Bragança will host the third edition of the International Conference on Cooperation in Higher Education (In2CoP), taking place from January 27 to 31, 2025. Under the theme ‘Multicultural Co-creation for Future Societies,’ the event will include the celebration of IPB’s 42nd anniversary on January 28, featuring the awarding of the International Medal of Honor to STARS EU, the European alliance of universities of which IPB is a partner.

The recognition of STARS EU highlights the alliance’s significant impact in promoting internationalization, innovation, and co-creation in European higher education. The formal ceremony will be attended by Portugal’s Minister of Education, Science, and Innovation, Fernando Alexandre, and will include awards and honors, such as the Alumni of the Year Award and distinctions for UPB’s top-performing students.

STARS EU in Focus at In2CoP

STARS EU will take center stage during a day (January 29) dedicated to the impact of European university alliances. The program will feature presentations on the alliance’s achievements and opportunities, emphasizing IPB’s active role as a key partner in STARS EU. A collaborative event will engage the academic community, reinforcing the alliance’s commitment to innovation, co-creation, and multicultural skill development.

Other Highlights of the Conference

In2CoP 2025 will also offer several presentations of research and innovation projects, the launch of the book Design Thinking, by Joana Mendonça, and debates focused on European competitiveness in higher education. Another topic that will become a key part of the discussions is the future of higher education in Europe, with a focus on intensive blended learning programmes and the strengthening of international cooperation. Both topics will take place on January 29 and 30.

One of the most relevant aspects for STARS EU at this meeting, in addition to the special recognition by its partner IPB, is the celebration of a day dedicated to the IGNITION project. Implemented under the umbrella of the alliance, IGNITION is a three-year project that started in May 2022 with Hanze University of Applied Science (The Netherlands), Hochschule Bremen (Germany), South-East Technological University (Ireland) and Polytechnic Institute of Braganza (Portugal), four partner institutions out of the nine that make up STARS EU.

IGNITION’s objective is to strengthen project partners in their efforts to enhance awareness on and development of digital literacy skills of faculty and teaching staff, students, and the external parties they collaborate and engage with for innovation in their regions. Their results will be presented at the conference.

The awarding of the International Medal of Honor to STARS EU reflects IPB’s commitment to internationalization and consolidates its position as a leader in European higher education.

For more information and the full program, visit: https://in2cop.ipb.pt/

 

 

 

The alliance set out the long-term collaboration plan and achievements

STARS EU presented its strategic plans to the members of the STARS EU International Advisory Board (IAB). It was the first meeting between the alliance’s leadership and international experts who will be responsible for providing strategic advice to the STARS EU Commission and the STARS EU Steering Committee (SC) over the next three years.

The meeting was aimed at introducing the alliance, presenting its achievements and asking the international experts share their insights and advice. The international experts will help to design the future long-term strategy for the alliance forming the directions and strengthening the objectives in the fields of higher education, research and innovation. At this point, the five IAB members present ─ Maurits Van Rooijen, Norah McRae, Günter Koch, Pam Fredman and Mirela Muca ─ stressed the need to provide the guidelines  that the IAB could contribute to the development of the alliance in appropriate way.

The AIB stressed the importance of conceptualizing a multidisciplinary and inter-university model of knowledge creation based on challenges that enables teaching and research staff to generate significant advances, as well as to promote the connection between industry and students in order to increase their participation in regional development.

Another of the aspects addressed was the importance of using specific methods of connection to achieve greater involvement of the Chambers of Commerce and industry actors to promote collaboration between the academic and industrial sectors was emphasized.

All these inputs will be discussed in-depth during the next STARS EU Commission meeting, which will take place on 19 March, during the STARS EU Conference to be held at Aleksandër Moisiu University (Durrës, Albania) and to which IAB members are invited to the Conference aiming to strengthening the collaboration and enhancing discussions.

STARS EU thus reaffirms its commitment to advance higher education, research and innovation, with the support and expertise of the International Advisory Board to achieve its strategic objectives.

The IAB, which will meet with the STARS EU Steering Committee twice a year to ensure continuous and effective interaction, is composed of the following members: Maurits Van Rooijen, President of University of Europe for Applied Sciences; Norah McRae, Vice-Chair of World Association of Corporate and Workintegrated Education (WACE); Günter Koch, President of Humboldt Cosmos Multiversity; Pam Fredman, President of International Association of Universities (IAU); Mirela Muca, Director of National Agency for Scientific Research and Innovation (NASRI) and Holger Burckhart, President of Expert Commission ‘Universities’ Future Programme’ and Board Member of European University Association (EUA).