The European university alliance ENLIGHT has announced the selection of six new Impact Ambassadors during the closing ceremony of the ENLIGHT Impact Conference held on 28-29 March 2025 in Groningen.
The ENLIGHT Impact Ambassadors represent the awarded teams that have demonstrated to be exemplars in the planning for and achieving impact in the ENLIGHT's flagship areas: health and wellbeing, digital revolution, climate change, energy and circular economy, and equity.
Pioneers in Impact
The six selected teams from ENLIGHT universities have distinguished themselves, setting new standards in planning and achieving tangible impact through their education, training, research and service to society initiatives. Over the coming months, they will serve as role models and inspirational figures for the broader academic community, including academics, management and support staff.
Their mission will be to showcase and give testimony of their initiative's impact pathway, raising awareness about the significance of impact, and championing ENLIGHT's mission to drive meaningful change.
The newly appointed Impact Ambassadors are:
- Alexander Muela, University of the Basque Country. The BIZI suicide prevention program- Psychological Interventions for Mental and Physical Health Improvement
- Kristiane Van Lierde, Ghent University. SMILE: cost-utility and impact of high-intensity speech therapy on Speech, Motivation, and quality of Life in children with cleft palate
- Muriel Grenon, University of Galway. Widening participation in STEM with Science outreach
- Nahia Idoiaga, University of the Basque Country. AWARE: Supporting University Students' Mental Health through Education, Research and Innovation
- Pádraig Mac Neela, University of Galway. Active *Consent programme
- Wim De Clercq, Ghent University. The Lost Ports of the Zwin
You can know more about the Ambassadors Impact stories here.
Diversity of profiles and global challenges
The new ambassadors represent a diverse range of academic profiles and topics, each addressing pressing global challenges. This diversity reflects ENLIGHT's commitment to impact in different areas of society.
The awardees were announced during the closing ceremony of the ENLIGHT Impact Conference, an event that brought together academics from the ENLIGHT universities and impact experts from and outside the Alliance to share experiences about the impact of university initiatives.
Recognition of transformative impact
The selection of the new Impact Ambassadors underscores the importance of initiatives that not only generates and spreads knowledge but also produces tangible changes in society. These teams have demonstrated exceptional capabilities to translate their results into practical solutions that benefit communities and address real problems.
The initiative is part of ENLIGHT's ongoing commitment to foster excellence in education, training and research with social impact, positioning the alliance as a promotor of impact-driven universities.
To learn more about the ambassadors and their impact stories please consult our webpage https://impact.enlight-eu.org/ambassadors
To watch all 15 ENLIGHT Impact Awards nominees pitches, please check the Friday morning sessions here. The Impact Conference aftermovie is available here.
