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Author: Aniza Pourtauborde

Learning Through Diversity: Aurora Students Explore Multilingualism And European Identity At The Universitat Rovira i Virgili

Written by Aniza Pourtauborde on . Posted in News.

The Universitat Rovira i Virgili (URV) recently hosted the Blended Intensive Programme (BIP) Linguistic Diversity, Interculturality and European Identity. The programme brought together students from Aurora universities to explore multilingualism, intercultural competence and the role of linguistic diversity in fostering a shared European identity.


Attendees of the Linguistic Diversity, Interculturality and European Identity BIP

Organised in collaboration with Aurora partners Universität Innsbruck (UIBK), Palacký University Olomouc (UP) and Università Federico II of Naples (UNINA), the programme combined online learning with an intensive on-site week in Tarragona. The course was designed collaboratively by the four institutions, with lecturers from each partner university contributing to the different modules. For instance, Prof. Lídia Gallego co-teached one of the modules with Prof. Ulrike Jessner, both specialists in multilingualism.

This year’s edition welcomed 21 mobility students, 8 local students and 5 lecturers at URV. Previous editions attracted a similar number of participants, demonstrating the programme’s growing appeal across the Aurora alliance. In fact, according to Prof. Gallego, interest has increased significantly, with many more applications received than could be accepted, as participation was capped at 30 students.

One of the most valuable aspects of the programme was its innovative approach. “Through a carefully designed combination of online and on-site components, participants engaged in collaborative learning that required them to navigate linguistic diversity and intercultural interaction in authentic academic contexts,” explains Prof. Gallego. Working in multilingual and intercultural groups enabled students and staff from different Aurora universities not only to learn about these topics, but also to put them into practice throughout the programme.

The edition hosted by the URV was particularly enriched by its coincidence with Sant Jordi, one of Catalonia’s most emblematic cultural celebrations. Participants also had the opportunity to experience other university and local cultural events taking place during the same period, including Aurora Gastro Week and Lletra Fest, the Faculty of Humanities’ literature festival.


Intensive in-person classes on multilinguism, diversity and interculturality

Building European Identity Through Cultural Exchange And Short-Term Mobility

Beyond the academic programme, participants connected in informal settings and experienced local culture first-hand. On Monday, students from URV and Aurora Student Ambassadors organised a beach volleyball activity on one of Tarragona’s beaches, creating a relaxed environment for intercultural exchange and community building.

For Prof. Gallego, the programme offers significant benefits for students. It provides an international and Erasmus-like experience without requiring them to leave their home university for an extended period. Students can put their multilingual skills into practice, particularly by using English intensively throughout the week and during the online sessions, while gaining new perspectives on interculturality, identity and multilingualism. The programme also introduces them to the international mobility opportunities available through URV and the Aurora alliance.

The BIP format offers several advantages. It allows students to experience international mobility before committing to a long-term Erasmus exchange, helping them overcome potential concerns about studying abroad. Academically, students can complete an elective course in an intensive format and have it recognised as part of their degree. At the same time, the short duration makes participation more accessible, as students do not need to relocate, secure accommodation or establish a new social network.

Reflecting on the overall outcomes, Prof. Gallego notes that the experience had “a strong educational and personal impact, strengthening participants’ intercultural competences and reaffirming the value of European cooperation in higher education.”

The initiative reflects Aurora’s commitment to promoting diversity, inclusion and international collaboration through innovative learning experiences. By encouraging participants to engage with different languages, perspectives and cultures, the programme contributes to building a more connected and inclusive European Higher Education Area.

The next edition of the BIP has already been confirmed and will take place at Universität Innsbruck in February 2027.

Aurora Joins Discussions On Community Engagement At FOREU4ALL Workshop In Strasbourg

Written by Aniza Pourtauborde on . Posted in News.

From 1 to 4 June 2026, four Aurora representatives attended FOREU4ALL’s third transversal workshop “From Campuses to Communities: Enhancing Engagement and Sense of Belonging in European Universities”, at the European Parliament in Strasbourg, France. Hosted by EPICUR alliance, the workshop gathered 140 attendees in-person from over 50 European university alliances, as well as online participants from across Europe.

Participants of FOREU4ALL Workshop 3 “From Campus to Communities”

Building A Shared European University Community

Organised by the FOREU4ALL Community Engagement, and Communication and Dissemination Topical Groups, within which Aurora is actively represented, the event explored community engagement, inclusion, and the role of communication to further build a shared European Universities community and identity.

Through keynote speeches, plenary sessions, poster presentations, and collaborative workshops, participants addressed one of the most important challenges faced by European Universities Alliances (EUAs): how to embed genuine connection and inculcate a sense of belonging for students, staff, academics and stakeholders involved within alliances as well as their institutions.

Aurora representatives Aniza Pourtauborde and Anaïs Warda Kaci (Université Paris-Est Créteil), Alma Ágústsdóttir (University of Iceland), and Ulrike Jessner-Schmid (Universität Innsbruck), joined colleagues in discussions on building thriving communities that extend beyond individual campuses. During the poster session, Aniza and Alma presented the Aurora Student Ambassador programme, one of the cornerstones of student engagement in Aurora.

As Head of Communications Strategic Programmes, Aniza stressed on the importance of working closely with the student community to raise visibility on the impact of the opportunities Aurora provides to students through its educational offers, international mobility, and involvement in Aurora governance structures.

Former Aurora Student Council (ASC) President, Alma echoed this further by showing how student-led activities have strengthened the foundation of student engagement in Aurora. Through the ASC and the Student Ambassador programme, students from Aurora universities meet in-person twice a year to work on formal structures and practices that embed the student voice at every level in Aurora. During these meetings, students also exchange institutional best practices through peer-to-peer learning workshops.

Poster session with Aniza Pourtauborde and Alma Ágústsdóttir
Aurora Student Council Member Anaïs Warda Kaci with student colleague

Engagement, Identity And Sense Of Belonging

A recurring theme throughout the workshop was that a sense of belonging cannot be created through communication campaigns alone. Attendees underlined shared values, and meaningful participation and opportunities, as criteria for personal connection. Discussions followed on moving alliances beyond administrative frameworks to create communities that inspire commitment, collaboration and a shared identity.

Over the two days, participants brainstormed on the following themes during several parallel workshops:

  • Reinforcing the sense of belonging through values, interpersonal relations and Europe.
  • Strengthening awareness, local visibility and understanding of European Universities Alliances.
  • Overcoming mobility barriers, inclusion and diversity in EUAs.
  • Improving motivation through formal recognition.
  • Understanding the value of EUAs.

Aurora actively contributed during two workshops, presenting the groups’ proposals on prototype opportunities that have the potential to engage institutional students and staff at the alliance level.

From Ideas to Action

One of the most productive elements of the workshops was the collaborative design process. Working groups developed practical prototypes aimed at strengthening engagement and community-building across EUAs. Proposed initiatives ranged from cultural and artistic projects, to innovative Blended Intensive Programmes, and shared research databases, networking activities and new approaches to communication and outreach. These proposals, along with other outcomes of the workshops, will be made available through the FOREU4ALL website.

A critical point that emerged from this two-day event was the necessity for targeted and inclusive communication. Rather than relying solely on institutional messaging, alliances must engage professors, student representatives, alumni and local communities as ambassadors of the EUAs’ vision.

Building strong communities requires continuous dialogue, active participation and opportunities for meaningful interaction. For Aurora, the event reinforced the importance of collaboration between alliances and demonstrated how shared challenges can become opportunities for collective learning and innovation.

Students Contribute To Governance, Collaboration And Community Building in Aurora

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Student participation within Aurora is shaped by both formal governance structures and collaborative learning practices. At the Aurora Annual Conference 2026 hosted by the University of Duisburg-Essen (UDE), the plenary session “Window into Student Representation” and the Peer-to-Peer Learning Workshop explored how students contribute to governance, collaboration and community building across the alliance.

From left to right: Eliška Karasová, Emelie Schultz, Simona Gibalová, Alma Ágústsdóttir, and Erin Gourves. © Photo credit: eventfotograf.in

Student Voice In European Governance Frameworks

The plenary session at the Aurora Annual Conference 2026 brought together members of the Aurora Student Council (ASC), including ASC President Simona Gibalová (Pavol Jozef Šafárik University in Košice), ASC Vice-president Eliška Karasová (Palacký University Olomouc), ASC member Emelie Schultz (Copenhagen Business School), and former ASC President Alma Ágústsdóttir (University of Iceland). The session was moderated by ASC member Erin Gourves (Université Paris-Est Créteil).

The panel highlighted developments in student governance within Aurora, including work on the Aurora Students’ Rights Charter as a shared framework across student cohorts, and the integration of Aurora student representation into broader European structures, particularly through the European Students’ Union (ESU).

Speakers also discussed inter-alliance collaborations like FOREU4ALL, which brings together European university alliances to exchange on democratic student representation and the accessibility of student mobility. Panelists touched upon the European Student Assembly (ESA), a gathering of student representatives from various European alliances working on codes of conduct and governance frameworks to improve transparency.

These initiatives reflect the gradual embedding of student voice within European-level governance structures, moving towards more formalised and sustained engagement.

Simona Gibalová, President of the Aurora Student Council, emphasised the importance of strengthening students’ role within Aurora’s governance structures. “For me, the most important priority for strengthening student participation within Aurora is the active and systematic inclusion of students in decision-making and governance structures. At the same time, it is essential to foster students’ intrinsic motivation to engage in shaping the future of higher education.”

The session highlighted ongoing challenges such as onboarding processes, local coordination, the need for dedicated staff for student engagement, and the importance of recognising student engagement through formal mechanisms such as certification. To address these challenges, the ASC introduced a new role on its Board to support continuity between cohorts and guide new members more effectively.

Erin Gourves, ASC member underlined the dual nature of effective student participation. “Students play a meaningful role in international cooperation and in strengthening inter-university relationships. Effective student representation relies on two complementary elements: student engagement itself, and institutional support for student-led initiatives.”

Peer Learning And Collaborative Exchange

Aurora Student Ambassadors and ASC members met on the final day of the conference to exchange practices across institutions, with a particular focus on onboarding processes and strengthening collaboration between universities within the alliance.

Undertaken with the Aurora 2030 T7.2 Development of Aurora Student Community, the Peer-to-Peer Learning Workshop explored peer learning as a collaborative practice based on discussion, mentoring and reciprocal teaching.

Students identified a range of effective tools and formats, including Menti, Kahoot, post-it exercises, Miro boards and structured feedback sessions, while noting that unmoderated breakout rooms tend to limit participation and reduce interaction.

Peer-to-peer learning workshop on onboarding processes and best practices across Aurora universities. 

From Institutional Structures To Collaborative Student Communities

Both sessions converged on a shared observation: student engagement within Aurora is increasingly shifting from formal governance roles towards more co-creative and networked forms of participation and community building.

Rather than being confined to institutional frameworks, students are actively contributing through peer learning, inter-university collaboration and informal exchanges that strengthen collective identity across the alliance.

Strengthening support mechanisms, ensuring continuity and enabling sustained cooperation will therefore be essential in consolidating this ongoing development within Aurora.

A Conversation With Matthias Beekmann and Sander Bosch: Research Communities, Open Science And Assessment Reform In Aurora

Written by Aniza Pourtauborde on . Posted in News.

Researchers and academics Matthias Beekmann and Sander Bosch reflected on the evolution of research collaboration, open science practices and research assessment within Aurora. Their exchange highlighted both the progress achieved and the structural challenges that still shape the academic landscape in Europe.

This conversation was led by Marie Jadrnickova, Aurora Research Officer at Palacký University Olomouc, combining learnings from the Horizon 2020 project – Aurora Research and Innovation for Societal Impact (Aurora R&I), and the European Universities Initiative – Aurora 2030. She speaks with Matthias Beekmann, President of the Aurora Research Council at Université Paris-Est Créteil (UPEC), and Sander Bosch, Open Science Coordinator at Vrije Universiteit Amsterdam.

Expanding The Scope And Culture Of Open Science

Over the past few years,  initiatives undertaken within both projects have connected grant offices, HR teams, technology transfer units and experts in open and citizen science across Aurora.

Marie: Aurora continues to build on its open science activities. Can you tell us what the starting point was and where we are now?

Sander: Open science is a very broad concept and has been broadened over the past ten years from a focus on open access to publications to also sharing data and software. We are broadening the horizon of why we do this, also toward society, and that is where the open science agenda fits well with Aurora.

Open science is a means to an end. We do not want transparency for transparency’s sake; we want it to connect better to society. Over the past few years, we have worked within Aurora to think about what needs to happen to make open science the norm and to connect it to society.

We identified several areas of action: infrastructure to make it possible for researchers, students and staff to work transparently; support and training to give them the skills they need; and community building, as there are many enthusiastic people across our universities who want to learn from each other. Recognition and rewards, as well as policy, are also crucial. We cannot expect anyone to change their ways without recognising and rewarding the effort this requires.

We have worked on a shared training platform, a monitor for assessment and the development of open science communities across Aurora universities.

Strengthening Research Collaboration Across the Alliance

Marie: Matthias, you are also creating a community. What kind of community are you trying to build?

Matthias: In the first years of Aurora, we made good progress in creating communities at the governance level, at the research and administrative level and among students. Our new aim is to create a community of academic researchers and teachers and to make researchers work together.

We launched a Call for Incentive Research Collaboration with the aim of making academics work together on small projects. We do not aim for finalised research but for small projects with new ideas that bring people together. We created the Aurora Research Council to evaluate these projects, with members from all nine universities.

A question was how Aurora researchers could find colleagues in other universities. This now works well thanks to open science tools and the mapping of scientific infrastructures from the previous Aurora R&I project. These first steps turned out to be extremely helpful.

Marie: You mentioned challenges related to mindset and institutional culture. Can you explain further?

Sander: To work more transparently, you need to rethink what academia is and how you do research. This requires a transformational change at almost all levels of the university. Students need new skills, teachers must adapt, researchers must think about sharing their results throughout the research process, and administrative staff need specific expertise to support open metadata, open data and open software. Leadership also needs to support this and create policies to embed it.

National context is crucial. If open science is not on the national agenda, it is difficult for single universities to change the system. This is a collective action problem: we need to move toward open science all or none. Within Aurora, we help each other by sharing what is already in place at different institutions.

Bridging Research, Teaching And New Approaches To Assessment

Marie: Limited funding often reinforces the separation between research and education. How difficult is it to connect educators and scientists, and how is Aurora addressing this?

Matthias: Research and teaching need to go together. This is one of the foundations of the university because both can give positive impulses to each other. In Aurora, we have six thematic hubs meant to bring research and teaching together: Sustainability and Climate Change, Digital Society and Global Citizenship, Health and Well‑being, Culture: Identities and Diversities, Social Entrepreneurship and Innovation, and Peace Education.

These thematic choices reflect Aurora’s values and focus on societal problems. We ask project leaders how they can integrate into these hubs, what they can bring and how their research can fertilise the hubs. In the future, we want to integrate a teaching component directly into the research call so that projects deal with both at the same time.

Marie: How connected are the agendas of open science and open educational resources?

Sander: Not enough. The principles underlying open science relate well to Aurora’s values of science as a collective benefit and science for equity, diversity and inclusion. But research and education are often governed in silos, even though most teachers are also researchers and most researchers also teach. Adding an educational component to the research call is a good way to connect them.

Marie: Aurora is also paying attention to the reform on research assessment known as CoARA. How is it related to open science?

Sander: There is general discontent with the way we assess research. People are often promoted based on research outputs and publications, while academic work is much more diverse. More than 450 institutions have signed the coalition for advancing research assessment. This is a collective action problem; we can only do this if we work together. One requirement for open science is changing research assessment and making it broader.

Matthias: Within Aurora, we conducted interviews with university representatives to understand current practices and future plans for implementing CoARA. We focus on recruitment and evaluation of academic personnel. The aim is to move toward more qualitative criteria that take into account investment in open science, society‑related questions, science mediation and citizen science.

These criteria need to be included in researchers’ evaluation. Qualitative evaluation requires peers, so one idea is to form a group of people within Aurora who could serve as external members of evaluation boards in partner universities. So that is a really concrete first step that we share practices within Aurora and then qet some internationalization also into this part of our university life.

 

This conversation is part of a series called “A Conversation With…” undertaken within the framework of the Aurora 2030 programme supported by the European Commission. It is an interview format that focuses on a specific topic and is meant to inspire its readers to reflect on and catalyse positive impact. The exchange is available in its original format on the Aurora YouTube channel.

Aurora Annual Conference Highlights Path From Academic Research To Entrepreneurship

Written by Aniza Pourtauborde on . Posted in News.

How can universities help transform research into concrete solutions that benefit society? This question was at the center of the plenary session “Innopreneurship: From Peer Review to Revenue”, held recently at the Aurora Annual Conference 2026 hosted by the University of Duisburg-Essen (UDE).


From left to right: Prof. Dr. Hannes Rothe, Lena Katharina Bödeker, Dana Pietralla, Prof. Anne-Karen Hüske, and Dr. Tomasz Waliczko. © Photo credit: eventfotograf.in

At the Aurora Annual Conference 2026, experts from academia, entrepreneurship, and innovation ecosystems, explored how researchers and students can be better supported in turning knowledge into societal and economic impact. The panel featured Prof. Dr. Hannes Rothe, Professor and Chair of Sustainability and Innovation in Digital Ecosystems at the University of Duisburg-Essen (UDE); Lena Katharina Bödeker, twice Founder and Advisor at JUNI; Dana Pietralla, Co-founder of paged and Cognitive Science Researcher; and Prof. Anne-Karen Hüske from Copenhagen Business School (CBS). The plenary session was moderated by Dr. Tomasz Waliczko of UDE.

At The Intersection Of Academia And Entrepreneurship

Prof. Dr. Hannes Rothe highlighted the importance of helping doctoral candidates and postdoctoral researchers translate scientific knowledge into entrepreneurial opportunities. While advocating for stronger entrepreneurial engagement, he also emphasised the continuing importance of curiosity-driven research, noting that today’s fundamental discoveries can become tomorrow’s breakthrough innovations. He further stressed the value of exposing students to entrepreneurship early in their academic journey and proposed more collaborative, interdisciplinary problem-solving initiatives that bring students together to address societal challenges.

Drawing on experiences from Berkeley and New York University, Dana Pietralla discussed the mindset shift required to move from academia into business. She encouraged researchers and students to start by identifying a societal problem before developing solutions, ensuring that innovation serves a broader purpose. According to Pietralla, universities play a crucial role in bringing knowledge into the real world, enabling science and business to work together to address pressing societal challenges. She also highlighted the importance of learning to assess risk and having the courage to pursue entrepreneurial opportunities.

Prof. Dr. Hannes Rothe of University of Duisburg-Essen
Dana Pietralla, Co-founder of paged

© Photo credit: eventfotograf.in

Addressing Practical Challenges And Stakeholder Management

Lena Katharina Bödeker focused on the practical challenges academics face when becoming entrepreneurs. She noted that researchers often possess strong problem-solving capabilities but may lack the entrepreneurial skills needed to bring ideas to market. Successful innovation, she argued, requires balancing technical feasibility, market viability, and user desirability. Bödeker also emphasised the importance of support structures such as pitch training, mentorship, partnerships, and access to entrepreneurial networks. She further advocated for creating stronger role models and clearer entry points for students interested in entrepreneurship.

Prof. Anne-Karen Hüske highlighted the critical role that stakeholder management plays in the entrepreneurial process. She stressed that founders must balance the interests and perspectives of customers, investors, partners, and society to build sustainable ventures. The discussion also addressed the need for cultural change within universities, encouraging entrepreneurship as a viable pathway alongside traditional academic careers.

Lena Katharina Bödeker, JUNI
Prof. Anne-Karen Hüske of Copenhagen Business School

© Photo credit: eventfotograf.in

Universities For Entrepreneurial Ecosystems

The panel further explored how universities can strengthen entrepreneurial ecosystems by connecting students and researchers with incubators, startup factories, investors, public funding opportunities, NGOs, and industry partners. Speakers agreed that effective ecosystems require more than financial support; they also need to provide access to networks, expertise, prototyping facilities, infrastructure, guidance, and regulatory support.

Another key topic was inclusivity in entrepreneurship. The discussion highlighted the challenges women and underrepresented groups often face in securing investment and the need for investors to embrace calculated risk-taking to support diverse founders and innovative ideas.

The session concluded with a shared vision: universities have a unique opportunity to empower the next generation of innovators by helping transform research, ideas, and knowledge into solutions that create meaningful societal impact.

Aurora At Majáles Olomouc 2026: Connecting Students, Ideas And Communities

Written by Aniza Pourtauborde on . Posted in News.

On 6 and 7 May, Olomouc hosted the traditional Majáles festival, a celebration of student life, creativity, and active engagement. Aurora was proud to take part in this vibrant event and be present where student culture comes alive.


From left to right: Andrea Hupková, Niels Hexspoor, Eliška Karasová, and Kristýna Raimerová.

Majáles provided a unique opportunity for the Aurora office at the Palacký University Olomouc (UP) to present Aurora to students and the wider public, while also engaging with other local organisations and student initiatives. The festival atmosphere was full of energy, openness, and inspiration, making it the perfect space for networking, sharing ideas, and building new connections within the student community.

Aurora was represented at all levels by Niels Hexspoor, Aurora Sustainability and Impact Leader and Aurora 2030 Capacity Building and Community Engagement Lead, Eliška Karasová, Aurora Student Council (ASC) Vice-president, Kristýna Raimerová, ASC Secretary, and Andrea Hupková, Aurora Student Ambassador.

Thanks to the organisers of Majáles Olomouc, Aurora had the opportunity to participate in this meaningful event, exchange with many inspiring people, and experience the lively spirit of the May celebrations in Olomouc.

Aurora Annual Conference 2026 Charts Future Of European Higher Education While Celebrating A Decade Of Collaboration

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In May 2026, the University of Duisburg-Essen hosted the Aurora Annual Conference 2026, an international gathering of the Aurora community from its 15 universities across Europe and Canada. Gathering nearly 200 participants, the conference served as a key platform to discuss the progress of the Aurora 2030 programme while marking the ten years of cooperation within the Aurora network.


Participants from 15 Aurora universities across Europe and Canada. © Photo credit: eventfotograf.in

Over four days, academics, students, staff and stakeholders, engaged in plenary sessions, workshops, strategic meetings, and networking events designed to address some of the most pressing challenges facing higher education. Numerous exchanges focused on how universities can strengthen their societal impact, foster innovation, support student engagement, and build trust in science in an increasingly complex global environment.

Building A Future Of Trust

A central theme throughout the conference was the role of universities as trusted institutions. In the opening keynote, renowned science communicator and chemist Dr Mai Thi Nguyen-Kim addressed the challenge of communicating science in an era of information overload and declining public trust. Her presentation sparked discussions on how universities can engage more effectively with society, combat misinformation, and strengthen public confidence in research and evidence-based decision-making.

Dr Mai Thi Nguyen Kim opens with keynote of science communication
Attentive participants during the Opening Ceremony
Plenary session on Innopreneurship and Peer Review
Plenary session on Student Representation

© Photo credit: eventfotograf.in

Research and innovation, and entrepreneurship featured prominently across the programme. Sessions examined topics such as open science, digital education, international mobility, citizen engagement, and innopreneurship, highlighting ways Aurora institutions are developing new approaches to teaching, learning, and research. Students also played an active role in the conference, contributing perspectives on inclusion, mobility, and the future of students’ active involvement in European higher education.

During the conference, attendees confirmed their commitment to Aurora’s long-term vision for transforming higher education through joint educational programmes, interdisciplinary research, and learning opportunities that prepare students to tackle global challenges.

Marking Milestone Moments And Achievements

One of the highlights of the Opening Ceremony at the Aurora Annual Conference 2026 was the handover of the Aurora Presidency to Dr Margrethe Jonkman, President of the Executive Board of Vrije Universiteit Amsterdam. In her first address as Aurora President, Jonkman highlighted the importance of strong collaboration among Aurora universities in a rapidly changing international landscape and emphasised the commitment to joint education, knowledge exchange, research cooperation, and societal impact.

The opening also featured the seizmic Awards 2025, an initiative that rewards students’ engagement for societal impact through their social entrepreneurship and innovation projects. This year, Project SavEat took the grand prize and was lauded for its practical solution to food waste in Naples, Italy.

Handover of the Aurora Presidency to Margrethe Jonkmann, VU Amsterdam
Project SavEat team, seizmic Awards 2025 Winner
Celebrating 10 years of collaboration in Aurora
Aurora Communities of Practice Awards 2026

© Photo credit: eventfotograf.in

While the conference focused on future ambitions, it also provided an opportunity to reflect on Aurora’s achievements since its inception in 2016. Over the past decade, Aurora has grown into a global network of universities committed to matching academic excellence with societal impact, and doing this through international collaboration and community engagement. The Aurora community looked back on ten years of joint projects, student exchanges, research partnerships, and institutional cooperation that have strengthened connections between member universities.

The conference was also an opportunity to recognise and formalise the work of Aurora Communities of Practice (CoP). During the closing ceremony, three CoPs were voted as laureates for the first-ever Aurora CoP Awards: South-South and Triangular Cooperation on Food Systems and Climate Change (SSTC- FSCC), Peace in Practice Across Universities, and Permahaven Research Group (PRG). 

The Aurora Annual Conference 2026 further emphasised that the achievements of Aurora’s first decade provided a foundation for the next phase of development. By combining reflection on ten years of progress with a clear focus on future goals, the conference showed how European university alliances can help shape a more connected, inclusive, and resilient higher education landscape.

Aurora Releases Its First Economic Impact Report

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Aurora has published its first consolidated Economic Impact Report, coordinated by Université Paris-Est Créteil (UPEC) and developed with BiGGAR Economics. The report shows that the nine Aurora member universities generated €21.1 billion in Gross Value Added (GVA) and supported 165,000 jobs in Europe in 2024.

A Comprehensive View Of Aurora’s Economic Footprint

The Economic Impact Report was commissioned under the framework of the Aurora 2030 programme within the Holistic and Strategic Approach to Impact task team (TT10.3). The objective is to assess their aggregate contribution to Aurora and to demonstrate the added value of a European university alliance for its member universities. Based on extensive data collection across all nine institutions, the analysis highlights Aurora’s role in strengthening skills development, catalysing innovation, enabling student mobility, and engaging regional ecosystems.

Learning represents the largest share of Aurora’s impact. The 59,880 graduates of 2024 are expected to generate €7.3 billion in lifetime productivity gains, underlining the alliance’s emphasis on research-driven education and professional learning. Internships organised throughout the network accounted for an additional €236 million in GVA, further strengthening employability and collaboration with external partners.

Research valorisation also plays a significant role, contributing €1.1 billion in GVA through  licensing, consultancy, commissioned research, and the creation of around 240 spin-outs and start-ups.. Science parks and incubators hosted by Aurora universities further reinforce regional innovation ecosystems and long-term societal impact.

Students are another key driver of Aurora’s economic footprint. With 274,410 students enrolled across the alliance, their spending and part-time employment delivered €6.0 billion in GVA and supported tens of thousands of jobs across Europe. Volunteering activities add further social value, reinforcing the strong civic engagement of Aurora’s student communities.

Aurora’s operational activities complete the picture. With 33,970 employees, a combined annual income of €3.8 billion, and €901 million spent on goods and services, member universities accounted for €6.2 billion in GVA through their core operations. Tourism linked to university events and visits provided additional economic benefits to regional economies.

“Coordinating this analysis was a real challenge,” said Matthieu Danteny, Deputy Head of the Strategy and Major Projects Unit at UPEC. “Collecting such diverse data from the nine universities required strong collaboration, and we played a central role in supporting this work with BiGGAR Economics. Despite complex timelines, the alliance met its deadlines and the report was successfully delivered.”

Strengthening Aurora’s Long-Term Contribution to Europe

Even though Aurora has been part of the European Universities Initiative for only six years, the report already highlights early signs of added value through shared structures, increased mobility, and collaborative research. These findings provide a foundation for future monitoring and further supports Aurora’s contribution to the European Education Area.

Ilyas Kenadid, Head of the Strategy and Major Projects Unit at UPEC, said: “Members of task team 10.3 are proud to deliver the first-ever economic impact study conducted for a European university alliance. In partnership with BiGGAR Economics, we have spent the past two years designing a robust framework to capture both the economic contribution of Aurora universities and the added value generated by the alliance. While the added value stemming from the Aurora network is already showing initial benefits, this study represents only the first step towards a more holistic and longitudinal assessment of Aurora’s broader impact across all of our activities.”

As the alliance continues to develop, its collective impact is expected to grow further, reinforcing cooperation across institutions and supporting more integrated approaches to education, research, and societal engagement.

Exploring Collaboration And Impact In European Universities Alliances With FOREU4ALL

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The FOREU4ALL Workshop on “Aligning Project Management and Impact” brought together representatives from European Universities Alliances to reflect on how to design, manage, and evaluate impact within  collaborative projects. Matthieu Danteny, Deputy Head of the Strategy and Major Projects Unit at Université Paris-Est Créteil (UPEC) and Co-lead of the Aurora 2030 Impact team, shared his experience during the two days in Granada. 

Restitution of a collaborative workshop on impact by Matthieu Danteny

Stepping Into A Shared European Space Of Exchange

This event was an opportunity to step outside the day-to-day project environment and engage directly with peers facing similar challenges across Europe. From the very beginning, what struck me was the openness of the discussions. The workshop created a space where participants from different alliances could speak freely about what works, what does not, and what remains difficult when it comes to linking project management with impact.

Rather than formal presentations, many of the exchanges took shape through interactive formats, which made it easier to engage with others and compare approaches in a very direct way. It quickly became clear that, despite institutional differences, many of us are working with similar constraints and trying to answer the same questions.

Learning From Others’ Approaches To Impact

One of the most valuable aspects of the workshop was the opportunity to observe how other alliances approach impact in very practical terms. Discussions on data collection, planning, and reporting revealed a wide variety of tools and methods, some of which offered interesting perspectives for our own work within Aurora.

What stood out to me most was the idea that impact is not only something to be reported at the end of a project, but something that needs to be considered continuously throughout its implementation. This shift in perspective was reinforced through the exchanges with colleagues from other alliances.

Poster session and workshops on project management and impact

Turning Exchange Into Perspective

Beyond the technical discussions, what I took away most from this experience was the value of collective reflection. Being able to discuss openly with peers across Europe made it easier to step back from operational constraints and look at broader patterns in how alliances function.

The workshop also highlighted the importance of combining different types of understanding when working on impact, not only quantitative indicators, but also shared interpretations and qualitative insights.

Tools in impact assessment are also game changers That’s what I learned from various discussion with impact manager from other alliances, and from the poster they made. Thanks to the workshop about this topic, I left the event with new tools, and ideas to improve our own impact assessment.

FOREU4ALL Workshop 2 participants at the Universidad de Granada

Looking Ahead

This experience reinforced my belief that European Universities Alliances are not only cooperation frameworks, but also spaces for learning and transformation. Within Aurora , these exchanges contribute directly to how we think about project management and impact in a more integrated and collaborative way.

Returning from Granada, I left with a stronger sense of the importance of continued dialogue between alliances, and of the value of shared tools and common understanding in strengthening European cooperation in higher education.

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.