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.

The staff week will be held on June 1-3 in Bremen.

Hochschule Bremen – City University of Applied Sciences (Germany) will host an in-person event bringing together professionals from across the STARS EU Alliance to reflect, exchange ideas, and advance the development of virtual mobility. The event will place particular emphasis on the student experience, digital processes, and organisational challenges.

Over three days the staff week in Bremen will focus on Understanding student needs and strengthening engagement in virtual mobility. Further more Digitalisation, application processes and recognition of mobility as well as Organisational challenges, implementation and structural anchoring will be main points of the face-to-face meeting between representatives of all the Alliance’s work packages.

Day 1 – Understanding, Connecting, Unlocking Potential

June 1 | 09:00 – 16:00

The first day is dedicated to building a shared understanding and establishing a common foundation for the rest of the event. Participants will explore the connections between mobility, teaching, and digitalisation, with a strong focus on the student perspective.

In addition, the sessions will examine how virtual mobility formats can be better designed and communicated to increase their reach and student engagement.

Day 2 – Strengthening Digital Access, Processes and Recognition

June 2 | 09:00 – 14:00

The second day focuses on the role of digitalisation in mobility, addressing key aspects such as the use of digital tools, application processes, and communication strategies. The aim is to identify structural barriers, improve usability, and strengthen recognition mechanisms across the alliance.

Day 3 – Concretising, Aligning and Embedding

June 3 | 09:00 – 15:30

The third day addresses the organisational and structural challenges affecting the implementation of virtual mobility. It also builds on the outcomes of the previous days to prioritise solutions, assess their feasibility, and define the steps needed for their implementation and long-term integration within the alliance.

For more information, visit: Hochschule Bremen

Hochschule Bremen (HSB) – City University of Applied Sciences, Germany, and Marie and Louis Pasteur University (UMLP), France, both partners in STARS EU, will launch a new academic collaboration within the Business Administration/International Management (BIM) degree programme, which will enable the development of a double degree programme between the two institutions.

Thanks to this agreement, students will be able to complete their studies following the so-called “two-plus-two” model: four semesters in Bremen and four at the partner university abroad, allowing them to obtain two official bachelor’s degrees.

The collaboration will take place within the framework of STARS EU, of which both universities are members alongside seven other European institutions. With UMLP joining the BIM programme as a new partner university, STARS EU moves closer to one of its key objectives: promoting joint degrees and greater academic integration across Europe.

“We are delighted to welcome UMLP as another strong partner university to the BIM network,” says programme director Leena Pundt. “This collaboration strengthens our international profile and opens up further attractive opportunities for our students to gain a truly binational education.”

Powerful linguistic approach

Julie Beugnot, professor and programme director at the French university, explained that UMLP has been working for several years to internationalise its academic offer. The university’s proximity to the German border, together with the existence of an ABIBAC double qualification programme (German Abitur and French Baccalauréat) at one of the largest secondary schools in Besançon, played a decisive role in UMLP’s decision to establish a double degree with HSB.

Ulrich Krüger, professor in the BIM degree programme and responsible for negotiating the new double degree agreement with UMLP, highlighted the importance of finding a partner university capable of helping further develop the integrated international programme. “As a member of the STARS EU alliance, UMLP is an ideal institution for offering a multilingual Franco-German double degree,” he said.

For her part, Célia Berger-Tarare (UMLP), who negotiated the agreement on behalf of the French university, explained that professors from both institutions already maintained strong links in research as well as in short-term training programmes. “We needed to build on this momentum through a long-term collaboration that would also involve students,” she noted.

This new partnership not only expands the international exchange opportunities available through the double degree programme but also brings the alliance closer to its main objective: facilitating joint study programmes throughout Europe. At the same time, it strengthens the programme’s distinctive language-based approach, as students will complete their studies bilingually in German and French while also receiving additional training in English, providing them with the foundation for a trilingual international career.

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.

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.

• 

  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.

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.

The Silesian University in Opava (Czechia), a member of STARS EU, is finalizing preparations to celebrate the long-awaited 5th edition of its International Week, which will take place from May 12 to 16 at the Karvina School of Business Administration, and which this year will pay special attention to the alliance. Designed to strengthen collaboration between academic institutions around the world, this event promises a week packed with learning, knowledge sharing and global networking.

A program designed for academic excellence

This year, the program is completed by STARS EU Staff Week, an initiative especially aimed at the members of the alliance and its nine partner universities, which includes a program focused on fundamental aspects of university administration and strategic development.

In this sense, sessions, both face-to-face and online, will be held for the Steering Committee, officers, communication managers of the alliance, members of the Regional Transition Accelerator, Curriculum Lab ─ joint courses, BIPs, degrees, and micro-credentials, as well as the Co-creation Campus and the Thematic Interest Groups (TIG) Entrepreneurship and Innovation and Digital Transformation.

Participation and key details

Participation in the International Week can be done through the mobility of Erasmus+ faculty and staff or other mobility programs. Another important aspect is that it does not require a registration fee, although those who decide to attend must cover the travel and accommodation expenses by themselves.

Registration and information

To register for this international event and get more details about the program, travel, and accommodation, you can click on the following links:

Registration form: Register

Travel information: Details here

Accommodation in Karviná: Options available

Official program: Check the program

Updates & News: Stay Informed

Experience 2023

In its 4th edition, held from 24 to 28 April 2023, the International Week brought together more than 70 participants from 14 countries and 20 different universities and included, for the first time, the STARS EU Staff Week. The event also offered the possibility of attending courses taught by international teachers ─ which were attended by around 150 students ─ and a cultural program that included different leisure activities, as well as visits to places of interest, such as the local Marlenka factory or the leaning church of San Pedro de Alcántara.