ChallengeEU Students Explore Sustainable Wine Tourism in Requena
Universidad Europea de Valencia connects students with the future of sustainable wine tourism in Requena through a new ChallengeEU M.A.R.K.E.T. Activity. Sixty students from the Bachelor’s Degree in Tourism and Leisure Management take part in an experiential learning day alongside institutional representatives and industry professionals to explore the challenges and opportunities of wine tourism in the Utiel-Requena region. Universidad Europea de Valencia, through its Bachelor’s Degree in Tourism and Leisure Management, organised a new ChallengeEU M.A.R.K.E.T. Activity at Finca Calderón in Requena, entitled “From Wine Production to Destination Experience: The Sustainable and Innovative Future of Wine Tourism in Utiel-Requena.” The initiative, designed by professors María Sánchez de Mora Vidal, Ivana Rihova and Hyeon Jin Lee, brought together 60 students for an experiential learning day focused on one of the key challenges facing the tourism sector today: promoting sustainable development models capable of generating economic, social and cultural value within local communities. Throughout the event, students had the opportunity to gain first-hand insight into the Utiel-Requena destination and to analyse how the sector is working to transform wine production into innovative and distinctive tourism experiences aligned with the evolving expectations of visitors. The event also fostered knowledge exchange between the university community and key stakeholders involved in the region’s tourism and wine sectors. Contributors included María José Martín Muñoz, Third Deputy Mayor and Councillor for Culture and Tourism of the Requena Town Council; Santiago Vaño, Culture and Tourism Manager of the municipality; Carmina Cárcel, Secretary of the Utiel-Requena Designation of Origin; Jorge Srougi, Chief Executive Officer of Coviñas; Rosa Vives, representative of the Utiel-Requena Wine Route; and Alba Ramos, Events Coordinator at Finca Calderón. Through their presentations and contributions, participants addressed key issues shaping the future of wine tourism, including sustainability, innovation, destination promotion, collaboration between public and private stakeholders, and the creation of experiences capable of strengthening the competitiveness and positioning of wine-producing regions. The event reflected the philosophy of ChallengeEU, which seeks to bring students closer to real societal challenges through collaboration among universities, public authorities, businesses and civil society. In this case, students had the opportunity to interact directly with key stakeholders from the tourism and wine sectors of Utiel-Requena, enriching their education through a practical experience closely linked to the realities of the region. Through initiatives such as this one, Universidad Europea de Valencia and ChallengeEU continue to strengthen their commitment to international and experiential education closely connected to industry, preparing students to contribute to the sectors shaping the future of Europe.
Celebrating Success: ChallengeEU Mentoring Programme Concludes Cycle 1
The first cycle of the ChallengeEU Mentoring Programme concluded with an online meeting bringing together mentors and mentees from across the Alliance to reflect on their experiences, share key lessons and highlight the value of cross-cultural and cross-disciplinary mentoring. On 28 September 2026, the ChallengeEU Alliance gathered online to mark the successful completion of the first cycle of the ChallengeEU Mentoring Programme. The meeting, organised by University of Warmia and Mazury in Olsztyn (Prof. Katarzyna Ćwirynkało and Dr Monika Ryndzionek) in collaboration with Mid Sweden University (Dr Hafizur Rahman), brought together mentors and mentees to reflect on a journey shaped by cross-cultural collaboration and mutual growth. The session opened with an overview of the cycle’s reach: 75 mentors and 79 mentees from all nine partner institutions. One of the highlights of the cycle was the Blended Intensive Programme (BIP) held in Olsztyn, Poland, which focused on inclusion and diversity. At the heart of the meeting was the “Voices of Mentors and Mentees” segment. Participants shared their experiences, emphasising that the programme offered benefits extending far beyond its initial goals. Mentors spoke about the value of “giving back” and gaining “fresh perspectives from youth”, while mentees highlighted how the programme helped them build confidence and navigate unfamiliar situations. A key takeaway from the discussions was that cross-disciplinary matching is a strength rather than a limitation. As one participant noted, “Some of the most meaningful outcomes come from the mutual exchange of ideas and perspectives, regardless of disciplinary boundaries.” The relationships established through the programme often developed into genuine personal connections, showing that the mentoring relationship itself can become as valuable as the academic or professional goals it supports. With Cycle 2 set to launch in January 2027, the organisers expressed their appreciation for the dedication and engagement of everyone involved. The success of the first cycle was made possible by the commitment of mentors and mentees across the Alliance. The meeting concluded with a message reflecting the spirit of the programme: “Alone we can do so little; together we can do so much.”
ChallengeEU M.A.R.K.E.T. Activity Focuses on Tourism in Utiel-Requena
On 28 September, Universidad Europea de Valencia organised a two-hour preparatory session for the launch of the M.A.R.K.E.T. Activity on Tourism. There could hardly be a better way to celebrate World Tourism Day than by bringing together students and academics to explore the future of sustainable tourism ahead of the second phase of the activity, which will take place on 30 September in the form of a field trip to a winery in the Utiel-Requena region. The activity, entitled “From Wine Product to Destination Experience: Sustainable and Innovative Future of Utiel-Requena Vinitourism”, brought together 70 students and three lecturers from the Bachelor’s Degree in Tourism and Leisure Management. The session was opened by Emmanuël Hazé, Chief of UEV Implementation Office, who welcomed participants and introduced the objectives of the activity. He also took the opportunity to highlight the importance of the ChallengeEU European University Alliance, raising awareness among students and staff of its mission, opportunities and key initiatives. As a M.A.R.K.E.T. Activity, the project will be implemented in line with the Quadruple Helix model, ensuring the active involvement of academia, public institutions, private-sector stakeholders and civil society throughout the process. This collaborative approach will enrich participants’ understanding of destination development and strengthen connections between education, industry, governance and local communities. This preparatory session marks the beginning of a valuable learning experience that will allow participants to explore first-hand how innovation and sustainability are shaping the future of wine tourism and destination management in the Utiel-Requena area.
UWM and ECAM LaSalle Explore Joint Educational Initiatives
From 9 to 14 September, ECAM LaSalle were delighted to welcome a five-person delegation from the University of Warmia and Mazury in Poland for a working visit focused on strengthening cooperation and developing joint activities within the ChallengeEU Alliance. During their stay, the UWM representatives had the opportunity to explore various academic departments at ECAM LaSalle and meet with members of the teaching staff. These meetings created space for direct exchange, discussion and a closer look at areas in which both institutions could further develop their cooperation. The visit focused in particular on several areas of potential joint work. One of them was Challenge-Based Learning, including discussions on the development of e-learning resources for teachers. The partners also exchanged ideas related to languages, with a view to developing future joint activities in this field. Another important topic was cybersecurity, where discussions centred on the possibility of creating an online teaching module. The working visit therefore combined institutional exchange with practical discussions on future cooperation. It allowed colleagues from both universities to identify areas of shared interest, compare approaches and explore how joint educational initiatives could be developed within ChallengeEU. These exchanges provide a concrete example of what participation in the ChallengeEU alliance can offer: opportunities to meet colleagues from other European partner universities, share best practice, learn from one another and work together on new educational projects. They also show how cooperation within the alliance can move from initial conversations to the development of specific ideas and potential joint activities.
ChallengeEU Students Join the First FHNW Exploration Week
Students from UWM, UEV, HSO and FHNW took part in the ChallengeEU module “Team Collaboration – Working Together Efficiently”, organised as part of the first FHNW Exploration Week. The one-week programme in Switzerland combined Challenge-Based Learning, intercultural exchange and teamwork focused on a real-world regional challenge. The first FHNW Exploration Week, held from 31 August to 4 September 2026, was launched as a pilot initiative marking the 20th anniversary of FHNW. It brought together more than 400 participants across 22 modules and four events, creating a new interdisciplinary learning format focused on collaboration, exchange and future-oriented skills. The programme explored FHNW’s key future fields: New Work, Zero Emission and Future Health, and offered students, lecturers and staff the opportunity to work across schools, disciplines and perspectives. As part of the FHNW Exploration Week 2026, the ChallengeEU module “Team Collaboration – Working Together Efficiently” brought together students from University of Warmia and Mazury, Universidad Europea de Valencia, Hochschule Offenburg and FHNW for a one-week international learning experience in Switzerland. The week also welcomed teaching staff from ChallengeEU partner university, who took part in short-term mobility activities and contributed to the broader exchange of knowledge, perspectives and good practices. The module, hosted by FHNW within Exploration Week, applied a Challenge-Based Learning (CBL) approach, enabling students to work in interdisciplinary and international teams on a real-world challenge. Throughout the week, participants explored topics such as team formation, effective collaboration, diversity in teams, conflict management, feedback culture, project organisation and self-reflection. Working alongside students from different academic and cultural backgrounds, they developed practical solutions to a challenge set by a regional gardening company, focusing on the attractiveness of vocational education for young people. At the end of the week, the students presented their ideas to an expert jury. Beyond the academic programme, the mobility fostered intercultural exchange through social and cultural activities, including a Swiss yodelling workshop, joint excursions and collaborative team-building exercises. The module was co-funded by MovetiaExploration Week was co-funded by the Swiss Federal Office for the Environment
ChallengeEU Strengthens Cooperation with Associated Partners
On 4 September, as part of the ChallengeEU initiative, South East European University (SEEU) successfully carried out sensor testing in collaboration with Veze Sharri, one of ChallengeEU’s Associated Partners. This activity marks an important milestone in the development of the Smart Fridge Monitoring System, which aims to explore innovative solutions for monitoring and improving refrigeration processes through smart sensor technologies and data-driven insights. This project component is led by Prof. Mennan Selimi, Hamit Kamberi and Samir Shabani, who are working closely with Veze Sharri on testing, data collection and the further development of the solution. SEEU is grateful to Veze Sharri for its cooperation and commitment to supporting innovation, experimentation and the practical application of digital technologies. This collaboration within ChallengeEU demonstrates the value of connecting academia, industry and innovation to develop solutions with real-world impact.
ChallengeEU Connects Polish and Latvian Foresters
For five days, experts from the Latvia University of Life Sciences and Technologies (LBTU), hosted by Professor Piotr Mederski, travelled through Polish forests – from the steep slopes of the Silesian Beskids to stands of the famous Tabórz pine. They were looking for answers to one key question: how can Latvia’s forests be prepared for climate change? The visit was made possible thanks to the ChallengeEU Alliance and support from the Polish National Agency for Academic Exchange (NAWA). The University of Warmia and Mazury in Olsztyn hosted representatives of the Institute of Forestry at LBTU’s Faculty of Forest and Environmental Sciences in Jelgava. Their guide to both Polish forestry and UWM itself was Prof. Piotr Mederski from Faculty of Agriculture and Forestry. The Staff Week programme followed a simple principle: fewer presentations, more time in the forest. “During the five-day visit, we planned trips to selected State Forests units that demonstrate both the similarities between forestry in Poland and Latvia and the differences that may be particularly interesting in the context of introducing new solutions in Latvia,” explains Prof. Piotr Mederski. The first stop was southern Poland. “We visited the Silesian Beskids, which was a completely new experience for our Latvian guests, who are used to a lowland and relatively flat landscape,” says the group’s host. “At the same time, visiting beech stands was of particular interest to Latvian foresters because of climate change and the search for solutions involving changes in tree-species composition, including the introduction of European beech (Fagus sylvatica).” The final part of the programme brought the group back to Warmia and Mazury, with a visit to the Miłomłyn Forest District. There, the guests could see stands of Tabórz pine for themselves – an ecotype known for trees reaching up to 40 metres in height, with exceptionally straight trunks and few lower branches. Tabórz pine is regarded as one of the most valuable pine ecotypes in Europe. For the Latvian visitors, the scale of Polish forestry proved just as interesting as the forests themselves. “It is very interesting to come from a small country to one as large as Poland and compare how small- and large-scale forestry can work alongside each other,” says Dr Lelde Vilkriste, Associate Professor at the LBTU Institute of Forestry, whose research focuses on forest resource economics and private forestry. “The differences in species composition and forest management methods are also very interesting and valuable.” Solveiga Luguza, a lecturer at the LBTU Institute of Forestry specialising in dendrology and forest regeneration, summed up the differences between the two countries most succinctly. “The forests are similar, but they are not the same. They are similar because we have the same species – Scots pine, for example, is just as important in Latvian forests as it is in yours. But your soils are more fertile, which is why you have many more deciduous forests compared with our predominantly coniferous ones. There are many similarities and plenty of differences we can learn from,” says the Latvian researcher. Her words capture the essence of the entire visit. The shared tree species and forestry traditions of the Baltic Sea region provided a starting point for identifying solutions that could potentially be transferred to Latvia, as well as those that work only under Poland’s specific habitat conditions. The intensive exchange of experience during the five-day Staff Week was made possible thanks to the support of the Polish National Agency for Academic Exchange (NAWA) and the ChallengeEU European University Alliance, which brings together nine universities. LBTU is UWM’s Latvian partner within the Alliance, and cooperation between the two universities in the field of forestry is set to continue.
Bringing ChallengeEU Closer to the UEV Community
On 3 September, Universidad Europea de Valencia (UEV) hosted a training session dedicated to ChallengeEU. The event was led by the Alliance CIO at UEV, Emmanuël Hazé, together with colleagues involved in the initiative. Each work package was represented by a dedicated expert, giving participants a comprehensive overview of the Alliance. A total of 74 staff members participated, including 25 attending in person and 49 joining online. Academic and professional services staff learned about achievements to date, ongoing initiatives and upcoming opportunities for collaboration. UEV firmly believes in the value of ChallengeEU and regularly organises these sessions to bring the Alliance closer to its community. This was the second training session offered to both academic and non-academic staff.
Art as dialogue: ChallengeEU at Hochschule Offenburg’s end-of-semester Werkschau
How can students bring academic, artistic and personal perspectives into public dialogue? An exhibition organised by the Faculty of Media at Hochschule Offenburg offered one possible answer through Leonie Faller’s bachelor’s thesis. In her project, ‘A scenographic exploration of the theme of dreams – scenography as a narrative form between emotion and information’, the student examines how dreams can be made tangible in a spatial context. Through an installation made of fabric, stone and foil, she translates memories, emotions and the transitions between sleep and wakefulness into a sensory exhibition experience. The project exemplifies how students can act as active co-creators: they develop their own research questions, combine design methods with psychological perspectives and personal experiences, and make their findings accessible to the public. The exhibition provides an important platform for this process, fostering dialogue between the university, the arts and the wider public. For visitors, the installation becomes a space for encounter and reflection. Rather than offering a definitive explanation of dreams, it invites them to contribute their own memories, feelings and interpretations. This combination of creative experimentation, public exchange and visual presentation aligns with ChallengeEU’s aim of opening up spaces for learning and experience beyond the traditional university context. Leonie Faller’s semester abroad at Mid Sweden University also underscores the Alliance’s European ethos. International learning experiences broaden creative perspectives and strengthen students’ ability to incorporate insights from different cultural and academic contexts into their projects. The bachelor’s thesis was written at the Faculty of Media at Hochschule Offenburg under the supervision of Prof. Dipl.-Ing. Daniel Fetzner.
Behavioral Bridge Connected Research, Practice and International Cooperation
From 13 to 18 July 2026, Universidad Europea de Valencia hosted the first edition of Behavioral Bridge, a summer school dedicated to applied behavioural methods. Organised by the Behavioral Economics Institute with the support of the ChallengeEU Alliance, the event brought together students, doctoral candidates, researchers and practitioners from many countries. The inaugural edition of Behavioral Bridge: Summer School on Applied Behavioral Methods was combined with the 5th WoBE Research Workshop. This allowed participants to develop their methodological skills, explore the latest research and discuss the practical application of behavioural insights. The programme included training in applied research methods, research presentations, poster sessions and discussions on contemporary social and economic challenges. Its format was designed to build bridges between research and practice, early-career and established scholars, and European and global cooperation networks. An International Community in Valencia The first edition of Behavioral Bridge had a distinctly international character. Participants represented institutions from Spain, Italy, Latvia, Poland, Germany, Kazakhstan, Japan, India and Australia. The event brought together representatives of institutions including the University of Warmia and Mazury in Olsztyn, the University of Tsukuba, Ashoka University, LUMSA University, the University of Milan, the University of Potsdam, the University of Göttingen, the University of Technology Sydney and the Academy of Public Administration under the President of Kazakhstan. Valencia became a meeting point for people working in behavioural economics, public administration, management, sustainability, health, finance and political economy. This broad representation confirmed the programme’s potential as a platform supporting academic mobility, partnership development and collaborative research. Research Addressing Contemporary Challenges The research programme assembled scientists and scholars affiliated with institutions ofconsiderable international standing. Contributors included: All three members of the organizing committee, Professor Enrique Fatas (BEI Director), Dr. Lina Restrepo-Plaza and Dr.Hector Solaz, also presented their research in the Workshop. The sessions addressed topics including the transition from laboratory to field research, social-preference studies, sustainability, green human resource management, access to social services and justice, fertility norms, human rights and support for victims of fraud. The programme demonstrated how behavioural science can contribute to finding solutions to challenges related to inequality, institutional trust, public services, financial security and social well-being. Development Opportunities for Early-Career Researchers One of the particular strengths of Behavioral Bridge was the environment it created for doctoral candidates, early-career researchers and professionals interested in research. Participants took part in practical training, presented papers and posters, and received feedback from experienced scholars. The relatively small scale of the event encouraged meaningful conversations and networking, which can be more difficult to achieve at large international conferences. Direct contact with researchers representing institutions including the University of Oxford, University College London and CNRS-affiliated organisations enabled participants to develop their research projects and establish connections that may lead to joint publications, mobility opportunities and future funding applications. Research in Dialogue with Practice The involvement of practitioners and representatives of the private sector was another important element of the programme. A dedicated roundtable focused on the operation of behavioural units within organisations and the practical use of behavioural insights. Enrique Belenguer from BBVA contributed the perspective of the financial sector. Discussions addressed the application of behavioural economics to financial decision-making, consumer protection, digital service design and the development of responsible customer-oriented solutions. Exchange between researchers and practitioners was one of the programme’s central principles. Participants represented finance, consulting, healthcare, public administration, non-governmental organisations and private companies. Strategic Value for ChallengeEU The first edition of Behavioral Bridge confirmed the programme’s strong potential for further development. Universidad Europea de Valencia demonstrated its ability to attract international researchers, connect academic work with external organisations and create a meeting space for people from different disciplines, institutions and countries. The event’s themes were closely aligned with the priorities of ChallengeEU and wider European public policy agendas. They included health and well-being, sustainable consumption, organisational transformation, financial inclusion, digitalisation and institutional effectiveness. The continued development of Behavioral Bridge could broaden its international participant base, increase practitioner engagement and create new training and mobility opportunities for early-career researchers. The inaugural edition demonstrated that the programme has the essential foundations needed to become a lasting European hub for applied behavioural science: academic quality, international reach, institutional cooperation and openness to dialogue with the wider socio-economic environment.
