NEWS & EVENTS

ENLIGHT has published its first Impact Assessment Report, offering an in-depth analysis of the alliance’s achievements and transformative effects since its launch in 2020. The ENLIGHT Impact Narrative 2020–2025 presents evidence of how the alliance is evolving from a project-based collaboration into a more integrated, impact-driven European University Alliance grounded in shared values of sustainability, inclusiveness, and diversity

During the last week of January 2026, Comenius University Bratislava welcomed twenty motivated future teachers from five universities of the ENLIGHT alliance to take part in an intensive course on Inclusive Education. The course was designed for students in teacher education programmes with the aim of preparing them to work sensitively and effectively with the diverse needs of pupils.

Each of the five in-person days consisted of three workshops in which lecturers introduced participants to key concepts of inclusive education: a sense of belonging (Cohen, 2022), relationship-rich education (Felten and Lambert, 2020), the classroom as a safe and democratic space (bell hooks, 2002), and inclusive approaches to assessment. Discussions and interactive activities were intended to support reflection and the practical application of these ideas in participants’ own future teaching practice.

The course was led by Doctor Gabriela Pleschová together with her colleagues from Comenius University in Bratislava – Doctor Agnes Simon, Doctor Ivana Juríková, and Doctor Simona Bajáková – and by Doctor Mahshid Alvandi from the University of Groningen. Together they created a supportive international environment for joint learning and the sharing of experiences. The curriculum was also co-developed with the involvement of Doctor Angelika Thielsch from the University of Göttingen.

The course received highly positive feedback from students, who rated it 9 out of 10 in an anonymous survey. Participants particularly appreciated the discussions that formed part of every workshop, during which they could “hear the opinions of people from different countries and experience the international dimension of teaching.” One student highlighted the strong link between the course and practice:

“The course provided us with a wide range of inclusive teaching strategies that we can use in our future pedagogical practice. The excursion to the Rozmanitá school was one of the most valuable elements for me, as it allowed us to see the practical application of these strategies directly in the field.”

In February, students will complete their final assignments and take part in an online meeting where they will jointly evaluate and formally conclude the course.

The call for papers for the 2026 ENLIGHT Teaching and Learning Conference in Bern is now open. Share innovative teaching ideas, connect with the ENLIGHT community, and inspire learning beyond the classroom. The conference focuses on contextualized learning, connecting knowledge and skills to meaningful real-world contexts.

Find out more and submit your abstract

Learn more about the ENLIGHT Teaching and Learning Conference

Register for a free course developed by 5 European universities in collaboration with professional healthcare clowns and learn how to use humor effectively in healthcare and everyday interactions! A joint lifelong learning initiative by Comenius University Bratislava, University of Groningen, Uppsala University, University of Göttingen, University of Galway, ČERVENÝ NOS Clowndoctors (Slovakia), and hospital clowns of Uppsala, Clownjouren.

Humor matters. When used thoughtfully, it can strengthen communication, reduce stress, and build trust in healthcare and care-related settings.

Humour Matters: Laughter and Democracy is an international, interdisciplinary workshop bringing together doctoral researchers in Tallinn, Estonia, on 23-24 April 2026. The workshop explores humour as both a democratic resource and a site of conflict.

Humour can enable critique, solidarity, and resistance, however, it can also foster exclusion, polarisation, and harm. The workshop examines these tensions through humour theory, legal perspectives, political satire, platform governance, and civic education. Its central aim is to identify key research questions at the intersection of humour and democracy and to equip doctoral researchers with conceptual tools and methodological approaches relevant for future research projects.

How can scientific knowledge better support ocean-smart decision-making and policy? Within the framework of the ENLIGHT+ OceanIQ project, a two-day hybrid seminar series entitled “Raising your OceanIQ: Fostering Ocean Literacy for Ocean-Smart Decision and Policy Making” will take place on 12–13 February 2026 at the University of Groningen, with the option to join online.

In June 2026, the Gotland Game Conference (GGC) celebrates its 20th anniversary. For the first time, the conference will host an ENLIGHT Regional Academy as a dedicated track, co-organised by Uppsala University and Region Gotland.

Taking place 8–10 June 2026 in Visby, Gotland (Sweden), this Regional Academy brings together academics, public authorities, industry actors, and local communities to explore how game design, gamification, and cultural and creative industries can support education, innovation, and sustainable regional development — particularly in rural contexts.

In a time characterised by information overload, increased political polarisation, and complex global issues from poverty to climate change, developing strategies to navigate this complex landscape is of upmost importance.

As ENLIGHT marked its fifth anniversary at the General Meeting in Bratislava from 2-4 December 2025, the moment offered more than a chance to reflect on achievements — it opened space to look ahead. Hosted by Comenius University Bratislava, the gathering brought together the ENLIGHT community to discuss shared priorities, celebrate milestones, and consider how the alliance can continue to grow as a values-driven European University.

Few people are better placed to reflect on this moment than Associate Professor Jozef Tancer, whose long-standing engagement in international cooperation and academic leadership has closely intersected with ENLIGHT’s development. From strengthening cross-border collaboration to shaping how universities respond to societal challenges, his perspective bridges institutional experience with a clear vision for the future.