The first edition of the Erasmus+ Blended Intensive Programme (BIP) Game Development with VR/AR has successfully concluded at Cracow University of Technology, bringing together students and academics from across Europe under the STARS EU Alliance.

The programme combined several weeks of online learning with an intensive on-site week in Kraków, creating a unique international environment where technology, creativity, and intercultural collaboration met in practice.

Opening the on-site week, programme coordinator Adrian Widłak highlighted the spirit of the initiative:

“We are meeting here as part of the Alliance STARS EU, bringing together Poland, France, Germany, and our guests from Slovenia. What I love about this initiative is that it’s not just about mobility. It’s about mixing realities.”

The programme began with an online phase running from 24 March to 26 May 2026. During this period, participants developed skills in C# programming, 3D modelling, Unity game development, and immersive VR and AR technologies.

The international group then gathered in Kraków from 15 to 19 June for the on-site component. Throughout the week, students transformed theoretical knowledge into practical solutions by working in multinational teams on a common challenge.

Their task was to design and develop an augmented reality experience capable of transforming a traditional computer laboratory into an interactive educational escape room. Using tablets, AR tools, and game design principles, participants created missions, puzzles, and story-driven scenarios that blended digital content with physical space.

The resulting projects demonstrated how augmented reality can enhance learning environments, increase engagement, and create new forms of educational interaction.

One of the key objectives of the programme was to strengthen students’ ability to work in international and interdisciplinary teams. Beyond technical development, participants gained valuable experience in communication, problem-solving, project management, and intercultural cooperation.

Academic staff from partner institutions provided expert guidance throughout the programme. Participants were supported by Frédéric Lassabe (France), Volker Paelke (Germany), and Krzysztof Skabek from the Computer Graphics and High Performance Computing Research Group at Cracow University of Technology. Practical workshops and project sessions were led by Adrian Widłak, Gloria Kuliś, and Wojciech Malik.

Their diverse academic and research perspectives enabled students to explore VR and AR technologies from multiple viewpoints and application areas.

The programme also offered participants the opportunity to experience the cultural heritage of southern Poland.

Students visited the Wieliczka Salt Mine and explored Kraków’s historic city centre, both UNESCO World Heritage sites. These visits provided valuable opportunities for networking, cultural exchange, and discovering one of Central Europe’s most historic regions.

The successful delivery of the programme was supported by members of Visgraph, the student scientific association operating under the supervision of Michał Dolina and Jakub Dec. Visgraph students contributed to event organisation, participant support, media coverage, photography, audiovisual production, and promotional activities. Their involvement played an important role in creating a welcoming and professional environment for all participants.

The Game Development with VR/AR programme demonstrated how modern higher education can move beyond traditional teaching models. Rather than passively receiving information, students learned by designing, building, testing, and refining their own ideas. By combining emerging technologies, project-based learning, and international collaboration, the programme provided participants with valuable technical competencies, practical experience, and professional connections that will continue to benefit them long after the programme’s conclusion.

As a STARS EU initiative, the programme also showcased the Alliance’s commitment to creating innovative educational opportunities that prepare students to work and collaborate in an increasingly digital and interconnected Europe.

Academic staff, researchers, doctoral, and master’s students from across Europe and beyond gathered in Besançon, France, from 15 to 19 June 2026 for the 2^nd edition of the Blended Intensive Programme (BIP) on Pedagogical Innovation, this year hosted by the Marie and Louis Pasteur University (UMLP), Faculty of Law, Political Sciences, Economics and Management (UFR SJEPG) in France.

The BIP combined an online phase, consisting of three international seminars in May and June, with a week-long in-person programme in Besançon. Participants represented STARS EU partner universities from Poland, Czechia, Spain, France, Sweden, Germany, Albania, the Netherlands, and Portugal, along with hosts from Morocco and Algeria.

Rethink learning

The in-person sessions focused on topics such as active and social learning, learning design, diversity, and anti-discrimination awareness. Particularly inspiring were workshops on Wild Pedagogies, which encouraged educators to rethink learning beyond traditional classroom settings, as well as sessions dedicated to creating more inclusive and engaging learning environments.

Considerable attention was devoted to the growing impact of artificial intelligence in higher education. Participants discussed the technical foundations of AI and its pedagogical applications, reflecting on how these technologies can support teaching, assessment, and student engagement while also raising important ethical and practical questions.

The week concluded with a session on Collaborative Online International Learning (COIL), during which participants were challenged to design their own COIL and explored how virtual international collaboration can connect students and educators across borders, creating meaningful intercultural learning experiences beyond traditional mobility schemes. It also highlighted new opportunities for cooperation among STARS EU institutions and their international partners.

Profesional relationships

Beyond the academic sessions, participants enjoyed a range of networking and cultural activities, including a campus tour and a visit to the historic Citadelle of Besançon. These shared experiences provided valuable opportunities for building new professional relationships and strengthening connections among colleagues from different countries and institutions.

The BIP highlighted the importance of international collaboration in higher education, offering participants fresh perspectives, practical inspiration, and opportunities for future cooperation. Building on the success of this edition, the next Blended Intensive Programme on Pedagogical Innovation will be hosted by the Bragança Polytechnic University (IPB), Portugal, where educators from across the alliance will continue sharing innovative practices and developing new collaborative initiatives.

Communication within European Universities alliances was the focus of a technical conference held on June 11 at the Toledo campus of the University of Castilla-La Mancha-UCLM (Spain). The conference was sponsored by the Association of Communication Professionals from Spanish Universities and Research Centers (AUGAC) and the COLOURS alliance. At this meeting, the University of La Laguna participated in the panel on “Innovation in Impactful Formats and Tools,” presenting examples of initiatives developed within STARS EU.

Acaimo González, a technician from the Communication Office of the University of La Laguna, was accompanied by the Communication Officer of STARS EU, Beatriz Medina, and presented some of the formats that the alliance is using to disseminate the activity of its members, including the STARS EU Highlights podcast, about teaching innovation; the STARS Talks expert lectures series and, especially focused on students, the STARS in the series Kitchen, where students prepare recipes from their countries, and the Students Takeovers, an action in which a student “manages” the alliance’s Instagram account for a day to present his or her daily life.

Emphasis was also placed on the importance of both having a strong corporate visual identity to help solidify the brand and organizing in-person events, which facilitate greater community engagement compared to online activities. The session format was designed so that the presentations were short and encouraged audience participation and the exchange of experiences.

Arantxa Castaño, from UCLM (COLOURS alliance), also participated in this panel on innovative communication formats, and the debate was joined by the director of El Español de Castilla-La Mancha newspaper, Alberto Morlanes; the editor of Castilla-La Mancha Media, Ángeles Sánchez-Infantes; and the director of the newspaper Vecinos, Rosa Nogués, who shared some key points for alliances to improve their information presence.

The meeting, which brought together around 100 participants from 53 universities and 48 alliances, highlighted the importance of communication in these types of consortia, establishing, among other challenges, the connection with the university community and positioning strategies.

The day began with an analysis of management models and communication structures in different alliances, with the participation of Marta Calvo, from the University of Deusto (UNIC alliance), and Eva Fernández Silva, from the University of Seville ( Ulysseus alliance ). Initiatives that enhance visibility and connection with students were also addressed, with presentations by Bibiana Bonmatí , from the University of Barcelona (CHARM-EU alliance), and Jorge Hernández, from the University of Salamanca (EC2U alliance).

Conclusions

A common diagnosis emerged from the discussions: communication represents approximately 60% of the alliances’ activities, but it lacks dedicated resources, allocated time, and institutional recognition. According to the participants, this lack of professionalization is one of the factors hindering greater impact.

Among the concrete proposals generated by the event were the segmentation of messages by target groups, student involvement as content creators, mobile information booths throughout university campuses, and the creation of local profiles on social media. The importance of integrating partnerships into each university’s overall discourse was also emphasized, so that they are no longer perceived as a project linked exclusively to the vice-rectorates responsible for internationalization.

A delegation from the University of La Laguna (ULL), headed by the STARS EU coordinator, José Sigut, took part on 4 and 5 November in the First Forum of Spanish Universities in European Universities (UEUE), held in Madrid and organised by the Ministry of Universities together with CRUE and the European Commission (EC).

The meeting, hosted at Universidad Rey Juan Carlos (URJC), brought together more than 175 representatives from Spanish universities that are part of European alliances, as well as institutional leaders and higher education experts. The forum was conceived as a space for dialogue and reflection to assess Spain’s progress in this European initiative and to strengthen collaboration among the participating institutions.

Established in 2024, the UEUE Forum aims to reinforce cooperation among Spanish higher education institutions through the structured exchange of knowledge, experience and good practices, with the goal of deepening the integration of the European Higher Education Area. It also acts as a support mechanism for aligning national policies in collaboration with national and European bodies.

Presentations and discussion panels

The opening session highlighted the strategic role of alliances as “instruments for transformation and cooperation among European universities”. The different working groups addressed the development of Joint Degrees, the future implementation of the “European Degree”, micro-credentials, and the role of university alliances in transforming higher education in Europe.

Another central topic discussed in the round tables—alongside the need to grant alliances legal personality—was the importance of developing a quality label for proposals submitted by alliances that did not receive the Erasmus+ funding they had applied for.

In the afternoon session, participants joined thematic workshops structured around three main areas: governance and sustainability; funding and administrative management; and student participation and communication.

The second day, Wednesday 5 November, focused on presenting good practices and defining future lines of cooperation. One of the key points discussed was the importance of linking university alliances with regional innovation ecosystems, with particular attention to initiatives in sustainability, digitalisation and entrepreneurship.

In the closing plenary session, participants agreed on the need to create a national coordination network among Spanish universities involved in European alliances, in order to share resources, exchange experiences and strengthen Spain’s position as a key factor in the European Union’s university policy.

STARS’ commitment to the European project

The delegation from the University of La Laguna, led by the Vice-Rector for Outreach, Internationalisation and Cooperation, Inmaculada Pérez, and the STARS coordinator at ULL, José Francisco Sigut Saavedra, also included José Manuel García Fraga, Vice-Rector for Academic Affairs; María Ruth Dorta González, Director of the Degree Programmes Office; and Carla García, STARS EU officer.

For ULL, “this forum has been an opportunity to highlight the work carried out within STARS EU, as well as to strengthen collaboration with other Spanish universities committed to the European Universities initiative.”

Collaboration between European universities is taking firm steps towards innovation and professional growth, and proof of this is the European Alliance of Universities STARS EU, a very ambitious initiative in this field. Made up of nine trusted universities committed to education, research and the dissemination of democratic values in Europe, STARS EU is a real springboard of opportunities for the professional development of its staff.

Someone who knows this very well is Maryvonne Nieboer, lecturer at the school of Engineering at Hanze University of Applied Sciences (Netherlands), expert in Organization and Management as well as Human Resource Management. Nieboer is one of the many teachers who has found in this network an invaluable opportunity to expand their academic horizons, so she does not hesitate to assure that STARS EU opens a “world of opportunities” for teachers and researchers.

As a member of the STARS EU Curriculum Lab, Nieboer places special emphasis on highlighting both the relevance of the alliance and the impact it undoubtedly has on the educational community. “The STARS EU Alliance connects us with trusted partners across Europe. It is a fact that by streamlining processes within universities, we create endless possibilities to collaborate, innovate and grow together.”

A network of collaboration without borders

Teachers who join STARS EU can access a series of benefits designed to strengthen their educational and research work. And one of the most valued aspects is the possibility of working side by side with colleagues from leading institutions throughout Europe, an aspect that Professor de Hanze considers “essential” in order to try to find solutions to problems that affect today’s society. “Sharing knowledge and projects with other teachers and researchers allows us to address problems from a broader and enriching perspective. The internationalization of teaching is key to training prepared professionals who know how to face the challenges of the future,” explains the professor.

Mobility and access to other campuses

Thanks to STARS EU, teachers have the possibility to teach or conduct research at partner universities, both face-to-face and virtually, which facilitates the creation of synergies between faculties and opens up new opportunities for professional development. For Nieboer, academic mobility is a fundamental pillar of the alliance. “Access to different campuses allows us to experiment with new teaching methodologies and adapt them to our own institutions.”

Thematic Interest Groups: innovation spaces

One of the great attractions of STARS EU is the participation in the so-called Thematic Stakeholders (TIGs), in which professionals from different disciplines work together to address global and challenging challenges such as the Green Transition, Digital Transformation, Social Value and Well-being or the Circular Economy. “These groups encourage interdisciplinary work, which allows us to find innovative solutions to the problems facing our society.” On this point, the Hanze researcher stresses that education “cannot be left behind in these changes”.

Towards a more connected and engaged education

For the Hanze University professor, participation in STARS EU not only strengthens teaching and research, but also promotes the dissemination of democratic values and the construction of a more inclusive society. “Every teacher has the opportunity to make a real impact in their community and across Europe, because education is the key to regional transformation,” she concludes.

Full interview, here.

If you’re part of a member university, STARS EU can open doors to new experiences and knowledge. Do not hesitate to contact your STARS EU manager and discover everything this network has to offer you.

Transforming Regions. Empowering people.

The Strategic Alliance for Regional Transition (STARS EU)

A delegation from STARS EU led by Dick Pouwels, coordinator of STARS EU and rector of Hanze University of Applied Sciences (Netherlands), Tomáš Gongol, rector of Silesian University in Opava (Czechia), as well as several members of the alliance’s Steering Committee, attended the high-level meeting organised by the European Commission (EC) to discuss the future of European Universities.

The conference, which brought together more than 400 higher education leaders on 26 and 27 February representing the 65 university alliances operating in Europe, led to a collective debate on the achievements of these five years and the challenges that still remain to be addressed.  The meeting, developed under the slogan ‘Shaping the future: European Universities alliances for a competitive Europe’, served to define the contribution of alliances to the generation of prosperity and sustainability in Europe, without losing sight of the defence of democracy and the promotion of social justice.

The event was inaugurated by Roxana Mînzatu, Vice-President of the European Union, who met afterwards with the rectors of European Universities to discuss the added value of alliances as drivers of the transformation of higher education and agents promoting the improvement of competitiveness, strategic autonomy and progress in Europe.

In the afternoon, the day continued with several high-level debates with rectors from different universities as speakers, and whose opening and closing were carried out by the Director General of Education, Youth, Sport and Culture of the EU, Pia Ahrenkilde-Hansen.

Day dedicated to alliances

The conference on Thursday, February 27 focused on the role of European University alliances, especially in the transformation of the panorama and future of higher education, as well as in the strengthening of cooperation between innovation ecosystems. Other aspects addressed in the different panels of experts were the improvement of synergies between the universities themselves, the mobilisation of regional funding and the research and innovative dimension of European higher education institutions.

‘Shaping the future: European Universities alliances for a competitive Europe’ brought together representatives of all European University alliances, holders of the Seal of Excellence and organisations interested in higher education, including student organisations – which spoke at the event – the European Parliament and representatives of Member States.

The representation of STARS EU, in addition to the rectors of the universities of Hanze and Opava ─two of the nine partners that make up the alliance─ was in charge of Rima Dijkstra, general coordinator of the alliance, José Sigut and Vera-Ferro Lebres, both members of the Steering Committee.

Representatives of the Cracow University of Technology took part in the 2^nd European Universities Conference, which took place on September 4-5, 2024 in Cracow, Poland.

The event, organized by the Foundation for the Development of the Education System, the National Agency of the Erasmus+ Program and the European Solidarity Corps, with the support of Erasmus+ InnHUB Innovation Centers, was dedicated to sharing experiences in the field of European Universities.

Within the European Higher Education Area there are currently 64 European Universities operating, the aim of which is, among other things, to harmonise education, so that students can complete part of their studies at any university in the Alliance, and employees can move to teach at universities that are part of the Alliance or work in the same capacity as they do at their home university.

“The participation of the Cracow University of Technology in the STARS EU Alliance is associated with enormous challenges resulting mainly from differences in the education systems in individual countries. During numerous discussions, we develop common solutions so that projects implemented with international partners bring real benefits, first and foremost for students, but also for the scientific and teaching staff of our university,” says Ewa Siekierzyńska, an expert at the Cracow University of Technology Project Support Centre.

The Cracow conference addressed the issues of good practices, experiences and challenges for Polish universities participating in alliances. The two-day event filled with numerous panels, discussions and presentations was attended by: Dr. Joanna Żelazny and mgr Ewa Siekierzyńska from the Project Support Center, mgr Katarzyna Baron – Lisiakiewicz and mgr Daria Majka-Sitko from the International Cooperation Department, vice-rector for science dr hab. inż. Magdalena Niemczewska – Wójcik, prof. PK and the STARS EU coordinator on behalf of the Cracow University of Technology – prof. dr hab. inż. Dariusz Bogdał, vice-rector for science at the Cracow University of Technology in the term 2020-2024, as one of the panelists during the session “New EU trends in strategy building –  Future-ready learning University”.