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.

The Swafs project at the funding base of the R&I dimension of ENLIGHT, which started in 2021, has officially closed as of 31 August 2024. As RISE looks ahead to its final reporting stages, the coordination team highlights the many achievements which have come out of the project.

Challenge-based education (CBE) is a core element of teaching and learning initiatives within ENLIGHT. The focus of CBE is on incorporating real-life cases into the teaching of university courses and working on students' 21st century skills. This is a call for participants in the next edition of the CBE training sessions for educators.

The fourth ENLIGHT Teaching and Learning Conference will take place at the University of Tartu from 7 to 9 October 2024. The conference theme is Innovation and Creativity in Higher Education. The two keynote speakers are Laura-Maija Hero, Principal Research Scientist at HAMK Edu research unit, and Jaan Aru, Associate Professor in Computational Neuroscience and Artificial Intelligence at the University of Tartu.

Six research teams from ENLIGHT universities have been selected as the new Impact Ambassadors within our alliance. These teams have distinguished themselves as trailblazers, setting new standards in planning and achieving tangible impact through their research. Over the coming months, they will serve as role models and inspirational figures for the broader research community across the ENLIGHT network.

This year’s EAIE Annual Conference and Exhibition will take place in Toulouse from 17-20 September.

The 2024 conference theme is 'En Route!' and covers a broad range of activities: workshops, panels, poster sessions, addressing all possible aspects of internationalization in higher education. Check out the below overview of the sessions featuring ENLIGHT colleagues.  

The University of Bordeaux hosts an ENLIGHT Meet & Greet for all colleagues working at ENLIGHT universities attending the EAIE conference on Wednesday 18 Sept from 4.30 pm to 6 pm at stand A55. Save the date! Staff members from the ENLIGHT partner universities can register online. Registered colleagues will gain access to an online directory with  participants.

The 5th ENLIGHT RISE and Arqus Alliance Open Science Ambassador Webinar will take place on 2 September 2024 from 10:00 - 11:30 (CET) with a presentation on “The Irrelevance of Non-Reproducible Research” by Erivelton Nepomuceno

The first edition of the ENLIGHT Student Network Bootcamp took place from 12 to 14 July at the University of Groningen in the Netherlands.

On 22 and 23 May, the ENLIGHT RISE initiative kicked off its first-ever Research Impact Training, specially designed for Research Support Officers (RSOs) from ENLIGHT partner universities. This new programme aims to help RSOs better understand research impact and build the skills they need to support researchers to make a real difference in our society.

This training fits right into our goal of creating a culture focused on making an impact. By raising awareness and providing the right tools, the programme is set to help RSOs tackle the challenges of research impact, especially when it comes to Horizon Europe project proposals.

Key Goals and Highlights

The training covered five main areas:

1. Understanding Research Impact
   Igor Campillo and Glória Nunes Rodrigues (UPV/EHU) explained the basics of what research impact is all about.
2. Understanding the Institutional Impact Context
   Esther de Smet from Ghent University talked about how institutions shape and influence research impact.
3. Understanding the Impact Journey and Process
   Áine Mhic Thaidhg from University of Galway walked participants through the steps to create impactful research.
4. Providing Knowledge and Tools for Impact Assessment
   Sarah Morton from Matter of Focus shared practical tools and methods to measure research impact.
5. Drafting a Horizon Europe Impact Section
   Jakob Kuhs and Tobias Hermans from Ghent University gave tips on how to write strong impact sections for Horizon Europe proposals.

Engaging Sessions and Active Participation

The training had a great turnout, with 15 people attending in person and 20 joining online, showing a strong interest and need for this kind of program within the ENLIGHT network.

Over the two days, participants got involved in interactive sessions, group discussions, and hands-on activities. The in-person sessions in Ghent offered a rich experience, along with social events that helped RSOs network and collaborate.

Looking Ahead

For those who could not make it, we offer plenty of online resources and training materials available on the platform: ENLIGHT Impact Training Resources.

This first Research Impact Training by ENLIGHT is a big step towards giving Research Support Officers the skills and knowledge to drive impactful research. By continuing to invest in these programs, ENLIGHT shows its commitment to promoting research that not only advances academic knowledge but also generates tangible benefits for our society.

Stay tuned for more training sessions and initiatives that will keep building on this foundation, creating a lively and impact-driven research culture across ENLIGHT universities!

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ENLIGHT organized a FOREU impact thematic workshop, gathering impact experts of different European University Alliances.  The workshop took place in the context of the ENLIGHT Impact event 2024, hosted by the University of the Basque Country in Bilbao, and counted with the participation of CIRCLE U., EC2U, ENGAGE.EU, ENHANCE, ENLIGHT, ERUA, EUPEACE, EUT+, NEUROTECH EU, U!REKA SHIFT, ULYSSEUS, and UNITA.

Impact experts from the 12 European University Alliances shared and discussed methods, approaches and tools for assessing the impact generated by the European Universities Alliances.

The midyear meeting held in Bilbao was designed as an upholder of areas that need further reinforcement or a more defined vision by key officers and executives.