December of Social Responsibility: when the university opens itself to the community
December brought Universidad Europeia de Lisoboa a clear roadmap of commitment to the community: bringing academia closer to people, creating tangible opportunities, and honoring the culture that defines us. In just a few days, two local protocols were signed – with the Loures City Council and with the Casa do Artista, in Carnide – and the European University’s Volunteer Pool was presented, a new channel for student participation with direct impact on the territory. Both protocols were signed on behalf of the European University by the Rector, Professor Dr. Hélia Gonçalves Pereira, underscoring the institution’s leadership and long‑term commitment. The guiding principle is simple and demanding: serve, innovate, and transform. Loures: Upskilling that turns into opportunity The partnership with the Loures City Council aims to open doors for those who want to study and progress, aligning education with local development. The protocol provides facilitated access to higher education via scholarships for municipal employees, and the integration of students into curricular and professional internships – concrete steps to connect talent with the real needs of the municipality. More than administrative cooperation, it is a platform for joint projects with academic, social, and economic impact, and for promoting innovation, research, and new approaches to public management. In practice, Loures gains more skills and future; the University gains a living laboratory to apply knowledge and generate solutions with measurable effects on the territory. Carnide: Culture that cares for memory and unites generations On December 4, the European University and the Casa do Artista (Apoiarte Association), in Carnide, formalized a protocol that brings the academic community closer to the senior artistic community – in a moment attended by the actor José Raposo, the institution’s president. The collaboration foresees reading sessions, research projects, cultural initiatives, and actions with real impact on residents’ quality of life. By joining the project “O meu lugar no Teatro Armando Cortez”, the European University also assumes an affective and memory-based commitment: contributing to the preservation of the legacy of Portuguese artists, while creating intergenerational meeting spaces where culture is bridge, care, and citizenship. Volunteer Pool: participation that is felt on the ground To amplify this movement of proximity, the European University officially launched its Volunteer Pool (Bolsa de Voluntariado) – presented by the Vice‑Rector for Academic Life, Professor Dr. Sara Sousa. The Pool is a structured participation channel that allows students to get involved in social, cultural, and educational initiatives, with direct benefit for partner communities. More than volunteer hours, it is purposeful learning: developing transversal skills (communication, empathy, teamwork, leadership), strengthening the academic path, and gaining transformative experiences that leave a mark – in Loures, at the Casa do Artista, and in future partnerships that may emerge from this ecosystem. The essentials: upskilling with an open door, culture that cares for people, and volunteering with impact. This is how the European University lives social responsibility – on and off campus. This was a December of alliances and action, marked by two protocols that connect the University to the territory and a Volunteer Pool that brings to life the will to participate and transform. Thus, the European University reaffirms its mission: to learn, innovate, and serve – with students at the center of change.
ChallengeEU M.A.R.K.E.T. MEET-UP of Associated Partners at LBTU
On 11 December 2025, ChallengeEU’s Associated Partners met at LBTU’s Technology and Knowledge Transfer Centre in Jelgava to strengthen regional cooperation within the Alliance. The M.A.R.K.E.T. MEET-UP combined an inspiring keynote with practical discussions on turning shared initiatives into concrete projects. The event brought together representatives of educational institutions, non-governmental organisations, and regional authorities. Participants included representatives of Jelgava City, Jelgava Region Municipality, the Zemgale Regional Planning Centre, the Zemgale NGO Centre, Bulduri Technical School Ltd, and Malnava College. The meeting was opened by Ilze Beitāne, LBTU Vice-Rector for Studies, who highlighted the university’s key role in expanding international cooperation and the importance of integrating regional partners more closely into the Alliance’s activities. The event’s special guest, Artis Ābols, Head Coach of the hockey club “Zemgale/LBTU” and the Latvian U-20 national team, delivered an inspiring talk titled “From Belief to Bronze.” He shared insights on motivating teams, fostering growth, and pursuing purposeful work to achieve strong results. His presentation sparked a broader discussion on leadership, cooperation, and overcoming challenges in the context of organisational and regional development. Signe Neimane, ChallengeEU Lead at LBTU, presented the Alliance’s goals, offering an overview of its main initiatives and international opportunities for students, researchers, and partners. She emphasised that the Alliance is built on a shared vision of a sustainable, open, and innovative European higher education area. Ilze Stokmane, Head of the LBTU Administrative Centre, spoke about the role of associated partners and the ChallengeEU M.A.R.K.E.T. approach, highlighting how this methodology supports the creation of targeted and mutually beneficial partnerships between the university and sector representatives. In the concluding part of the event, participants discussed next steps to strengthen cooperation within ChallengeEU, agreeing on the need for regular communication and joint activities to turn identified initiatives into concrete projects. The meeting concluded with a shared commitment to continue this work and to further develop the partnership network, contributing to the growth of both LBTU and the wider region.
