A delegation from the University of La Laguna (ULL, Spain) visited Bragança Polytechnic University (UPB, Portugal) last week to explore new opportunities for joint research, knowledge transfer and scientific cooperation within the framework of STARS EU. During the visit, held from 31 July to 1 August, both institutions carried out a programme designed to identify complementary areas of expertise, connect research teams and lay the foundations for future collaboration.

Meetings between the two delegations, led by the Rectors of the respective institutions, Francisco J. García (ULL) and Orlando Rodrigues (IPB), focused on joint participation in European research projects, researcher mobility, knowledge transfer activities and the development of shared scientific initiatives.

Accompanying the Rector of the University of La Laguna were Antonio Aparicio, Vice-Rector for Research and Knowledge Transfer; Roberto González, Director of the Office for University Institutes and Publications; and José Sigut, Institutional Coordinator of STARS EU at the University of La Laguna.

The institutional delegation from Bragança Polytechnic University also included Luís Manuel Santos Pais, Vice-Rector for Academic Affairs and International Relations; Vera Ferro Lebres, Pro-Rector for Entrepreneurship, Employability and Educational Innovation; Vice President of UPB, Albano Agostinho Gomes Alves, together with directors and representatives of the university’s research centres.

ULL researchers

A group of researchers from the University of La Laguna also took part in the visit as representatives of their respective research fields within research centres affiliated with the Portuguese institution.

José Sigut, Professor of Systems and Automation Engineering, represented the Research Centre in Digitalisation and Intelligent Robotics (CeDRI), whose work focuses on technological innovation, climate change and the circular economy. During the visit, the delegation was introduced to a pilot project aimed at mapping carbon capture potential across Portugal, a model that could eventually be adapted to the Canary Islands.

The ULL delegation also included David Díaz Díaz, Professor of Organic Chemistry, and Noelia Cruz Pérez, lecturer in the Department of Agricultural and Environmental Engineering, representing the Mountain Research Centre (CIMO), a multidisciplinary research centre addressing climate change through projects focused on sustainable products and reducing carbon footprints. They were joined by Noemí Peña Sánchez, from the Department of Fine Arts and member of the Art and Creative Industries TIG and representative of the Transdisciplinary Research Centre in Education and Development (CITED), and Claudio Briones Barrera, from the Department of Industrial Engineering, representing the Sustainable Construction Research Group (GICoS) at the Portuguese university.

Next steps

Following visits to the Applied Management Research Unit (UNIAG) and the Graça Morais Contemporary Art Centre, the second day concluded with a strategic meeting during which both universities identified shared research priorities and explored possible mechanisms to strengthen cooperation between the two institutions.

As announced in Bragança by the Rector of the University of La Laguna, Francisco García, this initial visit will be followed by a reciprocal visit from Bragança Polytechnic University to Tenerife to continue developing the collaborative opportunities identified during the meeting. “The visit to Bragança has been extremely productive and has demonstrated the value of this model of institutional visits for the STARS EU alliance, complementing the formal meetings of the Commission, the Steering Committee and the TIGs,” he said.

The Rector of the University of La Laguna also highlighted the strong interest shown by the Portuguese institution in developing joint doctoral programmes, building on the University of La Laguna’s extensive experience and academic offer in this field.

This visit forms part of STARS EU’s strategy to strengthen cooperation among its partner universities by promoting knowledge exchange, collaboration between research teams and the development of joint initiatives that reinforce the alliance’s research dimension.

The second edition of FutureLab Camp generated specific proposals addressing three key areas of regional transformation: the energy transition, hydrogen innovation, and sustainable student living. The programme, which concluded on 11 June 2026 with the presentation of three projects developed from real-world challenges in collaboration with institutional partners from the Belfort-Montbéliard region, was hosted by Marie et Louis Pasteur University (UMLP) and organised in the Blended Intensive Programme (BIP) format.

One project focused on the creation of an Energy, Artificial Intelligence and Data Innovation Hub for Belfort, developed in collaboration with Grand Belfort Communauté d’Agglomération. The proposal outlined a collaborative space integrating researchers, startups, industry and citizens, including renewable-energy-based infrastructure, AI and data facilities, educational areas and demonstration laboratories.

Hydrogen innovation

A second project, developed with Pays de Montbéliard Agglomération, explored the transformation of the former Portes du Jura Polyclinic into a public hydrogen innovation centre. The concept combined hydrogen production and storage demonstrators, interactive exhibition spaces, sustainable construction solutions, entrepreneurship areas and outreach activities aimed at citizens.

More sustainable campuses

The third project addressed sustainable student living environments in collaboration with the Université Marie et Louis Pasteur. Students designed inclusive, energy-efficient and environmentally friendly housing proposals aimed at improving quality of life, strengthening community life and integrating innovative technologies into university spaces.

Multidisciplinary teams

Organised within the framework of STARS EU – Strategic Alliance for Regional Transition, FutureLab Camp brought together 34 students from all partner universities, who worked in multidisciplinary and multicultural teams, addressing real regional challenges related to sustainability and innovation.

The programme combined challenge-based learning with direct cooperation between students, academic staff and regional stakeholders. Following an intensive on-site phase held in March 2026 in Belfort (France), the teams continued their work online until June, during which they developed and refined their proposals into complete projects.

Reflecting on the results, Prof. Robin Roche from Université Marie et Louis Pasteur highlighted the quality of the students’ work: “The level of commitment, creativity and professionalism demonstrated by the international student teams has been truly impressive. Over the past months, students from different countries and disciplines learned how to collaborate effectively, transforming ambitious ideas into well-developed project concepts. Their ability to combine technical knowledge, sustainability thinking and social perspectives demonstrates the enormous potential of international challenge-based education.”

Dr. Halima Ikaouassen emphasised that the diversity of the teams played a crucial role in the success of the projects: “What makes FutureLab Camp unique is the richness of perspectives brought by students from across Europe. The final presentations clearly showed that international cooperation leads to more innovative and comprehensive solutions than any single discipline or national perspective could achieve alone.”

Next stop: Portugal

The second edition builds on the inaugural edition held in Kraków in 2025 and reinforces the role of European university alliances in regional transformation through international and interdisciplinary collaboration. The next edition is scheduled for 2027 at the Bragança Polytechnic University (Portugal).

The initiative, held at the Polytechnic University of Bragança, promoted dialogue on the role of technology in education and its social impact

The Polytechnic University of Bragança (Portugal) hosted the first edition of the Combined Intensive Programme (BIP) “Critical Thinking in the Age of Generative AI – A Transformative Learning Experience”, which brought together 35 participants from nine European universities, several of them from the alliance, to reflect on critical thinking in the era of artificial intelligence.

The programme, developed from 13 to 17 October within the framework of STARS EU, promoted the development of analytical, argumentative and ethical skills in the face of the challenges posed by AI in education and contemporary society. Through several interactive sessions, attendees explored tools such as ChatGPT and image generators, and discussed key issues such as transparency, privacy, misinformation, and fairness in the use of these technologies.

Organized by the Transdisciplinary Center for Research in Education and Development (CITeD), the BIP was structured in three complementary modules that combined theory with practice and interdisciplinary discussion. The participatory approach fostered intense collaboration between teachers and students, in an open and multicultural learning environment.

Immersive experience

Beyond the academic field, the program offered an immersive experience in the north of Portugal, with visits to the Graça Morais Contemporary Art Center, Bragança Castle, Casa da Seda – Science Center and Montesinho Natural Park, highlighting the connection between education, culture and territory.

This BIP brought together students and teachers from universities in nine European countries, including the STARS member institutions: Cracow University of Technology (Poland), University of La Laguna (Spain), Silesian University in Opava (Czech Republic), and Hochschule Bremen – City University of Applied Sciences (Germany). Beyond the alliance, participants came from the University of Vigo (Spain), University POLITEHNICA of Bucharest, Stefan cel Mare University of Suceava, and University of Oradea (Romania), Kajaani University of Applied Sciences – KAMK (Finland), Budapest University of Technology and Economics (Hungary), and the University of Zadar (Croatia).

STARS EU will explore how Joint Programmes — degree programmes jointly designed and managed by universities from different countries — can strengthen international collaboration and open new opportunities for both students and academic staff.

The online workshop, led by several experts from member universities, will guide participants through all stages of developing and implementing a Joint Programme, from defining the initial concept and selecting partners to completing formal approval procedures. Its aim is to provide teaching staff and programme directors with a clear and practical understanding of the entire process.

In addition to theoretical insights, participants will receive practical information about the support services and resources available within STARS EU to facilitate the creation and management of such collaborative programmes.

The workshop (Thursday 23 November, from 14:00 to 15:30 h CEST) will also include interactive components, allowing participants to discuss specific questions, share experiences, and address the challenges associated with transnational academic cooperation.

If you are a member or STARS EU and want to register, click here

STARS Talks returns with a new session focusing on the advantages that STARS EU offers to academic staff, students, and local stakeholders. “Challenges and Opportunities of Integrating STARS EU Activities into Local Research and Teaching Activities” will take place tomorrow (Tuesday, 21 October) from 1:00 p.m. (CET). Martin Holi of Hochschule Bremen–City University of Applied Sciences will present it, and will discuss the integration of European cooperation initiatives into local academic practice.

During the session, Holi will draw upon more than two years of experience in various alliance projects, providing concrete examples of how teaching and research teams can connect European initiatives with the dynamics of their own institutions. Topics to be addressed include strategies for fostering interregional collaboration, linking research with European priorities, and creating synergies between universities and local actors.

The lecture is intended for teaching and research staff, students, and regional partners interested in deepening their engagement with STARS EU and taking full advantage of the opportunities offered by the European inter-university cooperation framework.

The event, to be held online in the form of an interactive webinar featuring a presentation and question-and-answer session, forms part of the monthly STARS Talks series—an initiative of the alliance’s Challenge Lab, designed to share good practices, promote academic innovation, and strengthen the connection between universities and their regions.

Following this first autumn session, STARS Talks will continue with talks scheduled for November and December: “The European Campus: A Living Laboratory” in November, and “Regional Innovation Strategies and Perspectives on Interregionalisation.”

Want to join? Click here

Under the theme “European Innovation Experience: a dynamic co-creative dialogue on how regional innovation boosts the Union of Skills and the twin transition”, three practical innovation labs from University West, Hochschule Bremen City University of  Applied Sciences and Hanze University of Applied Sciences —three of the nine partners that make up STARS EU— presented in Brussels concrete examples of co-creation workshops, robotics and virtual reality-based learning.

The STARS EU workshop, held as part of the activities programmed within the Workshop of the European Week of Regions and Cities, promoted by the European Commission (EC), highlighted that it is possible to develop skills (with and for students) capable of connecting education with industry to build more resilient regional ecosystems.

During the presentation, Felix Rohn, Policy Officer at the European Commission, underlined the need for Europe to strengthen its skills systems and collaboration through initiatives such as the Pact for Skills 2.0, which promote better coordination and faster adaptation to technological change.

Each speaker then presented practical examples of regional innovation and collaboration. The first to do so was the representative from Bremen University, followed by the Swedish and Dutch teams:

• Svenja Tams (Hochschule Bremen – City University of Applied Sciences) presented co-creation workshops with students designed to develop future-oriented skills. She invited stakeholders from regional career ecosystems to tackle the challenge: “How can we design strategic experiments that enable sustainable and human-centred futures in response to the talent challenge within our regional career ecosystem?” Her approach emphasised active collaboration between students, educators and industry partners, reinforcing the integration of skills development with real-world innovation.
• The Swedish team, Stefan Nilsson and Daniel Sjölie (University West), focused their presentation on training trainers using virtual reality (VR) in high-risk scenarios, such as threatening situations on trains. Their work, carried out in collaboration with government partners, is highly relevant for Work Integrated Learning (WIL), demonstrating how immersive technologies can enhance safety training, professional development and pedagogical approaches in applied education.

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  Rix Groenboom (Hanze University of Applied Sciences) showcased how the use of robots and artificial intelligence can detect crop diseases, illustrating collaboration with SMEs and regional foundations to address practical challenges in rural environments. His presentation highlighted pre-competitive collaboration at lower Technology Readiness Levels (TRL), where research and business partners worked together to ensure continuity and scalability within the innovation labs.

The session held today, as highlighted by STARS EU members, served to demonstrate how hands-on innovation labs, cross-sectoral partnerships and educational integration can help address Europe’s skills challenges while promoting sustainable, people-centred solutions across regions.

The success of this fully booked event reflected the strong interest generated by European cooperation in the field of skills and innovation. Participants agreed in valuing the dynamism of the workshop and its ability to link policy perspectives with tangible examples of innovation across European regions.