For Better Communication: Internal Training at SEEU
Effective internal communication is key to the success of any international alliance — and the ChallengeEU Alliance is no exception. With this in mind, the Work Package 6 (WP6) team, which leads communication and dissemination efforts across the Alliance, organized a dedicated internal training session at South East European University (SEEU) on 2 July. The training, titled “Internal Communication Tools and Effective Collaboration”, aimed to strengthen coordination among different teams involved in the ChallengeEU project at SEEU and to establish a more unified and effective communication culture across all university departments engaged in the initiative. The session was led by Edlira Palloshi Disha, communication specialist and researcher at the Max van der Stoel Institute (MVDSI), who introduced key tools, techniques, and principles for impactful communication within a complex, multi-stakeholder environment. Drawing from practical experience, Nerodia Selimi from SEEU’s Public Relations Office shared valuable best practices and examples from the university’s communication strategy. The training brought together a diverse group of participants representing all SEEU work packages involved in ChallengeEU, including colleagues from Participants included representatives from the International Relations Office, Career Center, the Pro-Rector for Digitalization, Business Innovation Center, MVDSI’s Project Coordination Unit, deans, and other academic staff and administrative offices across the university. This broad participation created a dynamic environment for knowledge-sharing and collective reflection. One of the session’s main objectives was to initiate a more standardized internal communication framework across SEEU’s project teams, ensuring smoother collaboration, clearer messaging, and improved responsiveness. Participants actively engaged in discussions on: The training session laid the groundwork for more efficient collaboration within SEEU and, by extension, within the broader ChallengeEU Alliance. By aligning internal communication practices, the university is taking a critical step toward ensuring that the Alliance functions as a truly integrated and collaborative ecosystem. This event highlights how internal capacity building can directly contribute to the success of international cooperation — reinforcing ChallengeEU’s core mission to bring European universities together to tackle shared challenges through joint innovation, research, and education
Branding, or building identity. Workshops in Poland
Representatives of the nine universities forming the ChallengeEU alliancemet at the University of Warmia and Mazury in Olsztyn (Poland) to discuss how to communicate and disseminate the alliance’s activities, which aim to open new opportunities for members of the academic community. To discuss the image of the ChallengeEU alliance and strategies for reaching various target audiences, representatives from all partner universities gathered in Olsztyn. Among them, the largest group consisted of those responsible for communication within the project. Also present were leaders of other work packages and the Secretary General of the alliance. All had the opportunity to connect with UWM staff involved in other parts of the project. The workshops were also attended by Prof. Paweł Wielgosz, UWM’s Representative for European Universities. Branding – Building the Identity of the Alliance The identity and future of ChallengeEU will be shaped by those who co-create it and seize the opportunities it offers. However, its image—especially in the eyes of individuals or companies potentially interested in collaborating with the universities—will also play a vital role and should be considered from the very beginning. Working on the alliance’s identity means also working on its visual communication and messaging—key elements that ChallengeEU will use to connect with others. Learning from One Another and Combining Our Strengths The second day was equally productive, featuring workshops and a working meeting held at the UWM Center for Marketing and Media. “A very important part of the visit was the opportunity for our guests to explore various units of UWM — including the editorial offices of the university media, the Office for International Cooperation, the Student Affairs Office, the Center for Cooperation with the Socio-Economic Environment, as well as selected faculties,” explains Dr. Marta Śliwa. “It was a great opportunity to present UWM’s educational offer and scientific potential, but also for our community to learn more about the ideas and objectives of the ChallengeEU alliance.” – “The meeting in Olsztyn was very highly rated by all participants, which is a great joy for us. We feel that thanks to this event, ChallengeEU has truly found its place within our university’s academic space.” Participants of the workshops in Kortowo also emphasized how meeting in person made them realize how strong their relationships have already become — and how positively this strengthens their collaboration. Together with all those involved in the project, they are gradually building the foundation for a shared, open, and inclusive campus.
