NEWS & EVENTS

The ENLIGHT Alliance is supporting a pioneering educational initiative led by Comenius University in Bratislava: the first registered lifelong learning micro-credential in Slovakia.

Launched in April 2026, the programme “Humour as a Communication Tool in Healthcare” is coordinated by the Faculty of Medicine at Comenius University in Bratislava. It highlights the growing importance of communication skills in healthcare and explores how humour can strengthen trust, empathy and the overall quality of care.

The programme brings together academic expertise and practical experience through collaboration between ENLIGHT partner universities – Uppsala University, University of Groningen, University of Göttingen and University of Galway – as well as external partners ČERVENÝ NOS Clowndoctors, Clowns on Call / Clownjouren Uppsala, and Teddy Bear Hospital.

Combining online learning with an in-person workshop in Bratislava, the programme is designed as a flexible hybrid learning experience. It is being implemented with the ambition to follow European Commission approaches to micro-credentials and to contribute to emerging practices in this area.

Supported through the ENLIGHT internal seed funding scheme (Incubator Grant, Round 2), the initiative reflects the alliance’s commitment to innovation in lifelong learning and international collaboration. The course will also be presented at the European Association for International Education Conference 2026 as an example of forward-looking educational practice.

By connecting academic knowledge with real-world experience and a human-centred approach, the programme contributes to shaping more compassionate healthcare systems across Europe.

This year, the international Pharmacy Game team at the University of Groningen, the Netherlands, is delighted to invite educators and professionals from around the world to the 5th PG International Symposium, taking place 21-22 May 2026 in Groningen, the Netherlands, where we will explore how simulation and gamification are reshaping pharmacy education and enhancing practice readiness.

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.

New deadline for submiting proposals is 12th of April 2026.

Find out more and submit your abstract

Learn more about the ENLIGHT Teaching and Learning Conference

In this episode, we take a closer look at how joint blended teaching and learning can be effectively implemented within the ENLIGHT European University Alliance. Dr. Nils Nölke (University of Göttingen) and Prof. Dr. Matias Valdenegro Toro (University of Groningen) share insights from their work combining face-to-face teaching with digital learning formats.

Drawing on their experiences, they highlight the importance of strong teamwork, continuous reflection and improvement, and a consistently student-centered approach. Their collaboration demonstrates how international partnerships can enrich teaching practices and create meaningful learning experiences across institutions.

Listen to it now and gain practical inspiration for developing innovative and collaborative teaching approaches across Europe.

Are you looking for a unique and engaging way to spend your summer? Then join UniTartu Summer School 2026 from 27 July to 7 August 2026 in the vibrant and historic city of Tartu, Estonia! Applications are open until 20 April 2026.

This summer, the University of Tartu is offering 12 exciting courses across a variety of topics, including self-driving cars, Ukrainian folklore, community education, data engineering, information disorders, and many more. Whether you are interested in gaining in-depth academic insight, meaningful international experience, or connecting and networking with like-minded peers, there is a course for you! 

In this episode, Professor Mamadou Kaba Traore dives into the groundbreaking work behind ENLIGHT’s DISRUPT network and the future of urban innovation. Learn how urban digital twins—virtual models of real cities—are helping tackle climate change, improve energy efficiency, and build more resilient communities.

Don’t miss this insightful conversation about how data and technology are shaping the cities of tomorrow.

Tune in now and discover what’s next for sustainable urban development.

The third in-person meeting of the ENLIGHT Academic Leadership Programme took place at University of Galway from 4 – 6 March 2026.

This programme focuses on university leadership, change management and the development of academic talent and high-quality performance in a rapidly changing world. In addition, it investigates the need for transparency and accountability in today’s European universities. Through this programme, participants benefit from a peer-learning environment combining academic expertise, international and ENLIGHT perspectives on leading higher education institutions, and diverse approaches to leadership.

Alina Prince is a medical student at the University of Bern. She serves as co-president on the Student Board of the European University alliance ENLIGHT. In this interview, she talks about why she is passionate about involving students in ENLIGHT and how she has overcome her fear of networking.

From Teaching Idea to Cross-University Collaboration: The trAIns Project in Focus

How does an innovative teaching idea grow into a funded, cross-university collaboration? And what does it take to turn a successful proposal into a project that works in practice?

In our latest podcast episode, Silvia Hlavinková hosts Dr. Ella Grieshammer from the International Writing Lab at the University of Göttingen about the 2024 ENLIGHT Incubator-funded project trAIns. The conversation places the spotlight on trAIns as a concrete example of how the ENLIGHT Incubator Call can act as a catalyst for collaborative teaching across the ENLIGHT network.

trAIns: From Concept to Implementation

Using trAIns as a case study, the episode explores how an initial teaching idea evolved into a structured, cross-university project. Dr. Grieshammer reflects on the development phase, the collaborative design process, and the practical steps that transformed the concept into a funded initiative.

Importantly, the discussion does not stop at the application stage. The episode also addresses the challenges that emerged during implementation - from coordination across institutions to aligning different academic contexts - and shares practical strategies for addressing them effectively.

Insights for Future Applicants

For colleagues considering applying for an ENLIGHT Incubator Grant, the episode offers valuable guidance. Dr. Grieshammer shares insights into the application process, highlights key success factors, and provides practical tips based on her experience with trAIns.

The conversation makes clear that the Incubator Call is not only a funding opportunity, but also a framework that supports experimentation, collaboration, and the development of innovative teaching formats across universities.

Listen to the full episode to learn how trAIns demonstrates the potential of the ENLIGHT Incubator Call — and how your own teaching idea could be the next to take shape across the ENLIGHT network.