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Author: Aniza Pourtauborde

Students Make Their Voices Heard: Aurora At The European Student Assembly 2026

Written by Aniza Pourtauborde on . Posted in News.

Leading up to the European Student Assembly 2026, students from all over the world worked together on recommendations addressing current European challenges. From 20 to 22 April, and after four months of digital collaboration and intensive discussions, participants gathered at the European Parliament in Strasbourg, France, to further develop and vote on their proposals during plenary sessions.


From left to right: Lilli Fee Schulz, Lucie Badurová, Eliška Karasová and Marko Darabos. 

The European Student Assembly 2026 (ESA 2026) provided students with a unique opportunity to contribute their perspectives, collaboratively develop ideas, and experience the importance of participation in shaping Europe. In addition to the substantive work, ESA 2026 also created plenty of space for exchange, new points of view, and networking with students and university alliances across Europe.

Reflections On The ESA 2026 Experience

Aurora was represented at ESA 2026 by four participants at different levels: Aurora Student Council (ASC) representatives Eliška Karasová and Marko Darabos, ASC alumna Lucie Badurová, and Aurora Student Ambassador Lilli Fee Schulz. They summarised their experience below:

Eliška Karasová, ASC Vice-president and student at Palacký  University Olomouc

As Vice-president of the ASC, I had the opportunity to represent our alliance at the 5th edition of the European Student Assembly together with a colleague from the ASC. As part of an international panel focused on defence and security, I collaborated with motivated students from different parts of the world while discussing some of the most pressing challenges facing European society.

From months of collaboration to our final discussions in Strasbourg, the ESA provided valuable insight into both the topic and intercultural cooperation, which lie at the core of the project. I am grateful to have been part of such an inspiring initiative and to have met so many passionate young people committed to making a difference.


European Student Assembly 2026. Photo © Guillermo Alba Buitrón

Marko Darabos, ASC Member and student at Vrije Universiteit Amsterdam

I had a great time at this year’s European Student Assembly, where I discussed many current European issues. I was particularly interested in discussions on EU project funding, especially how it could be used more effectively to create real impact, particularly in light of the current defence situation and possible implications for the new Multiannual Financial Framework.

I also enjoyed talking to members from other alliances, learning how they work, how they engage students, and which methods seem most effective.

Lucie Badurová, ASC Alumna and student at Università degli Studi di Padova

I am a former Aurora Student Council Communications Officer at Palacký University Olomouc. My journey with the European Student Assembly started in 2023, when I represented Aurora as a Panel Coordinator focused on the EU’s approach to mental health. With my background in psychology and neuroscience, topics connected to the brain and mental health have always been close to me.

The experience was incredibly meaningful, which is why I was happy to return in 2026 as an alumna speaker to discuss neurodegenerative diseases and their wider impact on Europe. ESA has given me a unique opportunity to speak about topics I truly care about while meeting students from across Europe who share the same passion for change. I am very grateful for the space ESA creates for young people to share their ideas on a European level, as well as for the welcoming community that makes the experience so special.

Lilli Fee Schulz, Aurora Student Ambassador and student at Universität Innsbruck

I am an Aurora Student Ambassador from Universität Innsbruck. The past months were intensive, but above all, incredibly educational. I learned how political measures and recommendations are developed and formulated, and how international collaboration can succeed in digital formats.

It was especially valuable to engage deeply with topics shaping Europe today. ESA and Aurora allowed me to actively contribute to a process that can initiate change, and I am very grateful for this experience.

The European Student Assembly clearly demonstrated that student voices can be heard and play an important role in discussions about Europe’s future, drive transformation, and catalyse positive societal impact.

Aurora Student Council Launches Inclusivity Events Across Aurora Universities

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The Aurora Student Council (ASC) framed inclusivity as the key focus of their work in Aurora this year. During the semester, Simona Gibalová, ASC President and student of Pavol Jozef Šafárik University in Košice, introduced an initiative aimed at promoting inclusivity across Aurora universities.


Left to right: Kristýna Raimerová and Eliška Karasová, ASC Board members and organisers of the inclusivity event at Palacký University Olomouc (UP)

Launch Of The First Inclusivity Event

To get this initiative off the ground, each ASC member was tasked with organising an event at their home university. These events aim to address inclusivity in a way that reflects local needs. The first event launching the initiative was held in March 2026 at the Student Club of Palacký University Olomouc (UP).

Organised by ASC Vice-president Eliška Karasová and Secretary General Kristýna Raimerová, the event gathered UP students around a shared Easter dinner with homemade meals, traditional Easter sweets and cookies, and fun quizzes. 

“It was my pleasure to bring such a great initiative to my home university and create an event that benefited our students while also starting a tradition for future ASC representatives,” said Eliška. “What I truly appreciate about this concept is that my colleague and I were able to take the initiative, add our own touches, and create something original and creative in a way that suited us. We truly enjoyed the event, and I feel fortunate to be part of such an inspiring alliance.”


Introducing Aurora and Aurora Student Council representation to UP students

The inclusivity event, and Aurora as a whole, received positive feedback from UP students. Many participants had the opportunity to learn more about Aurora, as well as gain an introduction to the world of student representation in the Aurora Student Council. 

ASC Vice-president Shares Students’ Perspective on Aurora Educational Offers With Aurora Vice-rectors For Education

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Through the Aurora Student Council (ASC), student representatives from Aurora universities are able to voice their vision of European higher education, its challenges, and the opportunities it offers them. In line with Aurora strategic priorities of inclusivity and student engagement, students therefore play a crucial role in helping to shape the educational offers in Aurora. Eliška Karasová, ASC Vice-president and student at Palacký University Olomouc (UP), writes about her experience during a meeting with Aurora Vice-rectors for Education.  

I had the privilege of attending a meeting of the Aurora Vice-rectors for Education, where I shared the perspective of the Aurora Student Council (ASC) as its representative. We focused on the structure of educational opportunities as well as the content of the courses offered within Aurora. We are grateful for the wide range of mobility opportunities offered and see flexibility in student life as part of an inclusive approach that enables everyone to participate in international and intercultural exchange. However, we also emphasised that, alongside flexibility, it is essential to provide strong support and a solid coordination framework for students, regardless of the type of mobility they choose.

Regarding the content of the courses offered, we expressed our interest in courses focused on Artificial Intelligence (AI) and its development and impact across different fields. Courses in European shared history also helps students understand historical events from a broader perspective. Furthermore, opportunities that train skills for future leaders and stakeholders, including general soft skills, will certainly benefit students in their future careers.

We are aware that there are already multiple programmes covering parts of these areas. However, we would like to support making these opportunities accessible to a wider student base. In other words, our goal is to make these opportunities available to all students across the alliance, for example, by sharing best practices or developing joint programmes such as Blended Intensive Programmes.

As a member of the ASC, I was particularly pleased with how our suggestions were received. It was a valuable meeting, and I am glad that we will continue to build on this cooperation to strengthen the connection between Vice-rectors for Education in Aurora universities and the Aurora Student Council.

European Universities Alliances Discuss Project Management And Impact At FOREU4ALL Workshop

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Two Aurora representatives from the Aurora Central Office and  Université Paris-Est Créteil (UPEC) attended  the FOREU4ALL Workshop  on “Aligning Project Management and Impact: A Practical and Strategic Dialogue for European University Alliances”. Held from 15 to 17 April 2026 at the Universidad de Granada within the Arqus Alliance, the event brought together more than 140 representatives from across Europe to exchange on the link between project management practices and impact measurement in the context of European cooperation.

From left to right: Alexander Lindemans (Aurora Central Office) and Matthieu Danteny (Université Paris-Est Créteil)

Project Management And Impact Across European Universities Alliances

The first day of the workshop focused on key dimensions of project management and impact, including planning, data collection, communication, and strategic coordination. Through a World Café format, participants shared practices and reflected on common challenges across alliances. These exchanges highlighted the diversity of institutional approaches while also underlining the need for more coherent and aligned frameworks to support collaboration at scale.

A recurring theme throughout the discussions was the growing importance of impact in European projects, alongside the continuing complexity of defining and assessing it across different institutional contexts. Matthieu Danteny, Deputy Head of the Strategy and Major Projects Unit at UPEC, highlighted this convergence of challenges across alliances:

“Thanks to this World Café format, I was able to quickly discuss with people from other alliances and share my vision on the current state of impact assessment in Aurora. I never had the chance to exchange with counterparts about this topic, and I learned that the majority of them has the same issues, questions, and needs for clarification.”

Developing Operational Tools For Measuring And Structuring Impact

The second day of the workshop shifted towards more operational discussions, focusing on tools and methodologies for integrating impact into project management practices.

In the session “Tools for Challenge 1 – Planning for Impact”, participants explored ways to anticipate, structure, and monitor impact across projects. Outcome of the discussions emphasised the need for flexible and adaptable tools capable of supporting both strategic planning and day-to-day implementation across different alliance settings.

A poster session complemented the workshops, enabling participants to compare approaches and share tools already developed within their respective alliances, further strengthening peer learning and exchange of best practices.

Shared Reflections Across Aurora

From Aurora’s perspective, the workshop contributed to broader reflections on the challenge of ensuring coherent and meaningful approaches to impact across alliances, as well as on the need to combine quantitative indicators with qualitative understanding of project outcomes.

Alexander Lindemans from the Aurora Central Office underlined that impact cannot be fully understood through quantitative indicators alone. He said, “At the same time, it became clear that impact is going to be a key element in final reporting, and not an easy one. Measuring it is complex, and there was a shared recognition that numbers alone don’t tell the full story. Qualitative insights are just as important in capturing what projects actually achieve.”

He further stressed on the importance of aligning internal processes with external expectations, a difficulty shared across European university alliances as they continue to develop their cooperation frameworks, particularly in relation to reporting requirements and long-term coordination.

The workshop concluded with the development of a joint roadmap aimed at strengthening data management and improving impact reporting practices across alliances. Informal exchanges throughout the event also played a key role in fostering dialogue, trust, and peer learning among participants.

European Universities Alliances And Leadership In Focus At The EUA Annual Conference

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On 17 April 2026, Aurora was represented at the European University Association (EUA) Annual Conference in Istanbul, where Rector Silja Bára R. Ómarsdóttir of the University of Iceland spoke in a plenary session on the future of international cooperation in higher education. The discussion brought together university leaders to reflect on how alliances contribute to long‑term collaboration and institutional transformation.


From left to right: Amanda Crowfoot (European University Association), Silja Bára R. Ómarsdóttir (University of Iceland), and Pedro Azeres (University of Minho)

Deepening International Cooperation Through Aurora

Rector Ómarsdóttir drew on the University of Iceland (UI)’s long-standing involvement in Aurora to show how the alliance has evolved over time. She highlighted the shift from Aurora’s beginnings as a high‑trust network in 2016 to its role as a European university alliance from 2020 onwards. This development has strengthened cooperation across partner universities and expanded opportunities for students and staff.

“The value created by Aurora is moving beyond traditional student and staff exchange programmes toward deep, high‑trust internationalisation of education and research,” said Rector Ómarsdóttir. “Through our participation in Aurora, we prioritise institutional transformation that embeds internationalisation into our core structures rather than treating it as an add‑on.”

She noted that Aurora has increased access to transdisciplinary courses, and supported staff development and research cooperation. For UI, this has translated into a multiplication of student interest and participation in short-term mobility, while providing staff with robust frameworks for pedagogical development and research collaboration. This approach positions Aurora as a space where universities can test new ideas, streamline processes, and work collectively towards a more connected European academic landscape.

Leadership and Institutional Alignment

A key theme of the session was the role of leadership in ensuring that alliance engagement is firmly embedded within universities. Rector Ómarsdóttir explained how her university integrates Aurora into its governance structures. As Rector, she sits on the Aurora Board and General Council, providing strategic direction along with other Aurora universities’ presidents and rectors. Furthermore, two Vice-rectors participate in the respective Vice-rector bodies for Education and Research, ensuring that alliance initiatives are directly integrated into UI’s core academic mission.

A primary goal for UI is also to embed the Aurora mission more deeply into the university’s new institutional strategy. The university’s participation in Aurora is a central pillar of its identity and internationalisation priorities.

She also addressed the challenges created by national regulatory and funding frameworks. In Iceland, universities involved in European alliances have joined forces to advocate for more supportive conditions for internationalisation. By collaborating on high-level discussions with the Ministry of Higher Education, they have successfully highlighted the friction between their international ambitions and the current financial model. This coordinated approach has contributed to constructive dialogue with national authorities.

Alliances as Platforms for Future‑Oriented Cooperation

The plenary explored whether alliances are becoming a central model for international cooperation or one tool among many. As a laboratory of change, Aurora’s experience shows how alliances can act as platforms for experimentation, balancing deep integration with wider global engagement.

“I see great advantages in European degrees and access to micro-credentials that students can bring back into their study programmes at home,” said Rector Ómarsdóttir. “We cannot offer all the specialisations that we know our students want to get access to. Short term exchanges and international courses open the doors to more diverse study programmes and expand our students’ horizons, and those of our staff as well!”

Rector Ómarsdóttir emphasised that sustaining this level of cooperation requires trust, shared purpose, and long‑term commitment — all essential for building resilient partnerships across Europe.

High Engagement In First Aurora Student Council Open Session

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The Aurora Student Council (ASC) introduced its first Open Session, an initiative by ASC President, Simona Gibalová. The objective of this initiative is to provide current Aurora Student Ambassadors an insider perspective on Aurora student representation, and the role and responsibilities for these students in Aurora universities. 

The first part of the online session began with a look into the Aurora Student Ambassador programme, then followed by a second part on a regular ASC work meeting. 

Engagement in Aurora through the Student Ambassador Programme

The Open Session kicked off with a warm welcome by Aurora Student Council (ASC) President Simona Gibalová. She outlined her vision of creating a space connecting alumni and potential future members of the Aurora student community.

“In the Aurora Student Council, we value continuity and cooperation, and we care deeply about the entire project,” said Simona. “Since this year’s theme is inclusivity, there was no better way to approach it than by opening our online doors to former and future members, connecting them, and introducing them to the world of student representation.”

Simona set the tone for the introduction to the Aurora Student Ambassador programme by Niels Hexspoor, Aurora Engagement and Impact Leader at Palacký University Olomouc (UP). He provided a thorough overview of this flagship initiative for the student community within Aurora, emphasising on the impressive year-on-year growth in membership, and engagement activities across Aurora universities.

To illustrate the success of the programme, three former members of the Aurora Student Council shared their diverse experiences of student representation in Aurora. All three started as Student Ambassadors, before taking on bigger responsibilities on the ASC Board in the later years in Aurora:

 

Mathilde Chaumont, former ASC President of 2024/2025, reflected on her year as President, as an active advocate for students’ rights at the European Students Union, and her team’s work on the Aurora Student Rights Charter.

 

 

Sören Dahn, former ASC Vice-president of 2024/2025, spoke of his representation at the European Student Assembly and in the seizmic social entrepreneurship and social innovation project in the Aurora 2030 programme.

 

 

Hanuš Patera, former ASC President of 2023/2024, offered insights into his presidency and deep involvement in the work for Aurora at his home university UP, as well as upon graduation at Copenhagen Business School (CBS).

 

 

Inside the Workings of the Aurora Student Council

In the second part of the online open session, the ASC held its regular meeting with its members. Among the key topics on the agenda included updates on the Aurora Student Conference in June, hosted by the Pavol Jozef Šafárik University in Košice, the trainings organised by the European Students Union (ESU), the ESU Conference of the Alliances in Malta, updates from the FOREU4ALL topical group Student-led Community. Part of the conversation also turned to the Aurora Student Rights Charter, and local events at each of the Aurora universities.

By being involved in the ASC meeting, Student Ambassadors were able to get a first-hand experience of what student representation looks like in Aurora, and the wider European student community. Participants also had the opportunity to learn more about student-led initiatives, work to be done, challenges addressed and achievements to celebrate.

Empowering Student Leadership for Democratic Engagement: Insights from the SLIDE Study Session in Strasbourg

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From 16 to 20 February 2026, the European Students’ Union (ESU) organised the study session “SLIDE, Student Leadership Initiatives for Democratic Engagement” at the European Youth Centre in Strasbourg, France. The initiative brought together student representatives from across Council of Europe member states, creating a dynamic space for collaboration, learning, and strategic reflection on the future of higher education in Europe. Insights and key learnings from this event by Alexandra Mihaela Valsan, Human Resources Officer and student representative of the Universitat Rovira i Virgili (URV) within the Aurora Student Council. 

Alexandra Mihaela Valsan, Aurora Student Council Human Resources Officer and student representative of Universität Rovira i Virgili

SLIDE Study Session, Unpacked

The SLIDE study session aimed to strengthen the capacity of student representatives and national unions to defend academic freedom, promote democratic participation, and safeguard student rights. Through an intensive five-day programme, participants engaged with key themes shaping the European Higher Education Area, combining theoretical input with practical skill-building in advocacy, leadership, and project management.

A central component of the session focused on reinforcing participants’ understanding of fundamental values such as academic freedom, institutional autonomy, and the right to education. These principles were explored not only from a conceptual perspective but also in relation to current political and social challenges affecting students across Europe. A masterclass delivered by an international human rights lawyer provided particularly valuable insight into the legal frameworks protecting these rights and the risks they currently face.

The Role of Youth in the European Higher Education Area

The programme also offered in-depth exploration of the Bologna Process and the broader European Higher Education Area, equipping participants with the tools to critically engage with ongoing reforms and to hold institutions accountable. Discussions extended to the origins and internal functioning of the European Students’ Union, as well as to the historical and contemporary role of student movements in driving change within higher education systems.

Throughout the session, particular attention was given to the role of youth in times of economic and political uncertainty. Participants reflected on how crises and global conflicts shape student engagement, potentially both limiting and motivating collective action. These discussions underscored the need for resilient, inclusive, and forward-looking student organisations.

Beyond the academic content, the experience was enriched by institutional visits to the European Parliament and the European Court of Human Rights. These visits provided a tangible connection between student advocacy and the broader European democratic framework, highlighting the importance of active citizenship and participation.

European Students Union SLIDE Study Session workshop on European values

Key Learnings for Aurora

As a representative of the Aurora Student Council, this experience provided a valuable opportunity to present the current state of student participation within the alliance. While recognising areas for improvement, it became evident that Aurora operates within a comparatively supportive environment, where student voices are heard and integrated into institutional processes. This position entails both responsibility and opportunity: to remain critical, ambitious, and committed to continuous improvement.

In line with this, a written contribution was developed and addressed to the Aurora Student Council, outlining concrete and achievable objectives aimed at strengthening its representativeness, efficiency, and overall impact.

Overall, participation in the SLIDE study session has proven to be both transformative and strategically relevant. It has reinforced the importance of equipping student representatives with the knowledge, skills, and networks necessary to actively shape the future of higher education in Europe. The experience in Strasbourg stands as a clear example of how international collaboration can empower student leadership and foster meaningful democratic engagement.

Aurora Students Develop Managerial Skills Through Innovative Tabletop Role‑Playing Games

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Hosted by the IAE Paris-Est at the Université Paris-Est Créteil (UPEC), a new Blended Intensive Programme (BIP) explored the use of tabletop role‑playing games as a tool for developing managerial and transversal skills in students. Supported by Aurora, this BIP reflects Aurora’s commitment to fostering innovative, inclusive, and challenge‑based learning across its member universities.


Table-top role-playing games and managerial skills BIP participants at the IAE Paris-Est, UPEC

Advancing Aurora’s Educational Mission Through Ludopedagogy

Coordinated by UPEC with Aurora universities University of Iceland and Palacký University Olomouc, and other partner universities the University of Skövde and Valparaiso University in the United States for the Scenario Creation Contest, the BIP was  developed within the EdUTeam project at UPEC. Using  a ludopedagogical approach, the programme combined  physical and digital games as learning tools. Tabletop role‑playing games served as a creative framework for students to co‑construct narrative scenarios while strengthening key transversal skills such as creativity, collaboration, and decision‑making,  central to Aurora’s pedagogical vision.

The programme brought together 35 students from 11 nationalities and 14 faculty members representing 8 countries across the Aurora network. Following an online preparatory phase, participants met in Créteil, France, for a week‑long immersive experience at the GamiXlab of IAE Paris‑Est. The initiative was coordinated by Associate Professors Patricia Noël and Philippe Lépinard, with strong support from International Offices  across the alliance.

Throughout the week, students engaged in lectures and workshops led by European scholars from Aurora universities, exploring diverse approaches to integrating games into management education. This cross‑institutional collaboration illustrates Aurora’s ambition to build a shared European learning space grounded in pedagogical innovation.

Tight collaboration between French and international colleagues and students from Aurora universities and beyond

Learning Management With Game-based Scenarios

Working in international teams, students designed scenarios for the role‑playing game Dungeon Crawl Classics, in partnership with the American publisher Goodman Games. Beyond the creative dimension, the activity encouraged participants to reflect on how game‑based scenarios can be embedded into university‑level management courses.

This approach supports the development of essential transversal skills and key competencies in communication, problem‑solving, and strategic thinking.

“It is not the role‑playing games themselves that develop managerial skills, but the pedagogical framework built around them,” explains Philippe Lépinard. The programme also strengthened professional connections within the alliance. As Philippe Lépinard notes, “The BIP allowed us to collaborate closely with international teams and to meet new colleagues, both French and international.”

Hands-on experience in table-top and role-playing games at the GamiXlab

The scenarios designed by the students will be evaluated by an international jury, with the winning project announced during the International Game Evolution conference on 13 May 2026. Students reported highly positive experiences, highlighting the value of intercultural collaboration and the opportunities created through Aurora mobility.

Governance, Strategy And Sustainability Focal Points At The Aurora Executive Committee Meeting In Paris

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In March 2026, Aurora’s vision of matching academic excellence with societal impact came together during the Aurora Executive Committee hosted by the Université Paris-Est Créteil (UPEC). Over two intensive days, members of the Aurora Central Office and Institutional Coordinators from all nine Aurora universities exchanged on governance, educational strategy and sustainability.


From left to right: Thomas Baumgartner, Joan Miquel Canals, Bruno Catalanotti, Jordi Serra Calvó, Anna Savostina, Alexander Lindemans, Chiara Cardigliano, Esmee Paques, Niels Hexspoor, Maria José Montaña Correa, Ivona Barešová, Petra Günther, Pasquale Sellitto, Anne-Karen Hüske, Dejan Lukovic, Fanney Karlsdottir, Svandís Halldórsdóttir, Julia Tackenberg, Tomasz Walicko, Selma Porobic, and Martin Schwell

Governance and Strategic Vision

 The starting point that kicked off the meeting focused on the current governance and long-term strategic vision for Aurora. From governing, managing, to executing operations, Institutional Coordinators (ICs) reflected on the Aurora organisational structure, and the roles and responsibilities of each layer within.

In three working groups, the ICs clarified the embeddedness of their universities in Aurora, the engagement of key leadership roles, and the process of decision-making across the alliance. They further discussed about the position and purpose of external boards.

The thought-provoking exchange on governance set the scene for the sessions that followed on the overall Aurora strategy and in particular, educational strategy. ICs reiterated the importance of institutional alignment in addition to existing alliance-level alignment when it comes to meeting research and education objectives together.

Aurora Central Office members, Institutional Coordinators, and university representatives reflected on key topics over two days of meetings, presentations and workshops

Charting the Way Forward

A broader discussion ensued, touching on the feedback from the Aurora 2030 progamme mid-term evaluation. Members of the Aurora Central Office and ICs highlighted major progress in the first half of the programme, and spoke about the developments yet to be achieved by the end of the funding period in November 2027.

The conversation then turned toward preparations for the future Erasmus+ call that can offer Aurora the possibility of a two-year extension of its programme under the framework of the European Universities Initiative. To better anticipate the writing of the proposal, the group agreed on the creation of a coordination committee where target stakeholders actively participate and have specific responsibilities pertaining to their expertise.

The Aurora Executive Committee meeting closed with a presentation of the Aurora Annual Conference 2026. The in-person conference is scheduled to take place from 18 to 20 May at the University of Duisburg-Essen (UDE) campuses, and gathers over 200 academics, staff, students, and external stakeholders from across Europe. A space to debate ideas, exchange perspectives, share best practices, and chart the way forward as one.

UPEC Hosts Aurora Workshop on LOUIS Educational Tool

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Université Paris-Est Créteil (UPEC) brought together 24 participants for a workshop dedicated to LOUIS (Learning Outcomes in University for Impact on Society), an educational tool developed within the framework of the Aurora European university alliance.


UPEC educators gather during in-person Aurora workshop to discover the LOUIS educational tool

LOUIS As An Assessment Tool For Transversal Skills

LOUIS (Learning Outcomes in University for Impact on Society) is one of the three components of the Aurora Competence Framework, alongside seizmic and BEVI. The framework supports Aurora’s educational vision of equipping graduates not only with subject expertise, but also with the skills and mindset needed to contribute positively to society. LOUIS helps teachers articulate and assess general academic and personal competences within subject-based courses, bridging the gap between broad competence frameworks and students’ actual learning progress in the classroom.

Organised by Christelle Garrouste, Associate Professor in Economics at UPEC, with the support of Martin Schwell, Vice-President for European Affairs and Aurora Institutional Coordinator at UPEC, the event provided teachers with the opportunity to discover this tool as a way to assess and develop students’ transversal skills in higher education.

This workshop served as an introduction to the tool, ahead of a Blended Intensive Programme (BIP) on LOUIS that will take place in Amsterdam from 1 to 5 June 2026. On this occasion, academic staff from the nine Aurora universities will have five days to test the application of the tool in their courses and be ready to implement it in the next academic year.

Left to right: Christelle Garrouste, Florian Freitag and Kees Kouwenaar present the LOUIS educational tool to educators at UPEC

Adapting LOUIS To Teaching Practices

The workshop was led by Florian Freitag, professor at the University of Duisburg-Essen, and Kees Kouwenaar, Senior Advisor at Vrije Universiteit Amsterdam and developer of LOUIS. The session presented the principles and objectives of this educational tool, which enables a structured evaluation of the acquisition of essential transversal skills such as critical thinking, communication, teamwork and problem-solving.

Developed within Aurora, LOUIS is based on VALUE, a higher education learning assessment approach developed by the American Association of Colleges & Universities.

“In Aurora’s vision, LOUIS aims to help students develop the skills they will need in their future lives in order to contribute positively to society and to Europe,” explains Florian Freitag.

The workshop also provided an opportunity to discuss the practical use of the tool in different teaching contexts. Participants exchanged with the speakers about how LOUIS could be adapted to the specific needs of their courses and programmes.

Delphine Adam, a participant in the workshop and a lecturer at UPEC, highlighted: “It is a good basis for reflection that can be adapted to students and to different teaching contexts.”

The session concluded with group discussions and a final exchange with participants, allowing them to explore potential ways of integrating LOUIS into teaching practices at UPEC.