled in 1977 in the Faculty of Medicine and Surgery at the University of L’Aquila, graduating in 1983 and subsequently obtaining a PhD in Experimental Medicine in 1988. He then completed his training in the United States as a Visiting Scientist at the National Cancer Institute for Cancer Research in Bethesda, Maryland.

During his career, he held numerous positions, among which: Chair of the Degree Course in Biotechnology; Director of the Department of Experimental Medicine; Director of the Department of Applied Clinical Sciences and Biotechnology (DISCAB); Head of the University Animal Facility; Coordinator of the Teaching and Research Commission of the University of L’Aquila; Academic Senator and member of the University Board of Directors; Member of the Technical-Scientific Committee of the UnivAQ Foundation; Member of the Permanent Conference of Medical Colleges; President of Hamu, Hub Abruzzo-Marche-Umbria, and then Rector of the University.

Professor Alesse devoted his life to research, publishing numerous books and articles in the fields of general pathology, clinical pathology, and laboratory medicine sciences and techniques. He was also strongly involved in teaching and tutoring, supervising hundreds of students working on bachelor’s, master’s, and doctoral theses.

Rector Fabio Graziosi’s condolences

The sudden death of Rector Edoardo Alesse has shocked the entire academic community.

A man of unrivalled human and professional qualities has left us, and it is no coincidence that his humanity comes before his professionalism. The reason for this is clear to all those who knew him or even simply met him.

I shared much of Prof. Alesse’s term as Rector with him, and every opportunity to meet him was a source of enrichment for me. In recent months, I was moved by the care and attention he took in introducing me, in every way possible, to the role he had performed so excellently for six years, and during this time I was able to observe how large, extensive and sincere his network of relationships was. It was particularly significant for me to attend his last meeting of the Conference of Italian University Rectors with him and to see him receive the appreciation and gratitude of all his colleagues, who are now mine.

Recently, I had the opportunity to publicly acknowledge the greatness of his work and the importance of the countless initiatives he launched and entrusted to me for their full completion. Today, this commitment to continuity seems even more important, and in his memory, we will continue on this path, taking to heart one of his greatest teachings: in the most difficult situations, we must remain clear-headed and hold fast to the principles on which the University is founded.

EULiST Hackathon: Students Shaping the Future of the Digital Campus with AI

08/10/2025 Deadline: October 15, 2025

On October 7th, 2025, the EULiST community came together at Rey Juan Carlos University for an inspiring Hackathon that brought together approximately 100 students — both online and on-site — to explore the future of digital learning through artificial intelligence. Students, university staff and researchers are invited to continue providing their insights via the online form, until October the 15th.

Click here to contribute with your inputs on the EULiST Hackathon

This dynamic event served as a testing ground for the initial five innovative pilot applications designed to enhance the EULiST Digital Campus. These AI-powered tools aim to streamline academic workflows, personalize learning experiences, and foster cross-institutional collaboration across Europe.

Participants engaged hands-on with the apps, providing real-time feedback and sharing their user experiences. Their insights are now helping shape the next iteration of these tools, ensuring they meet the diverse needs of students and faculty across the EULiST Alliance.

The Hackathon was more than a tech trial — it was a celebration of student-led innovation, digital transformation, and the power of collaboration. It demonstrated how AI can be harnessed to build smarter, more inclusive academic environments.

Stay tunned for updates as these pilots evolve and become integral components of the EULiST Digital Campus.

10 years of Greek Raw Materials Community Dialogue

07/10/2025

The EIT RawMaterials Greece Representative is excited to announce registration is now open for the 10th Greek Raw Materials Community Dialogue. A decade ago, this event set out to connect the Greek raw materials community with Europe’s evolving agenda.

The 10th anniversary edition comes at a crucial moment, as Europe and Greece address strategic initiatives, investment opportunities, market function, workforce transformation and the Social License to Operate across the value chain.

📅 Date: 6 November 2025

📍 Location: Divani Palace Acropolis Hotel, Athens, Greece

🎯 Topic: “Fostering a strong & innovative Raw Materials Industry”

This year’s Dialogue brings together distinguished speakers from leading institutions and industry, including:

EIT RawMaterials, EIT Community Greece, Ministry of Environment and Energy, Metlen, Hellas Gold, ElvalHalcor, IMERYS, Grant Thornton Greece, CORE Group, Euromines, HSGME, Greek Mining Enterprises Association, KEMEL, Luleå University of Technology, and National Technical University of Athens.

Join us for a day full of inspiring discussions on the priorities shaping the future of the raw materials community.

Register Here

📌Save your spot today! Agenda details will follow shortly!

Madrid Researchers’ Night 2025: Celebrating the Science of Gastronomy

06/10/2025

On September 26th, during the “Madrid Researchers’ Night 2025” Massimiliano D’Innocenzo (University of L’Aquila, and President of the Consortium for the Protection of L’Aquila Saffron PDO) and Bernardino Muñoz Valades (URJC EULiST Local Office) presented The EULiST Alliance. The divulgative session, themed “Science of Gastronomy,” featured Mr. D’Innocenzo discussing the history of L’Aquila saffron.

Saffron serves as a vibrant thread weaving together the historical and culinary heritage of both Spanish and Italian societies. Its cultivation and use in traditional dishes have shaped local identities for centuries, symbolizing not only agricultural excellence but also cross-cultural exchange and shared Mediterranean traditions. The presence of saffron in emblematic recipes—from Spanish paella to Italian risotto alla milanese—highlights its role in celebrating regional diversity while fostering a sense of community rooted in gastronomy and history.

This initiative not only strengthens research and educational opportunities but also enriches regional identity and economic development, illustrating how European cooperation can pave the way for resilient, forward-thinking societies.

As a special finale to the event, Massimiliano D’Innocenzo led a saffron tasting featuring mozzarella pearls with salt and saffron, “gassosa alla zafferano”, and ricotta cheese with saffron, sugar, and liquor. This experience allowed attendees (students, staff and general public) to discover the unique qualities of local saffron and deepen their appreciation for its cultural and gastronomic significance in the region, further strengthening the bond between the university, society, and the local territory.

Local authorities such as the Mayor of the city of Aranjuez, the URJC Rector and the representatives from the Scientific and Innovation Culture Office highlighted the excellent opportunity to strengthen links between science, technology and society with initiatives like this.