Dear members, partners, and friends of the ChallengeEU University Alliance,
Welcome to our new newsletter, your invitation to engage with the work of ChallengeEU. We are an ambitious alliance of 9 European Universities dedicated to building a modern European education network and forging deep connections across our 9 institutions.
Our shared mission is to co-create solutions for the critical challenges of our time. This work extends beyond academia; we are actively partnering with diverse societal stakeholders, companies, and political actors within our regions. We firmly believe that collaboration is the key to shaping a positive future for Europe.
This newly designed newsletter will periodically share our alliance’s initiatives and progress. We hope to inspire discussion and invite you to collaborate with us.
We look forward to exchanging ideas with you.
Tobias Hagen, Managing Director of ChallengeEU
Updates from ChallengeEU
Upcoming Events
Call for Papers: URAI Symposium 2026. AI and the Human in the Loop
The Upper Rhine Artificial Intelligence Symposium (URAI) is a recurring international conference focusing on applied, human‑centred, and responsible AI. It brings together researchers from computer science, engineering, and application domains to exchange results and experiences at the intersection of AI technology and human decision‑making. URAI 2026. AI and the Human in the Loop: Creation, Application, and Co-Evolution will take place
Online lecture on inclusive mentoring – bridging academia and business
The Faculty of Social Sciences at the University of Warmia and Mazury invites you to an open online lecture dedicated to inclusive mentoring in the context of bridging academia and business. The workshop titled “Inclusive mentoring for interdisciplinary and international career development: bridging academia and industry” will be led by Dr Hafizur Rahman from Mid Sweden University (MIUN). It will
Online workshop: Communication in the context of mentoring
The Faculty of Social Sciences at the University of Warmia and Mazury invites you to an open online workshop dedicated to communication in the context of mentoring. The workshop titled “Communication in the context of mentoring” will be led by Dr Monika Cichmińska from the Faculty of Human Sciences. It will take place on Friday, 17 April, from 16:45 to
Online Café: Student Engagement and Participation
We are pleased to invite you to our next ChallengeEU Online Café. Following the success of the first edition hosted by Ecam LaSalle, we are delighted to organize this second session dedicated to Student Engagement and Participation. Together, we will explore various opportunities to motivate our student community to take part not only in ChallengeEU events and activities, but also in the
Symposium: Sustainable Futures in Higher Education
Call for Papers Symposium: Sustainable Futures in Higher Education In a world facing complex social, environmental and ethical challenges, higher education institutions play a fundamental role in shaping responsible professionals and engaged global citizens. Universities are not only spaces for knowledge production, but also laboratories for new forms of learning, collaboration and societal transformation. Within the framework of the One World
BIP: Inclusive Mentoring and Career Development for a Diverse Academia
“Inclusive Mentoring and Career Development for a Diverse Academia” is a BIP designed to strengthen the capacity of mentors, mentees, and university staff to create inclusive and empowering mentoring relationships across the ChallengeEU alliance. The BIP combines academic input, intercultural learning, and practical workshops focused on mentoring, diversity, and inclusive leadership. Place: University of Warmia and Mazury in Olsztyn (UWM),
News from our Universities
ChallengeEU 1st Annual Conference 2026 in Olsztyn
Bridging Regions – Connecting Universities
MIUN
Building Bridges: Collaboration for Impact (BIP) has officially started!
Collaboration for Impact, a Staff BIP bringing together representatives from across Europe to strengthen collaboration with external stakeholders and enhance societal impact trough joint learning and exchange
UWM
Scientific Wednesdays at UWM
Do the terms hate, hate speech, and hate crimes mean the same thing? Where are the limits of freedom of expression—and what consequences can we face for crossing them? Participants of another meeting in the “Scientific Wednesdays at UWM” series had the chance to explore these questions. The guest speaker was Dr Maciej Duda from the Faculty of Law and
HSO
StuCon advises companies with student expertise
The newly founded student-run consulting service StuCon at Hochschule Offenburg combines theory and practice. Around 30 students, mainly business psychology majors, offer analyses, workshops and individual consulting projects for companies and those interested in starting a business. The association dates back to the 1990s and is currently managed by Charlotte Feller, Frederike Nopper and Marcel Krübel. Interdisciplinary teams work systematically
UEL
European University debates the end of lifelong jobs at BTL
The European University hosted this Wednesday, the 25th, as part of BTL – Better Tourism Lisbon Travel Market, a roundtable dedicated to the theme “Educating for a World That No Longer Exists” and to the challenges of training and talent management in the Tourism sector. In a context marked by digital transformation, evolving professional expectations and profound generational shifts, the
FHNW
Smart Turn-Assist: Inclusive Innovation from an FHNW Student
How can swimming become more independent and safe for people with visual impairments? This question inspired Selina Przyjemski, graduate in Electrical and Information Technology. She developed a smart turn-assist system that helps blind and visually impaired swimmers orient themselves in the pool without needing a guide at the poolside. Her work has now been awarded the prize for Best Bachelor
LBTU
Visit of the Ministry of Foreign Affairs Delegation to the Latvia University of Life Sciences and Technologies
On 2 February, the Latvia University of Life Sciences and Technologies (LBTU) welcomed a delegation from the Ministry of Foreign Affairs of Latvia led by Minister of Foreign Affairs Baiba Braže. During the visit, the delegation ознакомed itself with the University’s research, innovation, and infrastructure potential and participated in discussions on future cooperation opportunities. A seminar on the European Union’s
SEEU
Accreditation Board Held Its Regular Meeting at SEEU
The Higher Education Accreditation Board, operating within the Agency for Quality in Higher Education (AQHE), held its regular meeting today at the premises of South East European University. Hosting this meeting represents an important recognition for our institution and confirms the University’s active role in national quality assurance processes and the development of higher education in the country. South East
UEV
Universidad Europea de Valencia hosts the meeting of the Strategy Board of the European alliance ChallengeEU
On Tuesday, Universidad Europea de Valencia hosted the meeting of the Strategy Board of ChallengeEU, the highest decision-making body of the European alliance of universities of which the Valencian institution is a member. This meeting brought together the rectors of the nine universities that make up the network alongside UEV at the Turia Campus: Offenburg University of Applied Sciences (Germany),
ECAM
ECAM: An International Partnership Supporting Innovation and Entrepreneurship
ECAM LaSalle and the Science and Technology Park (STeP) of Chiang Mai University are continuing their collaboration with a shared objective: to promote innovation, entrepreneurship, and international openness. At the heart of this partnership, an ambitious exchange program strengthens the ties between the two institutions. THE ELP PROGRAM: AN INCUBATOR FOR EXPERIENCE AND INITIATIVES Signed at the end of 2023,
Learn more about ChallengeEU Alliance
Nine universities, one shared mission: through collaboration, innovation, and mobility, we empower students, universities, industries, and communities to shape a meaningful future.
ChallengeEU alliance is cofunded by the European Union. Views and opinions expressed are however those of the author(s) only and do not necessarily reflect those of the European Union or the European Education and Culture Executive Agency (EACEA). Neither the European Union nor EACEA can be held responsible for them. Grant Agreement Number: 101124674
