The ENLIGHT Teaching and Learning conference at University of Tartu began with a pre-event filled with engaging workshops. In the evening, the participants had a tasteful dinner accompanied with the 𝗜𝗻𝗰𝗹𝘂𝘀𝗶𝗼𝗻 𝗮𝗻𝗱 𝗦𝘂𝘀𝘁𝗮𝗶𝗻𝗮𝗯𝗶𝗹𝗶𝘁𝘆 𝗔𝘄𝗮𝗿𝗱𝘀🏆 opened byTiina Jaksman, Coordinator of ENLIGHT at University of Tartu.

We’re excited for the winners! Here are the first three places for the 𝗜𝗻𝗰𝗹𝘂𝘀𝗶𝗼𝗻 𝗔𝘄𝗮𝗿𝗱, announced by the Vice-rectorAune Valk:

🥉 Iker Callado Iza for the 𝗜𝗸𝗮𝘀𝗟𝗮𝗴𝘂𝗻 project that provides academic and emotional support to children under the guardianship of the council at Universidad del País Vasco/Euskal Herriko Unibertsitatea
🥉 𝗔𝗱𝗵𝗮𝗺 𝗔𝗹𝗮𝗮 𝗜𝗯𝗿𝗮𝗵𝗶𝗺 𝗘𝗹-𝗗𝗮𝗯𝗮𝗮 𝗔𝗵𝗺𝗲𝗱 for his 𝗥𝗮𝗺𝗮𝗱𝗮𝗻 "𝗕𝗿𝗲𝗮𝗸 𝘁𝗵𝗲 𝗙𝗮𝘀𝘁" 𝗘𝘃𝗲𝗻𝘁 at University of Groningen
🥈Madeleine Moffatt for Freedom & justice for Palestinian people project at University of Galway
🥇Gaëlle 𝗟𝗲𝗼𝗻 for her project that made the Ghent University more accessible for people with disabilities

Gijs Coucke, Executive Secretary of ENLIGHT announced the 𝗦𝘂𝘀𝘁𝗮𝗶𝗻𝗮𝗯𝗶𝗹𝗶𝘁𝘆 𝗔𝘄𝗮𝗿𝗱 winners:

🥉Emmy Sköld for the 𝗚𝗿𝗲𝗲𝗻 𝗪𝗲𝗲𝗸 project at Uppsala University
🥈Peter O'Neill on behalf of Molly Hickey for their 𝗥𝗲𝗰𝘆𝗰𝗹𝗲𝗱 𝗥𝘂𝗻𝘄𝗮𝘆 project at University of Galway
🥇𝗝𝗼𝗻𝗮𝘀 𝗟𝘂𝗰𝗸𝗵𝗮𝗿𝗱𝘁 for his 𝗖𝗶𝘁𝗶𝘇𝗲𝗻 𝗥𝗲𝗳𝗲𝗿𝗲𝗻𝗱𝘂𝗺 "𝗥𝗮𝗱𝗲𝗻𝘁𝘀𝗰𝗵𝗲𝗶𝗱" 𝗚𝗼𝗲𝘁𝘁𝗶𝗻𝗴𝗲𝗻, who led two referendums for improved bicycle infrastructure at The University of Göttingen and gathered more than 9000 signatures.

These awards are celebrating student-led initiatives across ENLIGHT European University universities! Congratulations to all the winners for their inspiring work related to inclusion and sustainability.

Tune in for the Teaching and Learning Award Ceremony on 8 October at 18:00 EEST.

ENLIGHT European University is actively contributing to the growing movement of blended staff training, using the Erasmus+ Blended Intensive Programmes (BIPs) to offer an innovative approach to professional development. By integrating both virtual and on-site components, BIPs allow participants to benefit from immersive experiences while fostering collaboration before they meet in person.

A recent example of ENLIGHT’s commitment to this format is the 'ENLIGHT Incubator Week,' which brought together academics and support staff from various partner universities to explore curriculum internationalization. During the Incubator Week, participants engaged in collaborative group work, both online and on-site, to design international learning activities. This blended approach allowed the team to lay the groundwork through virtual preparation, followed by intensive in-person interactions to finalize their action plans.

ENLIGHT’s experience echoes the insights shared by the European Association for International Education (EAIE), which emphasizes the value of blended learning in international staff training. Both cases highlight the potential of BIPs to strengthen internationalization efforts by combining the best of virtual and physical collaboration.

To read more about successful blended staff training and the EAIE’s example, visit this article.

We are excited to announce the launch of the Faces of ENLIGHT campaign! Through this series, we will introduce you to students, teachers, and staff from across the ENLIGHT network, sharing how their involvement has impacted their personal and professional growth.

Each story highlights how ENLIGHT helps its members make a greater impact, broaden their perspectives, and foster connections that transcend borders. In the first interview, Martina Vicenova, Communication Officer at ENLIGHT European University, shares her experiences and insights into the power of the ENLIGHT network.

Stay tuned for new stories coming regularly, offering a deeper look into the diverse and dynamic people that make ENLIGHT a thriving community.

Discover more and read the full interviews on our webpage: Faces of ENLIGHT.

#FacesOfENLIGHT

From 12 to 14 September 2024, student representatives from across Europe gathered in Warsaw, Poland, for the European Universities Student Ambassadors Forum (EUSAF) in-person meeting. This significant event, hosted by the Warsaw School of Economics (SGH), brought together ambassadors representing about 40 different European University Alliances (EUA) to discuss pivotal issues and collaborations concerning the future of European higher education. Representing ENLIGHT at the forum was Anette-Mai Pirk-Birk, Co-president of the ENLIGHT Student Board from the University of Tartu, in the picture below.

What is EUSAF?

EUSAF is a platform for students from European University Alliances (EUA) to share their ideas and experiences, and to shape the future of education across the continent. It aims to boost student engagement and build a sense of belonging within and across the alliances, while also providing valuable input and recommendations to higher education leaders and policymakers.

Each year, EUSAF brings together student ambassadors for three meetings—two online and one in person—offering workshops, discussions, and networking opportunities that strengthen collaborations and tackle some of the most pressing challenges in European higher education.

Highlights from the Warsaw Meeting

At the in-person meeting in Warsaw, participants took part in interactive workshops, a lively panel discussion, and numerous group activities, all focused on topics directly affecting their roles and the future of European universities.

• Workshop 1: Exploring the Role of Student Ambassadors and Identifying Key Priorities of the Initiative. In this session, participants discussed the similarities and differences between their alliances, focusing on how student networks are organised and how much influence they have within decision-making bodies, and how many students can and should be involved. Key themes included ways to boost student engagement, increase visibility, and ensure that more students are involved and motivated to take part.
  
  
• Workshop 2: Local Level Engagement – How to Foster Activities and Engage with Local Communities. This workshop explored how student ambassadors can strengthen ties with local communities and organisations. The group shared their own skills and experiences, discussing ways to collaborate with local stakeholders and mapping out the organisations they wished to partner with. They also explored innovative forms of student participation and empowerment within the alliances, looking at new mechanisms and programmes to boost involvement. By sharing best practices and lessons learnt from other student engagement and capacity-building initiatives, the ambassadors were able to brainstorm creative methods to drive participation and make a lasting impact in their communities.
  
  
• Panel Discussion. A key moment in the meeting was a panel discussion featuring the three most-voted posters from the alliances. Ambassadors had the chance to present their posters and share successful practices within their alliances.
  
  
• Group discussions: Sharing Best Practices and Addressing Key Challenges. Student ambassadors shared best practices from their alliances and addressed crucial topics such as effective communication within alliances, promoting green mobility, and ensuring continuity through succession planning. The discussion also touched on future scenarios and visions for the development of higher education in Europe through the European University Alliances and other platforms of cooperation.

Beyond discussions, the event provided a fantastic opportunity for capacity-building. Organised in collaboration with the Erasmus Student Network, it allowed ambassadors to forge meaningful connections, learn from one another, and explore new approaches to the challenges faced by their alliances. These insights are sure to benefit the ENLIGHT Student Network and inspire future initiatives.

Looking Ahead

The EUSAF meeting in Warsaw was much more than just a gathering—it was a chance for student leaders to come together, learn from one another, and return to their alliances with fresh ideas and renewed energy. We’re excited to see how these discussions will continue to shape the future of European higher education.