Orange for Awareness at SEEU: Empowering Law Students Against Gender-Based Violence
South East European University (SEEU), through its Faculty of Law and the ODEI Working Group (Openness, Diversity, Equity, and Inclusion) of the ChallengeEU project, launched the 16 Days of Activism Against Gender-Based Violence with the seminar “Orange for Awareness: Empowering Law Students Against Gender-Based Violence.” This year’s global theme, “UNiTE to End Digital Violence Against All Women and Girls”, guided the keynote messages and discussions throughout the event. The seminar opened with remarks by Prof. Dr. Arta Mero, who emphasized the importance of preparing future legal professionals to address both physical and digital forms of violence against women and girls. She highlighted SEEU’s ongoing commitment to fostering a safe, inclusive, and supportive academic environment for all students. The event brought together law students, academic staff, NGOs, gender-based violence activists, and participants from ChallengeEU partner universities who joined online. The presence of SEEU’s leadership demonstrated strong institutional support: Rector Prof. Dr. Sadudin Ibrahimi, Pro-Rector Prof. Dr. Veland Ramadani, and Prof. Dr. Besa Arifi, Advisor for Community and International Relations. The seminar featured a series of powerful contributions from experts and practitioners in the field. Vilma Dule, activist and survivor of gender-based violence, offered a deeply personal and academic reflection in her presentation “Rebirth as an Act of Resistance.” Elizabeta Bozhinovska, Programme Director at HERA, highlighted the importance of comprehensive services for victims, perpetrators, and men in crisis. From the University of Tetova, Prof. Dr. Hana Saliu discussed the psychological impacts of gender-based violence and the therapeutic interventions available to survivors. SEEU’s Prof. Dr. Albana Meta-Stojanova examined the alarming rise of femicide in her talk “Femicide: Chronicle of a Foretold Murder,” while Prof. Dr. Vedije Ratkoceri provided an overview of the criminal legal framework for protection against gender-based violence and its alignment with international standards. A special highlight of the event was the acknowledgment of the “Emine Zendeli” Legal Clinic, which supports victims of gender-based violence through primary legal assistance and offers students essential practical training and real-case experience. Today’s seminar reaffirmed that gender-based violence is not only a legal or institutional challenge, but a shared social responsibility. Only through cooperation among universities, institutions, organizations, activists, and students can we build a safer, fairer, and more humane society. SEEU and ChallengeEU remain committed to safeguarding human rights and standing united against all forms of gender-based violence. Together, we rise against gender-based violence.
Sustainable Idea Lab: Creative Minds Co-Create Solutions
During a two-day (14–15 November) Sustainable Idea Lab workshop, 25 motivated participants came together to tackle five exciting real-world challenges. Divided into five dynamic teams, they worked side by side, sharing ideas in several languages and bringing together diverse perspectives, backgrounds, and experiences. The organizing team from Hochschule Offenburg deliberately decided not to let the groups work alone, but to guide them methodically throughout the entire process. The aim was to make the opportunities of ChallengeEU tangible and to actively support the development of ideas. Using innovative creative methods and critical thinking, we led participants step by step – from the first idea generation, through challenge analysis, to the formulation of concrete solution concepts. Each group was accompanied by a mentor from our team, who helped structure the work, offered suggestions, and ensured there was always enough room for creativity. This combination of structured coaching, creative facilitation, and responsible mentoring created a working environment that sustainably fostered the spirit of innovation. Idea Lab Sustainable brought together people from many countries and generations – including participants from Spain, France, Germany, Vietnam and Argentina. Experts, students from Hochschule Offenburg, Karlsruhe and Strasbourg, as well as creatives from different fields worked side by side, exchanged ideas, developed initial prototypes, and inspired one another. In just one and a half days, impressive results emerged – full of energy, engagement, and innovative spirit. Together with our partners, industry experts and the ChallengeEU network, we now look forward to further developing these approaches and moving into the next phase of implementation – in the spirit of a sustainable, interconnected, and human-centered future. Associated Partners: BlackForest Innovation, Baden Campus, Impact Hub, Singa Stuttgart and Strasbourg, la maison d’emploi Strasbourg
Orange for Awareness: Empowering Law Students Against Gender-Based Violence
This seminar is organized within the framework of the ChallengeEU project, as part of the ODEI Working Group (WP5), which aims, among other objectives, to strengthen students’ capacities in addressing gender-based violence. “Orange for Awareness” is an activity that brings together professionals from the legal system, mental health, civil society, and activism to create a shared space for education, reflection, and awareness on one of the most serious human rights challenges. Aligned with the 2025 theme of the 16 Days of Activism Against Gender-Based Violence “UNiTE to End Digital Violence Against All Women and Girls”, the seminar emphasizes the growing importance of combating violence in both physical and digital spaces. It aims to equip students with legal, psychological, and practical knowledge, preparing them to become professionals committed to justice, victim protection, and fostering social change. The Legal Clinic “Emine Zendeli”, through its role in providing primary legal assistance, enables students to respond professionally to real cases of gender-based violence, strengthening the connection between theory, practice, and ethical engagement in the protection of human rights. Join online: https://meet.google.com/upq-ikjb-ena Involved institutions and partners: Max Vander Stoel Institute; Cortex; Mollekuqja, Margini, Hera; Shega; Centre for Women Support
Online Training on E-Accessibility
FHNW is organising an online exchange and training session on E-Accessibility, aimed at those interested in digital learning, communication and inclusion within the ChallengeEU Alliance (in particular within WP2, WP5 and WP6). Together with experts Andrea Gerber (FHNW) and Markus Böni (Access for All, participation requested), the event will address current challenges and good practices for making digital content accessible to all users. The session is designed to spark ideas, support reflection on institutional practices and connect participants engaged in E-Accessibility across the alliance. Programme outline: Kick-off Expert input: Andrea Gerber (FHNW) Expert input: Markus Böni (Access for All, participation requested) Breakout sessions: Highlights & Lowlights Key findings and discussion Wrap-up The event is open to participants from all ChallengeEU partner institutions and associated partners who are interested in E-Accessibility and inclusive digital practices. More information: leonie.wallisch@fhnw.ch
Talent Day at Universidad Europea de Valencia: Boosting Young Careers
European companies, students and universities come together for a day that promotes professional development and strengthens the ChallengeEU alliance. Universidad Europea de Valencia has successfully held a new edition of Talent Day, an event dedicated to connecting students with companies that are committed to young talent and work every day to promote their professional growth. Talent Day – a bridge between the university and the labour market During the event, students had the opportunity to participate in practical activities designed to strengthen key skills for their professional development, such as Adecco’s Escape Room and professional photography sessions to improve their image on social media and in selection processes. The event took place on the Valencia, Viveros and Turia campuses, as well as on the Alicante Campus, where job fairs were held with the participation of companies such as Domusvi, Ecura, Globalworking, NorasCare Talent , Preventium, Adecco, Fundación Adecco, Eures, Melt Group, Randstad and Eurofirms. In addition, the auditorium hosted an IBM Masterclass on artificial intelligence and career opportunities in Valencia, which brought together around 75 students from Valencia and Alicante, who attended both in person and online. The European dimension of the event thanks to the ChallengeEU Alliance One of the major new features of this edition was the Job Fair becoming much more European as it was organized in collaboration with the European ChallengeEU Alliance, which allowed member universities from 8 different countries to participate, offering more opportunities to students from the Alliance. In total, 116 registered users explored the offers of the 11 participating companies, including Adecco, Fundación Adecco, GlobalWorking, Melt Group, Ecura, Eurofirms, Vezë Sharri, Fecke Coaching, ECAM La Salle, OSYPKA and the Port Authority of Valencia. In addition, the virtual open lectures organized within the framework of ChallengeEU attracted a total of 541 listeners, reflecting the growing interest in professional opportunities at European level. The sessions were offered by institutions such as South East European University (SEEU) from North Macedonia, Latvia University of Life Sciences and Technology (LBTU), Eures France, Eures Switzerland and the Universidad Europea de Valencia itself, consolidating the international and collaborative nature of the event. Talent Day has proven to be an effective platform for bringing the academic world closer to the professional world, and has reinforced Universidad Europea de Valencia’s commitment to employability, innovation and internationalisation. It should be noted that, in this edition, the collaboration with ChallengeEU, the European alliance that promotes cooperation between universities, companies and students, has been key to expanding the impact of this event and offering real opportunities for professional development beyond our borders. During Talent Day, Jana and Rocío from Universidad Europea de Valencia, members of the ChallengeEU Student Ambassadors Team, were among those who spoke about the opportunities that come with the development of the alliance. Their involvement in the event underlined in a special way that the idea of cooperation within the European Universities initiative is very close to the hearts of young Europeans.
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Alliance brings us closer: French students spent a semester in Sweden
This year, five students from the ECAM LaSalle are spending an academic semester at Mid Sweden University. It is the first French–Swedish university exchange carried out thanks to the ChallengeEU Alliance. Tom, Louis, Corentin, Juline and Victor left for Sweden at the beginning of September. “We’re delighted with the semester so far! Life in Sweden is very different from life in France, and we truly felt the change when we arrived. We’ve been warmly integrated into the community – the teaching staff, the exchange student office, and mentors who are themselves international students all look after us on campus. In short: we’re very happy in Östersund, and the balance between study and life outside the university is perfect,” the students say. As Caroline Henras, Director of International Relations at ECAM LaSalle, emphasises:“Establishing this academic partnership with a university in Sweden – a country particularly attractive to French students –demonstrates in practice the opportunities that ChallengeEU creates for our students.” ECAM LaSalle representatives note that the alliance is much more than an academic network: it is a chance to put the university’s values and educational mission into action. ChallengeEU opens new perspectives for students by fostering international mobility within a network of engaged European universities. This strategic partnership enables young Europeans to gain diverse academic and cultural experiences, significantly strengthening their employability in an increasingly international professional environment. Photo credit: Annacarin Aronsson
After the ChallengeEU meeting in Brussels: we’re ready for the next steps!
First at the headquarters of the Fundación Comunidad Valenciana – Región Europea, and then at the Representation Office of the State of Baden-Württemberg in Brussels, members of the ChallengeEU team took part in a three-day working meeting (27-29 October). The aim was to strengthen collaboration between Work Packages, refine the delivery timetable, and align milestones for the months ahead. Work was carried out both in plenary and in dedicated working groups. This setup enabled joint strategic decisions and detailed task work within teams responsible for specific areas (including mobility, digitalisation, ChallengeEU Academy, ODEI, and communication & dissemination). Among the key topics addressed were a summary of activities undertaken in 2025 and planning for the next year of cooperation. The main priorities and expected results were also discussed. The session “How Do We Align Quality Processes” focused on standardising quality processes and document workflows. Day one also included a WP6 training on branding, communication, and dissemination – a practical module that clarified standards for content preparation, EU funding acknowledgements, brandbook compliance, and reporting of communication activities. It’s also worth adding that an opportunity to continue improving our internal communication will be the team workshops taking place on 3–4 November. Significant attention was devoted to mobility, the ChallengeEU Academy, the course catalogue, and the ODEI initiative. The teams worked on mobility frameworks, the educational offer, and solutions supporting inclusiveness (e.g., a virtual ODEI office and mentoring pathways). A crucial point of the agenda was an open Q&A with Daniel Hubner, the EACEA Project Officer, during which issues such as project activity reporting, formal expectations, and preparation for the mid-term report were discussed. Participants emphasised that such a meeting will help better align internal procedures with programme requirements and reduce the risk of inconsistencies in documentation. A valuable experience was also the meeting with Maria-Valerie Schegk from the YUFE Alliance, who shared with participants the good practices developed within the alliance she represents. She highlighted, among other things, the importance of documenting the alliance’s impact. The balance between group work and plenary discussions made it easier for teams to translate strategic decisions into day-to-day work plans. Further actions were agreed in the areas of: refining the shared infrastructure for events and stakeholder collaboration tools; streamlining approval and publication pathways for official alliance channels; and preparing for the mid-term report along with a review of indicators. The meeting concluded with a discussion on the alliance’s future and the announcement of initial plans for the ChallengeEU conference, which will take place in May in Olsztyn. The event will summarise the results achieved to date, strengthen cooperation with stakeholders, and showcase the impact of the alliance’s initiatives on regions and academic communities. A symbolic moment of the Brussels meeting was a minute of silence in tribute to the victims of the flood that struck Valencia a year ago. Although it was spontaneous and not part of the official programme, it was the best proof that the alliance is not only about creating joint study programmes or exchanging knowledge and experience. Above all, it is about building a community.
ChallengeEU Collaboration Powered by Lab IDEAS BIP
The ChallengeEU Alliance continues to promote collaboration and innovation through the Lab IDEAS: Impact-Driven Education for Action and Sustainability Blended Intensive Program (BIP), organized by IADE – Faculty of Design, Technology and Communication of Universidade Europeia, one of the founding institutions of the alliance in Lisbon, Portugal. The programme, held under Erasmus+, gathered 51 participants, including 36 international travelling participants from partner universities. Among them were students and professors from two ChallengeEU institutions, Latvia University of Life Sciences and Technologies and the University of Warmia and Mazury in Olsztyn, who joined multidisciplinary teams to co-create innovative solutions addressing digital behaviour and social responsibility. Under the theme “Designing Safe Digital Communities”, and in collaboration with the Portuguese Public Security Police (PSP), participants explored how social design can help prevent cyberbullying, foster empathy, and promote safer and more inclusive online environments. Students proposed a range of solutions, including ideas for board games for children and teenagers, creating a website to support victims, and developing informational materials for professionals involved in bullying prevention in cooperation with the police. They also drafted the idea of establishing an association that could later evolve into a social movement. As explained, this could help raise awareness of bullying in society and schools and contribute to creating a safe environment where victims can receive practical and psychological support. All of these solutions were presented to representatives of the police in Lisbon. “The concept of this programme really appeals to me. It was four days of intensive work with a tangible outcome at the end (presented to the client) — that’s exactly what we, students of Trend Analysis and Creation, enjoy. I’m very glad we have the opportunity to take part in initiatives like this. I’d happily do it again,” says Dominika Staniszewska, a student of Trend Analysis and Creation at University of Warmia and Mazury. Wiktor Kotarski, who also studies at UWM, adds:“I think the idea is excellent because it lets us look at what we’ll be doing professionally from a completely different perspective. Another advantage is that it allows you to test yourself in a new, international environment. In my view, the intensity is a plus – in a short time you can see whether this kind of work is for you. And if you decide it isn’t, you haven’t lost much time.” “Because we worked in mixed groups, we were able to experience intercultural exchange. Every student brought something new to the project — for example, a different way of thinking or acting. My colleague and I encouraged our teammates to use design-thinking methods, which is how we work at UWM. We exchanged knowledge, which was both pleasant and instructive,” says Dominika. The meeting in Lisbon was a valuable experience not only for the students but also for their accompanying supervisors. For example, Prof. Līga Paula (LBTU) noted that taking part in the mobility programme was an excellent opportunity to gain experience in organising BIPs, establish new contacts, and exchange insights with international colleagues. Through this initiative, the ChallengeEU Alliance reinforces its commitment to interdisciplinary learning, mobility, and social impact, empowering students and educators to transform real-world challenges into opportunities for positive change.
ChallengeEU delegation attended ECAM LaSalle’s anniversary
A 14-member delegation from the ChallengeEU Alliance visited ECAM LaSalle in Lyon to mark the university’s 125th anniversary, combining celebrations with working discussions. The group, led by five rectors, included representatives from Fachhochschule Nordwestschweiz (FHNW), Hochschule Offenburg, Latvia University of Life Sciences and Technologies, Mid Sweden University, South East European University (SEEU), Universidad Europea de Valencia, Universidade Europeia, and the University of Warmia and Mazury in Olsztyn. Beyond the official celebrations, the visit provided an opportunity for strategic discussions on research collaboration, sustainability, and European perspectives for academic cooperation. Participants exchanged experiences from across the Alliance and identified areas for future joint initiatives. The delegation also explored ECAM LaSalle’s educational facilities and met students involved in technical clubs, including the ECAM Formula Student Team (EFST), H2 Eco’Innov, and the #WorldSkills team. The presentations showcased a range of innovative student projects and underlined the strong potential of emerging European talent. The programme concluded with a visit to the Basilica of Fourvière. ECAM LaSalle reaffirmed its commitment to globally open, future-oriented engineering education. Representatives of ChallengeEU extend congratulations to ECAM LaSalle on this milestone and wish the university continued success in the years ahead. About ECAM LaSalle: In September 1900, the first class of the Jean Baptiste de La Salle School of Arts and Crafts in Reims began the school year under the guidance of the Brothers of the Christian Schools. For over a century, ECAM LaSalle trains generations of responsible and creative engineers, who use their scientific expertise to serve a sustainable and ethic future. University has continued to adapt to the needs of companies and to the expectations of young people and their families. A pioneer in its field, its notable innovations are: the establishment of one of the first Engineering Apprenticeship programmes; the first factory-school dedicated to Lean Management (INEXO: Institute of Operational Excellence) and the first 5 year Engineering Program in English in France (ECAM Engineering).
