STARS EU

We had the pleasure of hosting a breakfast session at #DOT Groningen, welcoming over 50 attendees from the North of the Netherlands. This event highlighted the impactful work of the STARS EU Alliance and explored ways to strengthen cross-border collaboration in education, research, and innovation. [Stay tuned - after-movie to follow!] The theme of “Building Dikes or Bridges” ran throughout the session. Dikes are important to strengthen the regions. Bridges require effort and intent from both sides, so does international collaboration. But perhaps the most critical bridge is to our students, the future of our regions. The morning was filled with insightful presentations: 💫 Dick Pouwels shared the vision behind the 64 European University Alliances. 💫 Rima Dijkstra introduced the mission of STARS EU to strengthen cross-border collaboration in education, research, and innovation in a united European approach. 💫 Albert Haan provided food for thought on interregional collaboration. The morning was hosted by Elanna V. and inspiring examples of European collaboration included innovative projects on circular economy (e-waste management by Niels Faber), energy transition (Samir JEMEI and Ernesto Pereda), and AI-driven industrial sustainability (BiCoNet by Rix Groenboom and Austin Dsouza, PhD). Join in! We’re looking for more companies and organizations to collaborate with us: 💫 Traineeships: Provide practical experience to talented European students. 💫 Research Projects: Bring your innovative ideas to life with our academic expertise. 💫 Regional Collaboration: Let's tackle shared challenges like climate change, digital transformation and social value & well-being How can you reach the stars? Contact us to get involved! Together, let’s transform regions and empower people. A huge thank you to all our attendees and partners, including Hanze, Université de Franche-Comté, Universidad de La Laguna, and others who contributed to this successful morning.

Thank you Ben, for participating and sharing your experience of the Startup Blended Intensive Program (BIP) on the island of Tenerife!

🚀 𝗙𝗢𝗥-𝗘𝗨𝟰𝗔𝗹𝗹 𝗸𝗶𝗰𝗸-𝗼𝗳𝗳 𝗲𝘃𝗲𝗻𝘁 | 𝗗𝗲𝗰𝗲𝗺𝗯𝗲𝗿 𝟮, 𝟮𝟬𝟮𝟰 🌍 FOR-EU4All is about fostering international collaboration, promoting the European University alliances’ community rooted in European values, and collectively achieving impactful outcomes that enhance the global appeal of European Higher Education, and beyond. Together, we started the project in November 1, 2024 and it includes a community of 64 European University alliances that is open, adaptable, and dedicated to serving society—driving positive change and fostering innovation. 🗓️ Date: 2 December 2024 🕒 Time: 15:00 – 16:15 CET This launch event will be the opportunity to: ✨ Discuss the ambitions of the project and expectations from the European Commission and External Advisory Board Members. ✨ Collaborate with partners committed to shaping the future of European Higher Education. ✨ Open a call for topical groups in order to build a strong community of practice. ✨ Engage with experts driving policy dialogue ✨ Advance a shared communication and dissemination strategy Agenda Highlights 15:00 – Welcome 🗣️ Olga Wessels and Ludovic THILLY, co-coordinators of FOR-EU4All 🎯 Presentation of project ambitions and timelines by WP-Leads: WP2 – Community of Practice: Ludovic THILLY & Alison Garnier-Rivers WP3 – Policy Dialogue: Kevin Guillaume & Sophia Karner WP4 – Communication & Dissemination: Meritxell Chaves & Naveed Syed 15:15 – Keynote 📢 Vanessa Debiais-Sainton, Head of Unit, Higher Education Policies, DG EAC, European Commission 15:30 – Expectations from External Advisory Board Members 🌟 Featuring: Anna-Lena Claes-Kulik, European University Association Lana Par, European Students' Union (ESU) Jakub Grodecki, EURASHE Ana Rita Dias, Erasmus Student Network Anna Gover, ENQA: European Association for Quality Assurance in Higher Education 15:55 – Reflections and Q&A 🗨️ A collaborative discussion with all partners 👉 Let’s make an impact together—ensuring European Higher Education continues to inspire and lead globally. #EuropeanUniversities #HigherEducation 

❄️ It’s been a chilly week with snow falling across three of our campuses! Winter vibes are in full swing, but we’re warming up with some updates and events across our vibrant European university network: Stakeholder Breakfast and International Conference in Groningen: Wednesday marks an engaging morning of connection and collaboration! Bright minds driving the STARS EU mission forward will meet and learn about our shared vision for the future. Stay tuned for the recap! Our new & improved website is in the works: Soon you’ll be able to explore our online universe with our updated academic offer. Blended Intensive Programs: Students are excelling through hybrid learning! Recaps of past BIPs and announcements of upcoming BIPs will soon be posted online. #STARSEU #FutureOfEducation #EuropeanUniversities #WinterVibes #SnowDay Photo 3: Marja van Splunder - Hülshoff Université de Franche-Comté HSB Hochschule Bremen – City University of Applied Sciences Universidad de La Laguna Aleksandër Moisiu University of Durrës Hanze Silesian University in Opava Cracow University of Technology University West Instituto Politécnico de Bragança

STARS EU presents its member universities! ✨ From now on, the alliance will be presenting one of its universities: its history and current challenges. This will help you to understand the motivations of the various STARS EU partners, their territorial positioning and the ambitions they share within the alliance. Today we start with the université de Franche-Comté, its history and its projects. At 600 years old, it is one of the oldest universities in France. Multi-site, multi-disciplinary and committed to European research, it works daily to improve the quality of higher education in all its aspects. The university has found in the STARS EU alliance a strong development driver for its student and staff mobility, bilingual training and advanced research projects. Joining the alliance will enable it to work with the other partners to develop international training, pool major thematic projects and share the skills of its administrative staff and scholars. Let's find out more about its aspirations and projects, please watch the video! #STARSEU #EuropeanUniversity #Alliance Université de Franche-Comté HSB Hochschule Bremen – City University of Applied Sciences Universidad de La Laguna Aleksandër Moisiu University of Durrës Hanze Université de Franche-Comtéé Silesian University in Opava Cracow University of Technology University West Instituto Politécnico de Bragança

Social Entrepreneurship in Tenerife with STARS EU This week, 28 students from across Europe are at the University of La Laguna (ULL) for an exciting Blended Intensive Program (BIP) on social entrepreneurship. After four weeks of online learning, participants are diving into: ✨ Team challenges: Solving real-world business problems in mixed international teams. ✨ Business simulation: Making strategic decisions for a virtual company. ✨ Social impact visits: Exploring inspiring local businesses in Tacoronte making a difference. ✨ Cultural adventures: Discovering La Laguna’s historic charm and the beauty of Mount Teide. Students, enjoy this unique Erasmus+ experience! 🌟 #StudentLife #ErasmusPlus #STARSEU #SocialEntrepreneurship #StudyAbroad #ULL Hanze, HSB Hochschule Bremen – City University of Applied Sciences, Instituto Politécnico de Bragança, Universidad de La Laguna

Students are at the heart of the STARS EU alliance, shaping its vision and initiatives to address today’s societal challenges. Join us online on December 18, as Jula Eichhorn, President of the STARS EU Student Board and a Bachelor student at HSB Hochschule Bremen – City University of Applied Sciences, shares how the Board ensures student interests are championed within the alliance. Discover the incredible opportunities available to students through STARS EU and learn how the alliance supports collective growth and innovation across regions.   About STARS Talks: Hosted by our Challenge Lab, this monthly webinar series showcases initiatives rooted in science, knowledge, and innovation to inspire regional development. Each session features a presentation by a guest speaker, followed by an open dialogue.   Don’t miss this chance to engage with fellow European students and gain valuable insights into the STARS EU universe.   📩 Save the date and join us! #STARSEU #StudentLeaders #Webinar HSB Hochschule Bremen – City University of Applied Sciences Universidad de La Laguna Aleksandër Moisiu University of Durrës Hanzehogeschool Groningen Université de Franche-Comté Silesian University in Opava Politechnika Krakowska im. Tadeusza Kościuszki University West Instituto Politécnico de Bragança

💫 New research findings 💫 European University Alliances: Catalysts for Global Cooperation A new study highlights how European Universities Alliances (EUAs) support international partnerships and informal diplomacy. The findings, based on input from 294 respondents across 201 institutions, reveal EUAs' impact on global challenges. Key findings: Driving global partnerships: EUAs encourage collaboration, with 90.1% noting new partnerships in Europe and 41.3% beyond. Over 60% of institutions also participate in other international consortia, connecting with regions like Asia, North America, and the U.K. Addressing challenges: Funding shortages (54.4%) and ethical concerns (81.2%) are major obstacles. Governments and EU bodies significantly influence institutions, with 96.4% identifying impacts on financial decisions and 94% on organizational matters. Student diplomacy: While 20% see direct influence by student organizations, mobility and exchange programs play a powerful role in fostering intercultural dialogue and cross-cultural connections. Reputation and trust: EUAs enhance global visibility, with 90% citing increased national and international prestige, and 75% noting improved public trust in knowledge exchange and impact efforts. From the HEIDI project, led by Dr. Marina Cino Pagliarello and funded by Marie Skłodowska-Curie Actions. For more information, contact: marina.cinopagliarello@eui.eu or heidi.euproject@eui.eu. European University Institute

Thank you, Jeroen Loef, for sharing your insights into the different types of entrepreneurial students and the specific support they need from educators during today's STARS Talk. If we want to inspire entrepreneurial thinking in everyone, understanding and adapting to these diverse needs is essential. Jeroen highlighted five unique entrepreneurial mindset archetypes: - Pragmatic Innovators - Visionary Risk-Takers - Systematic Executors - Adaptive Opportunists - Resilient Pioneers Each type benefits from different kinds of support—whether it’s encouragement, feedback, performance coaching, or instruction. By creating a learning environment tailored to these needs, universities can empower students to develop transversal skills and a future-oriented mindset that will help students far beyond the classroom. This is the foundation for a more connected, effective educational experience. Let’s keep pushing for policies that support these essential skills! For a recording of the session and a test for the Entrepreneurial Mindset Profiles, please comment below: Entrepreneurial Mindset! #EntrepreneurshipEducation #Innovation #StudentSuccess #STARSEU HSB Hochschule Bremen – City University of Applied Sciences Universidad de La Laguna Aleksandër Moisiu University of Durrës Hanzehogeschool Groningen Université de Franche-Comté Silesian University in Opava Politechnika Krakowska im. Tadeusza Kościuszki University West Instituto Politécnico de Bragança

💫 News: STARS EU completes another stellar orbit around the sun We’re excited to share the latest from Bremen, where over 130 members of the STARS EU Alliance gathered to recognize another year of achievements in our European University initiative. It was also time to look ahead, our alliance of nine institutions is paving the way for a united, innovative, and sustainable future in higher education! Our vision? To drive progress across Europe with three key focus areas: Green Transition, Digital Transformation, and Social Value & Welfare. These priorities are supported by thematic groups working on initiatives like Circular Economy, Sustainable Industry, and Inclusion & Social Justice, ensuring real-world impact and collaboration. In the past 12 months, we’ve: - Built a catalogue of joint academic programs - Established a mobility catalogue and a Technology and Knowledge Transfer Office - Hosted a variety of Blended Intensive Programmes with all of the partners - Launched our open science strategy to share the research from STARS EU - Unified branding across all partners with templates and visuals The journey continues! Our next gathering in spring 2025 will bring new strides in collaboration, empowering our students, faculty, and partners. Together, we’re making the European education of the future. #STARSEU #EuropeanUniversity #SustainableFuture #HigherEd https://lnkd.in/egVXWMAJ HSB Hochschule Bremen – City University of Applied Sciences Universidad de La Laguna Aleksandër Moisiu University of Durrës Hanzehogeschool Groningen Université de Franche-Comté Silesian University in Opava Politechnika Krakowska im. Tadeusza Kościuszki University West Instituto Politécnico de Bragança