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 funded by Movetia.
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.
ChallengeEU at the 4th European Universities Initiative Forum in Ireland
Shaping the future of higher education requires both bold ambition and a sustainable foundation. This perspective guided the ChallengeEU delegation during the 4th European Universities Initiative Forum, held on 10 July 2026 in County Kildare, Ireland, under the Irish Presidency of the Council of the European Union. The forum brought together representatives of the European higher education and research sectors, as well as institutions responsible for shaping public policy to take stock of the progress of the European Universities Initiative and discuss its future direction. The programme focused on the future of European University Alliances, with particular attention to sustainable investment, governance and policy frameworks that can support deep and lasting collaboration in education, research and innovation. The ChallengeEU delegation included Managing Director Tobias Hagen from Hochschule Offenburg, Paulo Nuno Vieira from Universidade Europeia, who serves on the Management Board, and External Advisory Board members Enora Bennetot Pruvot from the European University Association and Ana Rita Dias from the European Association for International Education. The forum addressed some of the most important questions currently shaping the future of European higher education: how university alliances can become permanent catalysts for institutional transformation, how they can contribute to European competitiveness, innovation, inclusion and democratic values, and how students can be meaningfully involved in governance and co-creation. Discussions also covered the development of the European Degree, deeper academic integration, and the alignment of EU, national and institutional strategies. One of the key takeaways from the forum was the strategic role of university alliances in driving long-term institutional change. Rectors and university leaders highlighted that alliances are no longer only project-based cooperation structures, but increasingly serve as engines of transformation, helping institutions rethink education, research, innovation and governance in a European context. At the same time, the discussions clearly pointed to a significant challenge: the need to address the funding gap. Against the background of ongoing negotiations on the next Multiannual Financial Framework, participants reflected on the tension between the transformative ambitions of European University Alliances and the limitations of current project-based funding models, which are often based on short cycles and intensive reporting requirements. “Together, we engaged in critical discussions regarding the current state of the initiative and the strategic evolution of university alliances. The discussions underscored a critical necessity: the need to reconcile the programme’s long-term vision with a more sustainable and robust financial structure,” said Tobias Hagen, Managing Director of ChallengeEU. For ChallengeEU, participation in the forum was an important opportunity to contribute to the European debate on the future of university alliances and to strengthen the shared commitment to building long-term, resilient and transformative cooperation in higher education. Through dialogue, strategic reflection and collaboration across Europe, ChallengeEU continues to challenge the now — in unity.
Student Journal: Reflections from the EUSAF Conference 2026 in Warsaw
“There is a particular kind of energy that emerges when young people from across a continent come together to imagine what “European” actually means in practice. I was lucky to be part of that energy for three intense days,” writes Charles Stelandre. A representative of the ChallengeEU Student Council from ECAM LaSalle took part in the EUSAF Conference 2026 in Warsaw. In July, I had the opportunity to represent the ChallengeEU Student Council at the EUSAF Conference 2026 in Warsaw. Between the skyline of Varso Tower and the more grounded conversations taking place in workshop rooms, the event offered a rare chance to sit with peers from other European University Alliances and ask difficult questions about funding models, project sustainability, and what it truly takes to build institutions that outlast any single cohort of students. Best practices were shared, but so were tensions and unresolved debates about governance, student voice, and who alliances are really built for. Conversations stretched long into the night: alliances comparing notes, students exchanging views on what works and what does not, and a shared recognition that the future of European higher education cooperation depends not only on frameworks developed in Brussels, but also on people willing to sit in a room at 1 a.m. and talk things through. Thank you to the organisers for creating such an inspiring and thoughtful event, and to the ESN team for providing the framework that made these exchanges possible. Thank you also to SGH Warsaw School of Economics for hosting the event with such professionalism. I am grateful to the ChallengeEU team, especially Claire Gozé and Erin Monaghan, as well as to everyone whose support made this participation possible. Finally, thank you to my friends Rebeca Rocha and Sohaib Al-Hadheri for their support in preparing for the event. I am truly grateful to have been part of this experience and to bring back questions worth exploring further within ChallengeEU. Charles Stelandre EUSAF Conference 2026 in Warsaw was a European forum bringing together student representatives from European University Alliances. Held on 2–4 July 2026 at SGH Warsaw School of Economics, the event created a space for students to exchange experiences, share good practices and discuss the future of higher education in Europe. Its programme included workshops, collaborative sessions and networking activities focused on student engagement, alliance governance, stakeholder cooperation and the role of students in decision-making processes.
Black Forest Sustainability Forum: Turning Climate Action into Measurable Impact
Representatives of organisations and companies came together to explore SDG 13: Climate Action and discuss practical pathways towards a more sustainable future. One of the highlights of the forum was the presentation by Professor Roberto Gómez-Calvet from Universidad Europea de Valencia, a partner of the ChallengeEU Alliance. He led an inspiring session on developing robust sustainability indicators that can strengthen corporate responsibility and support long-term impact. His insights underlined the importance of accurate data, clear metrics and responsible frameworks in driving meaningful sustainability action. The discussions initiated during the forum will continue to inspire further cooperation. The ideas, partnerships and frameworks shared throughout the event provide a strong basis for building real and measurable change in our regions and beyond. The forum was organised with the involvement of Black Forest Innovation and brought together participants committed to collaboration, knowledge exchange and innovation in the field of sustainability. Their contributions helped create a dynamic space for dialogue and the development of practical ideas for future action. Professor Roberto Gómez-Calvet’s visit to Hochschule Offenburg was hosted by colleagues from HSO — Professor Michael Schmidt, Professor Lämmle, Professor Niklas Hartmann, Sascha Rißmann and Professor Ulrich Hochberg. The visit provided an opportunity for valuable expert exchange and dialogue, further strengthening cooperation within the ChallengeEU Alliance. The programme also included a guided tour of INES – Institute for Sustainable Energy Systems and a visit to the hydrogen production and methanation pilot plant at Hochschule Offenburg, offering participants an opportunity to learn more about applied research and innovative solutions in sustainable energy systems. Through collaboration across the ChallengeEU Alliance and beyond, we continue to turn knowledge into action and work towards a more sustainable future.
Three students from Universidad Europea de Valencia, recognised at the 9th Capitanía General Awards for their academic excellence
The students were honoured at a ceremony organised by the Army to recognise university talent and the training of future leaders. Three students from Universidad Europea de Valenciahave been recognised for their outstanding academic record at the 9th edition of the ‘Capitanía General de Valencia’ Awards, organised by the Spanish Army’s High Readiness Land Headquarters (CGTAD). This prestigious award honours students with the best academic records from Valencian universities across various fields of study. The award winners are Brenda Artagoitia Abellán, from the Bachelor’s Degree in Business Administration and Management with International Teaching (Global Bachelor’s Degree); Apolline Mélanie Marcelle Bonnefoy-A-L’Anne, from the Bachelor’s Degree in Physiotherapy; and María Minguela Sáez, from the Bachelor’s Degree in Physics. The ceremony, held on Tuesday 16 June at the Cuartel de Santo Domingo in Valencia, brought together 27 award-winning students, due to graduate in 2025, nominated by their respective universities in these three fields of study: Arts and Humanities/Social and Legal Sciences; Sciences and Health Sciences; and Engineering and Architecture. The students were accompanied by their families and by academic representatives from Universidad Europea de Valencia, including the Vice-Chancellor for Academic Organisation and Students, Silvia Trujillo; the Dean of the Faculty of Social Sciences, Carla de Paredes; and the Director of the School of Science, Engineering and Design, Vicent Gassó. In this context, Vice-Rector Silvia Trujillo highlighted “the value of initiatives such as these awards, which recognise academic achievement and strengthen the connection between the university and institutions, such as the Army, that share a commitment to education, values and the development of a better-prepared and more responsible society”. These awards, now well established in the city of Valencia, aim to recognise the best undergraduate academic records and strengthen the links between the Armed Forces and the university sector, emphasising the role of education in shaping the leaders of the future. During the ceremony, emphasis was placed not only on academic achievement, but also on humanity, discipline and commitment – key qualities for tackling the challenges of a society in constant transformation.
