STARS EU is bringing May to a close with a series of activities and a call to action to commemorate European Diversity Month, an initiative aimed at raising awareness of the importance of diversity and inclusion both in the workplace and across society as a whole. The nine partners of the alliance are joining this year’s theme, “Building an inclusive labour market for all”, through a range of initiatives addressed to their university communities.

Your voice matters at STARS EU. For this reason, the alliance has launched the survey “Inclusion and Social Justice in your University”, aimed at gathering the opinions and suggestions of all members of our university community. This initiative will help promote more inclusive and diverse academic spaces committed to equality and social justice.

The aim of the survey is to better understand how students, academic staff and university personnel across the alliance perceive inclusion, fairness and participation within their institutions. The responses gathered will contribute to the development of shared strategies, the identification of common challenges and the promotion of evidence-based actions within the STARS EU framework.

To take part, click on Inclusion and Social Justice in your University. Completing the survey will take approximately seven minutes and will provide valuable information to help strengthen and advance a more inclusive and equal academic community.

Diversity beyond the screen

Another of the activities organised to mark Diversity Month focuses on digital detox. This in-person event will take place on Friday, 29 May, at Aleksandër Moisiu University in Durrës (Albania). Its aim is to reflect on life in a hyperconnected society and on the ways in which the digital environment affects mental health, human relationships and social inclusion.

The event, entitled Diversity beyond the screen: Digital detox for a more inclusive campus, will run from 09:00 to 12:00 (CEST) in the G2 building, located on the UAMD Spitallë Campus. The meeting is open to anyone interested in discussing the (excessive) use of digital technologies, an issue about which the World Health Organization (WHO) has repeatedly raised concerns.

Research on diversity and inclusion

Moving towards a more diverse and inclusive alliance also involves exploring and applying new ideas and perspectives that can help foster fairer and more participatory environments. Therefore, if you are developing any research, project or initiative related to Diversity and Inclusion, you can contact Assoc. Prof. Dr. Ekaterina Gjergo or send your proposal to ekaterinagjergo@uamd.edu.al.

Another initiative launched to promote inclusiveness and diversity within STARS EU is being carried out at “Aleksandër Moisiu” University. Focused on bullying prevention, the project is being developed by a group of university students in collaboration with secondary school pupils from different schools in the city of Durrës.

European students and academics are addressing sustainable innovation and bioeconomy during the Blended Intensive Programme “Circular Bioeconomy and Sustainable Innovation”, taking place this week at the Cracow University of Technology (Poland) within the framework of the STARS EU Alliance. The training initiative enables international teams of students to work together on projects tackling real-life sustainability and circular economy challenges, while developing innovative and practice-oriented solutions.

The initiative has brought together 28 students and 12 lecturers from seven STARS EU partner universities: Cracow University of Technology (Poland); University West (Sweden); Hanze University of Applied Sciences (Netherlands); Hochschule Bremen-City University of Applied Sciences (Germany); Polytechnic University of Bragança (Portugal); Silesian University in Opava (Czech Republic); and Aleksandër Moisiu University of Durrës (Albania).

The programme, who’s in-person phase is taking place in Krakow from 18 to 22 May, includes interdisciplinary collaborative work sessions, mentoring activities, expert lectures and a study visit to the company KLGS, located near the city. In parallel with these activities, participants also have opportunities for intercultural exchange, networking and collaboration among students and academic staff from across the STARS EU alliance.

Over the past weeks, participants have attended international lectures and workshops focused on circular economy, sustainable business models, life cycle analysis, biomaterials, biotechnology, renewable resources and sustainable innovation strategies. Following the mobility week in Krakow, teams will continue working online until the end of June, when the final presentations of the projects and reports prepared by each group will bring the activity to a close.

“Circular Bioeconomy and Sustainable Innovation” is coordinated by Katarzyna Matras-Postołek, Associate Professor at CUT, together with academics and experts from STARS EU partner universities, including Annabella Loconsolo (University West), Pavel Adamek (Silesian University in Opava), Daniela Hendrikse (Hanze University of Applied Sciences), Anja Noke (Hochschule Bremen), as well as representatives from the Polytechnic Institute of Bragança and other partner institutions.

This BIP is yet another example of how the STARS EU Alliance connects students, researchers and universities around shared European values, innovation and sustainable development.

Around 60 students, doctoral candidates and lecturers from nine European universities recently took part in the Ou[te]r Campus BIP project, the STARS EU initiative aimed at developing a collaborative, interdisciplinary and transnational European campus model. During the event, hosted by the Bremen University of Applied Sciences, six concepts were developed focusing on new forms of interaction between physical spaces and the digital opportunities offered by STARS EU.

The aim of this workshop, which became a blended intensive programme, was to build on the momentum generated by the collaborative “Interspace” project — also held at HSB in 2025 — in order to further develop these ideas and translate them into long-term structures with a “solid institutional foundation”. This represents a clear step towards a “co-creation campus that transcends disciplinary and geographical boundaries”, according to Janina Ebner, member of the Co-creation Campus at STARS EU.

Alongside her, Professor Maria Clarke, also involved in the initiative, highlighted that the workshop helped strengthen the project for the future. “Bringing together more than 60 interdisciplinary participants — students, doctoral candidates and members of academic staff — from the nine partner institutions was no easy task.” “During the workshop, there was a clear willingness to collaborate, build networks and work together to address the complex question ‘What is a European campus?’ and to find answers to it.”

The focus has been placed on strengthening STARS EU, and therefore the groups created continue to work on the six concepts developed, which explore proposals for physical spaces and digital possibilities. The outcomes of the Ou[te]r Campus teaching and knowledge-transfer project will be exhibited from 1 to 9 July 2026 in an exhibition at the Transferlabor (formerly AB Galerie) at Hochschule Bremen.

Interspace 2025

Ou[te]r Campus BIP stems from the collaborative project carried out in 2025 under the name “Interspace”, which explored ways of creating shared and connected campus spaces within STARS EU. The initiative brought together an international group of students from the HSB School of Architecture and the Integrated Design programme at the University of the Arts Bremen (HfK), who developed the first ideas. Among them was the STARS EU intercultural pavilion, conceived as a meeting place, which is currently on display at the Higher School of Engineering of the University of La Laguna.

The universities participating in this second phase are: Aleksander Moisiu University (Albania); Krakow University of Technology (Poland); Hanze University of Applied Sciences (Groningen, the Netherlands); Hochschule Bremen (Germany); Polytechnic Institute of Bragança (Portugal); Silesian University in Opava (Czech Republic); University of La Laguna (Tenerife, Spain); Université Marie et Louis Pasteur (France); and University West (Trollhättan, Sweden).

*The Ou[te]r Campus BIP programme is funded by STARS EU and Erasmus+ grants.

In STARS EU, Europe Day is experienced through the diversity of our cultures, languages, identities, and ways of understanding the world. Because Europe is not only a shared territory, but a community that is built every day through the cooperation, coexistence, and freedom that inspire the celebration of 9 May, in remembrance of the 1950 Schuman Declaration.

STARS EU has sought to put a face and a voice to this plural, diverse, and connected Europe through the students, academic staff, and administrative personnel of its nine partner universities, which work towards a common goal and in favour of the future of higher education. They all share their experiences, reflections, and aspirations, while also showcasing the human and cultural richness of this project.

Every accent, every language, and every story reflects the essence of a continent defined by both its differences and affinities, and by common values such as cooperation, inclusion, solidarity, and commitment to future generations. It is this same spirit that lives on within STARS EU, where mobility, shared knowledge, and international collaboration continue to drive progress towards the society of tomorrow.

Europe is opportunity, learning, and innovation, but also effort and responsibility: the responsibility to continue building a common project capable of addressing the challenges ahead.

Different languages. Different cultures. One shared voice.

Nine universities. Countless identities. One Europe.

The Faculty of Law at the University of La Laguna recently hosted the Blended Intensive Programme (BIP) Justice in a Transformative Key, which brought together students and academic staff from Albania, France, and Germany, alongside students from ULL, with the aim of analysing access to justice from an inclusive, interdisciplinary, and socially transformative perspective.

The BIP began with the opening session led by José Sigut, Head of the Office for Mobility and Cooperation with Europe and North America and coordinator of the STARS EU alliance at ULL. He highlighted the positive reception of this programme, developed within the framework of Erasmus+ and European university alliances. Sigut also emphasized that this BIP “stands somewhat apart” from the alliance’s usual focus areas, such as industry, business, and engineering.

In this regard, Dulce Cairós, Dean of the Faculty of Law and coordinating organiser of the initiative, stressed that this first edition places the spotlight on the field of Law, and particularly on the construction of a more inclusive justice system capable of responding to current social challenges through a transversal and transformative approach.

The sessions, attended by 35 participants including students and lecturers from Aleksandër Moisiu University of Durrës (Albania), Hochschule Bremen – City University of Applied Sciences (Germany) Marie and Louis Pasteur University (France), and ULL, addressed topics such as labour precariousness and the protection of minors as vulnerable consumers.

The programme explored how social inequalities affect effective access to justice and examined the role academic institutions can play as “agents of change,” something illustrated through the presentation of ULL’s Social Innovation Laboratory.

Social exclusion and migrants

During the second day, the programme focused on contexts of social exclusion, paying particular attention to interventions in penitentiary institutions and the legal assistance provided to migrants. Special emphasis was placed on the importance of adopting interdisciplinary approaches to address complex realities and ensure more effective legal and social responses.

The BIP also addressed alternatives to the traditional justice system, including restorative justice and alternative dispute resolution mechanisms, viewed as key tools for promoting more inclusive, dialogue-based, and reparative solutions.

In the final days, attention shifted to particularly sensitive issues such as the situation of unaccompanied minors, age determination procedures, and the need to incorporate a gender perspective into the legal field.

The programme concluded with an evaluation and closing session in which students shared proposals aimed at advancing towards a more accessible, equitable, and people-centred model of justice.

In addition to the academic sessions, participants enjoyed cultural and leisure activities, including guided visits to San Cristóbal de La Laguna, Teide National Park, and the Izaña Atmospheric Observatory.

The launch of the first edition of the STARS EU Student Case Competition brought together yesterday (Monday, April 20) around one hundred people at Hanze University of Applied Sciences (The Netherlands), including students, faculty, university staff, and STARS EU ambassadors. Participants have joined this first training initiative, which brings together the nine member universities .

The opening day of this pilot experience, which combines collaborative work with practical learning and international exchange to promote skill development and teamwork, was marked by the arrival of participating teams and the first program activities.

The event began with the registration and reception of students, followed by an institutional welcome led by Dick Pouwels, general coordinator of the alliance and president of Hanze’s Executive Board, together with Mira Bloemen-Bekx and Heinrich Naumann.

First contacts

Afterwards, teams were assigned to their respective working divisions, where they had the opportunity to meet and establish initial contact before sharing a group lunch. The day continued with a social activity in the afternoon, preceded by a group photo that brought all participants together.

The program taking place over these days also promotes intercultural communicationand analytical skills in different contexts. To achieve this, participants—organized into nine international teams—will work and develop solutions under pressure, which they will present in the coming days to an international jury made up of academic staff and industry experts.

Active involvement of partners

This STARS EU initiative has achieved active involvement from the nine partner universities, which have sent their student teams accompanied by their respective tutors, helping to strengthen the alliance’s international and collaborative nature.

The universities participating in this pioneering experience, in addition to the host institution (Hanze University of Applied Sciences), are: University West (Sweden); Bragança Polytechnic University (Portugal); University of La Laguna (Spain); Silesian University in Opava (Czechia); Aleksandër Moisiu University in Durrës (Albania); Cracow University of Technology (Poland); Hochschule Bremen – City University of Applied Sciences (Germany); and the University Marie and Louis Pasteur (France).

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STARS-Health partners focused their latest international working meeting (23–24 March 2026), held at the Silesian University in Opava, Czech Republic, on the next stages of project implementation.

The meeting brought together representatives of the STARS EU project consortium from the Netherlands, Portugal, Spain, Sweden and the Czech Republic over two days. During this time, partners reviewed progress achieved so far, shared updates from the different work areas, and coordinated the next actions.

Particular attention was given to key project activities, including needs analysis, the development and adaptation of digital tools, as well as the preparation of educational and support activities for caregivers. The programme included working sessions, presentations of preliminary results, and discussions on upcoming pilot testing and the practical implementation of project outcomes.

The meeting held in Opava marked another important milestone in the collaboration of the consortium, composed of five STARS EU members, and helped further strengthen joint work on solutions applicable to real-life health and care settings.

*STARS-Health is a project funded by the European Partnership on Transforming Health and Care Systems (THCS).

The STARS EU alliance will hold a new session of its STARS Talks featuring Nicolas Andreff, professor at the Marie and Louis Pasteur University, in a talk focused on robotics and its role in addressing current sustainability challenges. During the session, Andreff will explore how robotics can contribute to enhancing economic competitiveness, in line with recent initiatives such as the European Commission’s Industrial Accelerator Act. He will also revisit the concept of the circular economy, proposing a shift towards a “spiral economy” model.

The event will take place online on Tuesday, 21st at 13:00 (CET), and will present the main conclusions of a recent workshop held at the European Robotics Forum 2026. The workshop examined, from an interdisciplinary perspective, the relationship between robotics, economy, and sustainability in a context shaped by climate change, resource depletion, and their socio-economic consequences.

STARS Talks, organised by the alliance’s Challenge Lab, is a monthly knowledge exchange format that brings together international experts to discuss innovation, science, and regional development. Following the speaker’s presentation, the session will open for dialogue with participants.

STARS EU will host an innovative training experience from April 20 to 24 at Hanze University of Applied Sciences in Groningen (The Netherlands), bringing together students, faculty, and staff from its nine member universities for the first time. The aim of the first edition of the STARS EU Student Case Competition is for participants to work on real business cases, mainly focused on the challenges faced by family businesses.

The planned program combines collaborative work with practical learning and international exchange to promote skills development, teamwork, intercultural communication, and analytical abilities in different contexts.

To this end, the participants, organized into nine international teams, must develop solutions under time pressure and present them to an international jury of academic and industry experts. The activity is structured into intensive preparation, problem-solving, and presentation sessions, alongside interactive spaces designed to strengthen shared learning.

Pilot experience

The initiative, conceived as a pilot experience, represents a milestone within the alliance, as it is the first training activity in which representatives from the entire academic community participate together. With it, the aim is to consolidate the foundations for developing this type of initiative, which could be gradually and rotationally implemented at each of the member universities.

The program will conclude with a final day, during which the work produced by each team will be presented and awards will be given to the best teams and participants.

The participating institutions, in addition to the organizing university (Hanze University of Applied Sciences), include University West (Sweden); Bragança Polytechnic University (Portugal); University of La Laguna (Spain); Silesian University in Opava (Czechia); Aleksandër Moisiu University in Durrës (Albania); Cracow University of Technology (Poland); Hochschule Bremen – City University of Applied Sciences (Germany) and Marie and Louis Pasteur University (France).

In addition to the competition, the event will feature a social and cultural program designed to foster networking, collaboration, and intercultural exchange among participants.

With this initiative, STARS EU takes a significant step forward in promoting joint training activities that strengthen collaboration between its universities and create new learning opportunities in an international environment.

Representatives of Petro Mohyla Black Sea National University (Mykolayiv, Ukraine), took part in the STARS EU Annual Conference, where they also joined discussions with the STARS EU Commission and the Steering Committee on the next steps in cooperation between the university and the alliance.

The Ukrainian university was represented by Liudmyla Vovchuk, Head of the International Relations Office and lecturer in the Department of International Relations and Foreign Policy; and Olena Filimonova, Senior Specialist of the International Relations Office. Both representatives brought strong experience in international academic cooperation, project development, and university internationalization.

Their participation in the Annual Conference created an important opportunity to further strengthen dialogue with STARS EU and explore concrete ways to deepen cooperation. The exchanges with the Commission and Steering Committee confirmed a shared interest in building closer institutional ties and expanding the university’s involvement in alliance activities.

During the meetings, Petro Mohyla Black Sea National University presented its profile, academic strengths, and experience in international cooperation. As a classical university under the Ministry of Education and Science of Ukraine, it combines a broad academic base with active engagement in international partnerships, mobility, and project work. The university has established cooperation with a wide range of higher education institutions and organizations across Europe and beyond.

Particular attention was given to the strong alignment between the university’s expertise and STARS EU’s priorities. The university presented several proposals for future cooperation linked to the alliance’s main areas of activity, including Digital Transformation, Healthy Ageing, and Social Justice. These proposals cover topics such as digital transformation in education and public health, neuroscience and neurorehabilitation, rehabilitation support for victims of blast-related injuries, equality, and the harmonization of Ukrainian legislation with European standards.

The discussions also built on cooperation already developed between Petro Mohyla Black Sea National University and STARS EU. The university highlighted its strong record in international mobility and project development, including participation in Erasmus+, DAAD, and other international initiatives. This experience provides a solid basis for further collaboration through academic exchange, virtual and blended learning, joint projects, thematic networking, and shared educational and research activities.

An important outcome of the meetings was the decision of the STARS EU Commission to designate Petro Mohyla Black Sea National University as a Strategic Associated Partner of the STARS EU Alliance. The decision reflects the Commission’s appreciation of the cooperation already in place, the university’s strong regional and thematic fit with STARS EU areas of activity, and its clear commitment to further developing and intensifying cooperation with the alliance.

Next steps

This marks an important next step in the relationship between STARS EU and Petro Mohyla Black Sea National University. It underlines both the value of the cooperation established so far and the strong potential for future collaboration in areas of shared strategic interest.

The next step will be the preparation of a Memorandum of Understanding between STARS EU and Petro Mohyla Black Sea National University, which will provide a framework for the continued development of the partnership.

With this decision, STARS EU opens a new chapter of cooperation with a Ukrainian partner university and creates further opportunities for students, researchers, academic staff, and professional staff to engage in joint activities and knowledge exchange across the alliance.