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Author: Aniza Pourtauborde

Aurora Student Council: Empowering Student Leadership Across Europe

Written by Aniza Pourtauborde on . Posted in News.

The Aurora Student Council (ASC) is the representative body of students within Aurora, bringing together voices from all partner universities to ensure student perspectives remain at the heart of Aurora’s strategic direction. Through monthly meetings and continuous collaboration, the Council enables students to engage in joint discussions, share experiences, and contribute actively to Aurora’s development as a European university alliance.


Aurora Student Council at the Aurora Annual Conference 2025 in Paris

As part of this ongoing work, the ASC met in-person during the Aurora Annual Conference, hosted by Université Paris-Est Créteil (UPEC) in May 2025 in Paris. The meeting served as a space to review progress, exchange ideas, and continue working on several key initiatives.

Strengthening European Collaboration: Aurora and the ESU Candidacy

One of the main points discussed was Aurora’s potential candidacy to become a member of the European Students’ Union (ESU), an umbrella organisation representing over 20 million students across Europe. Membership in the ESU would allow Aurora to increase its visibility within the broader network of European university alliances, foster collaboration on shared student issues, and take an active role in shaping policies relevant to higher education at the European level.

Aurora Students’ Rights Charter: Establishing Shared Standards

The central focus of the Paris meeting was the development of the Aurora Students’ Rights Charter (ASRC). This charter is the result of joint work by the ASC to define the fundamental rights students believe should be respected across all Aurora universities. Once adopted, the ASRC will serve as a reference document, an example of shared commitment that universities can uphold to ensure transparency, protection, and student empowerment throughout the alliance.

Supporting International Students: Exchanging Best Practices

Building on the year’s strategic focus on the integration of international students, the ASC revisited a previous proposal to collect and share examples of best practices related to student mentoring, buddy programmes, and welcoming systems. During the Paris meeting, students presented their contributions and discussed initiatives currently in place. One recurring topic was the implementation of buddy programmes, with several universities already recognising student participation in these initiatives with ECTS credits, an approach that highlights the value of peer support and community building.

Aurora Student Council members working on the initial proposal for the Aurora Students’ Rights Charter

Preparing the Next Elections: Ensuring Fair Representation

The ASC also discussed the timeline for the upcoming elections of the Student Board, which consists of the positions of President, Vice-President, Secretary, and Communications Officer. This year, these roles were held by Mathilde Chaumont, Sören Daehn, Andréa Gaucher and Paula Mora, respectively.

As in previous years, a democratic voting process will be held to select new representatives for the upcoming academic year, ensuring continuity and fair representation for all students within Aurora.

Reflections and Local Reports

Each university delegation was invited to share a brief report on their activities over the past academic year. These reflections highlighted achievements at the local level while also identifying areas for improvement. The exchange allowed students to learn from one another and helped the Council assess its collective progress in key areas of student engagement and communication.

Student Representation in the Plenary Session

As part of the conference programme, Student Council members also participated in a plenary session on the topic: “Empowering Voices: Advocating for Students’ Rights Across Europe”, followed by a round-table discussion on “The University of Tomorrow”. These sessions provided a valuable opportunity for students to present their perspectives to the wider Aurora community and receive constructive feedback from academic and institutional stakeholders.

The discussion focused on the potential impact of the Aurora Students’ Rights Charter, the challenges encountered during its development, and the varying national contexts that shape student experiences across Europe. Participants also explored future avenues for cooperation with student organisations from other European alliances, underlining the importance of building stronger links at both the international and local levels. Strengthening these connections is seen as a key step toward sharing good practices and amplifying student engagement within and beyond Aurora.

Left to right: Mathilde Chaumont (UPEC), Simon Westhoff (VU Amsterdam), Sören Daehn (Copenhagen Business School) and Simona Gibalová (Pavol Jozef Šafárik University in Košice)

The Aurora Annual Conference in Paris was both productive and dynamic. In addition to advancing shared goals, students enjoyed moments of connection, informal conversation, and laughter. After all, when students from different fields, ages, and countries come together around the same table: just imagine the conversations that can spark.

Aurora Summer School 2025 at UPEC Dives Deep Into Futures Literacy

Written by Aniza Pourtauborde on . Posted in News.

From 2 to 13 June 2025, Université Paris-Est Créteil (UPEC) hosted the second edition of the “Emerging Futures” Summer School, designed and coordinated by Felipe Koch, Vice-Dean of AEI International School. As part of Aurora, the summer school brought together students from five partner universities to explore key topics for understanding, imagining, and transforming societies, when the future is anything but certain.


UPEC Summer School 2025 participants at the Certificate Award ceremony

A Summer School to Reflect on the Futures of A Changing World

During the two-week summer school, students were invited to explore innovative approaches to anticipation, develop skills in Futures Literacy, and engage with tools applied in strategic foresight, systems thinking, and social innovation. In the first week, led by Professor Felipe Koch, students participated took part in the Futures Literacy Lab, an immersive experience that raised awareness of multiple temporalities and anticipatory biases. They explored forecasting techniques with Professor Philippe Frouté and were guided through a strategic foresight exercise by Anika Keils, a PhD candidate from the seizmic MSCA doctoral network.

The second week featured renowned international experts such as Riel Miller (former Head of Foresight at UNESCO), Fabio Scarano (ecologist and curator at the Museum of Tomorrow in Rio de Janeiro), Mayra Fonseca (University of Brasília), Ramon Rispoli (Università Federico II of Naples), and Rocco Scolozzi (University of Trento). They shared their complementary approaches to anticipatory systems and processes, regeneration, social technologies, speculative design, and systems thinking.

Taught entirely in English, the programme incorporated reflection on the United Nations Sustainable Development Goals, with the objective of linking global challenges with local dynamics and collective capacity for action.

Classroom sessions with group preparations and presentations on Futures Literacy

An International Conference Becoming A Landmark Event

The Summer School concluded with an international conference that has become a flagship event in the Aurora calendar. The theme, “Decision-Making under Deep Uncertainty”, created a bridge between academics, institutions, and civil society. The day brought together diverse stakeholders to discuss anticipation, governance, and knowledge in an uncertain world.

Three key perspectives structured the conference:

  • A conversation on pandemic management, hosted by Cecilia Gabizon, with Janet Diaz from the World Health Organisation (WHO), and Fernando Bozza from Fiocruz in Brazil;
  • Financial market resilience, with Olivier de Bandt from the Banque de France, Mohammed Chahad from the European Central Bank (ECB), Patrick Guézais from the Ecole Supérieure d’Assurances (ESA), and Thomas Houy from Télécom Paris;
  • Emerging knowledge for societal transitions, through a 100% female panel with Kwamou Feukeu from the Max Planck Institute, anthropologist Mayra Fonseca from the University of Brasília, futurist Julie Ezan-Zecca from Eranos consulting firm, and Apoorva Arya from the Circular Innovation Lab.

Landmark international conference on “Decision-Making under Deep Uncertainty”

Highlight moments also included:

  • The opening lecture by Riel Miller on Futures Literacy and the diversity of anticipation regimes;
  • A powerful talk by sociologist Stéphane Hugon on the need to reinvent consulting practices in an unstable world;
  • The certificate award ceremony for students from Iceland, The Netherlands, Germany, Spain, Denmark, Italy, Colombia, Brazil, and France.

An Academic, Intercultural and Human Experience

Building memorable connections at the Emerging Futures Summer School 2025

Beyond theoretical learning, this summer school offered a truly intercultural exchange and a vibrant collective experience, strengthening the sense of belonging to an engaged academic community. The intensive and collaborative format fostered lasting connections among students and instructors, in a spirit of experimentation, listening, and dialogue.

This momentum, also supported by the ERASME programme of UPEC, aligns fully with the strategic vision of our institutions, reaffirming our commitment to an open, inclusive university focused on Europe and the future.

No Directionality in MSCA: Research community urges the EU to preserve MSCA’s bottom-up approach

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Aurora signs joint statement warning that introducing directionality in MSCA would risk undermining the programme’s success.

European research organisations, led by Coimbra Group, EU-LIFE and YERUN, have issued a joint statement calling on the European Commission and Member States to preserve the bottom-up structure of the Marie Skłodowska-Curie Actions (MSCA). The statement responds to a proposal to introduce directionality in the 2026–2027 Work Programme by steering project calls toward predefined areas.

The signatories stress that MSCA’s success lies in its openness to all fields and topics, driven by researchers’ initiative and scientific excellence. Imposing thematic restrictions risks narrowing the scope of innovation and limiting opportunities for early-career researchers.

MSCA in its current state already delivers significant contributions to strategic areas even before any political prioritisation is envisioned. More than 1,000 ongoing projects focus on artificial intelligence, backed by nearly €1 billion in EU funding under Horizon 2020 and Horizon Europe. Over 170 projects address quantum technologies, and thousands of MSCA researchers are involved in work related to the EU Missions.

Also notable is that the demand for MSCA continues to grow, while the budget has seen only marginal increases between funding cycles. While the primary message is about preserving MSCA’s model, the signatories also encourage a significant funding boost in the next Framework Programme (FP10) to match the programme’s expanded impact and address the structural challenges that research careers face.

The joint statement is currently supported by: YERUN, Coimbra Group, EU-LIFE, ALLEA, Aurora Universities Network, CESAER, EASSH, ECIU, EUA, Eurodoc, Initiative for Science Europe (ISE), LERU, MCAA, PolSCA, SPARC Europe, The Guild, UNICA.

Any other organisation wishing to support this initiative is welcome to help raise awareness by sharing the statement.

Aurora Research Council Met to Evaluate Call Submissions

Written by Aniza Pourtauborde on . Posted in News.

On 5 and 6 June, members of the Aurora Research Council (ARC) met in Palacký University Olomouc (UP) to evaluate the submission of proposals for the second edition of the Aurora Call for Incentive Research Collaboration.

The call aims to strengthen the Aurora scientific community by fostering closer collaboration in research and innovation between Aurora universities. This year’s call was very competitive and attracted high-quality proposals on a wide range of topics. Over fifty research projects have been submitted for review for this second call, across three key actions: Collaborative research projects, Thematic schools, and Research secondments for early-career researchers.


Aurora Research Council meeting in Palacký University Olomouc, Czech Republic

Cross-collaboration in Research and Innovation

In Olomouc, members of the Aurora Research Council were welcomed by the UP Vice-Rector for Science, Creative Activity and Knowledge Transfer, Jiří Drábek, who stressed the importance of research collaboration within Aurora, and this call in particular.

According to Marie Jadrnickova, Aurora Research Officer at UP and host of the ARC meeting, success of the meetings went beyond merely evaluating the proposals. She said, “The in-person meeting in Olomouc further solidified the community of Aurora Research Council members. I see the creation of this expert body equally valuable as the appeal for cross-collaborative research across Aurora.”

The Aurora Research Council will present their findings and recommendations to the Aurora Vice-Rectors for Research Board, who are expected to decide on the final results in July.

Reflecting on the Aurora Sustainability Summit 2025: A Shared Vision for Greener Universities

Written by Aniza Pourtauborde on . Posted in News.

On 22 May 2025, the Aurora Annual Conference 2025 at Université Paris-Est Créteil (UPEC) wrapped up with the first-ever Aurora Sustainability Summit 2025 – a powerful gathering that put sustainability at the heart of how universities teach, research, and operate.

Inspiring Speakers and Bold Ideas

The Aurora Sustainability Summit 2025 began with a morning plenary featuring an impressive line-up of speakers committed to transforming their campuses and communities through sustainability-focused initiatives:

  • Prof. Lolita Rubens, Vice-president of Social Responsibility, Université Paris-Est Créteil
  • Dr. Hafdís Hanna Ægisdóttir, Director of the Sustainability Institute, University of Iceland
  • Prof. Maurizio Cellura, Coordination committee of RUS, Italian Network of Universities for Sustainable Development, Università di Palermo
  • Zuzana Hunkova, Coordinator for Sustainable Development, Palacký University Olomouc
  • Dr. Ramon Rispoli Associate Professor of Design, Università Federico II of Naples
  • Benedetta Toledo, PhD candidate, Università Federico II of Naples
  • Prof. Marjolein Zweekhorst, Professor of Innovation and Education, Vrije Universiteit Amsterdam

Speakers shared how their universities are leading on sustainability – from food systems to campus strategies and student engagement.

From left to right: Ramon Rispoli, Benedetta Toledo, Zuzana Hunkova, Marjolein Zweekhorst and Lorenzo Rieg
© Ciprian Olteanu 

Sharing Best Practices and Innovative Models

Throughout the morning, speakers highlighted impactful initiatives and academic models:

  • At VU Amsterdam, Community Service Learning is empowering students to co-create sustainable solutions through interdisciplinary collaboration.
  • In Naples, an innovative educational programme challenges students to rethink food systems in the Anthropocene.
  • Palacký University Olomouc shared its journey in developing an institutional sustainability strategy, grounded in civic engagement and policy alignment.

The Power of Networks: Panel Discussion on Collaboration

A central theme of the summit was the value of inter-university collaboration in driving systemic change. In a panel discussion, speakers explored how Alliances like Aurora can amplify local efforts, accelerate innovation, and support the adoption of sustainable practices across institutions.

“Collaboration is key,” noted Prof. Maurizio Cellura, “not just between universities, but between disciplines, sectors, and communities. Networks give us the momentum and diversity needed to make real impact.”

From left to right: Lolita Rubens, Maurizio Cellura and Hafdís Hanna Ægisdóttir
© Ciprian Olteanu

Looking Ahead: Workshops and Practical Tools

The afternoon featured three interactive workshop sessions designed to deepen participant engagement and provide actionable tools:

  • Futures Literacy Lab – exploring how future-oriented thinking can shape present-day action
  • Climate Fresco – raising awareness of the interconnected causes and consequences of climate change
  • Biodiversity Fresco – unpacking the systemic aspects of biodiversity loss and human impact

These workshops equipped participants with frameworks that can be applied in research, teaching, and institutional strategies.

Aurora Sustainability Summit afternoon workshops

Closing Ceremony and the Path Forward

The summit concluded with a closing ceremony and the official handover of the Aurora flag to the next host university of the Aurora Annual Conference 2026 – Universität Duisburg-Essen, symbolizing the continuity of commitment to shared values and sustainable progress.

Ceremonial handover of the Aurora flag by Université Paris-Est Créteil (UPEC) to University of Duisburg-Essen as hosts of the Aurora Annual Conference 2026
© Ciprian Olteanu

Planting the Seeds for the Education of Tomorrow: Looking Back at the Aurora Annual Conference 2025

Written by Aniza Pourtauborde on . Posted in News.

From May 19 to 22, 2025, the Université Paris-Est Créteil (UPEC) hosted the Aurora Annual Conference 2025, bringing together thought leaders, experts, academics, staff, and students from Aurora universities and beyond. The event fostered dynamic exchanges around education, research and innovation, sustainability, and societal impact.

Aurora Annual Conference 2025 attendees from Aurora universities across Europe
© Ciprian Olteanu

The conference began with an opening ceremony at the historic Amphithéâtre Liard in La Sorbonne, with welcome remarks by Prof. Martin Schwell, Vice-president European Affairs and Aurora Institutional Coordinator at UPEC. The President of UPEC Prof. Jean-Luc Dubois-Randé gave a resounding opening address. He highlighted the essential role of European universities like Aurora in preserving and enriching knowledge through new forms of European integration, such as the creation of joint degrees and intercultural experiences.

“Aurora’s commitment to, and impact on, society and the environment, are powerful vectors for the creation and sharing of knowledge and, by extension, for profound transformation,” said Prof. Jean-Luc Dubois-Randé.

Prof. Jean-Luc Dubois-Randé, President of Université Paris-Est Créteil (UPEC) addresses a full house at La Sorbonne, Paris
© Ciprian Olteanu

In his opening speech, Dr. Ramon Puras, Aurora Secretary General, added that the transformative power of Aurora also lies in its ability to harness strong collaboration and harmonise systems across its member universities.

One of the major highlights of the Aurora Annual Conference was the ceremonial handover of the Aurora presidency. Through a symbolic “passing of the baton” from Prof. Martin Procházka of Palacký University Olomouc to Prof. Veronika Sexl of Universität Innsbruck, this change in leadership marks a new chapter for Aurora and its universities.

Nurturing deeper academic reflections, Nobel Laureate Elizabeth Blackburn delivered a fascinating keynote address on her groundbreaking discoveries in the field of cellular biology, which have had profound implications for aging, cancer research, and cellular biology.

Aurora Presidency ceremonial handover from Prof. Martin Procházka to Prof. Veronika Sexl. © Ciprian Olteanu
High-level talk by Nobel laureate Elizabeth Blackburn.© Ciprian Olteanu

European Universities for Research, Education, Students’ Rights and Sustainability

Throughout the week, the conference featured engaging plenary sessions on a range of topics from the future of the European Universities Initiative and building scientific communities in Aurora, to students’ rights and representation. 

Next to the plenary programme, the Aurora Annual Conference featured many additional workshops, strategy sessions, and task team meetings throughout the week. These gatherings enabled further cooperation and progress on topics in Aurora relating to research support network, educational hubs, international mobility, and citizen science.

Beyond the formal sessions, there was also ample space for networking, culminating with the Gala dinner and reception at the stunning Musée national de l’histoire de l’immigration, and its aquarium in Palais de la Porte Dorée, Paris. During the dinner, two prominent Aurora events took place: the seizmic Awards 2024 ceremony, featuring winners Team thisAbility from Copenhagen Business School (CBS) and runners-up Team Synergy Hydrogen Solutions from Vrije Universiteit Amsterdam. The second event was the 3MT competition pitches by winners Stéphanie Chedid and Juliette Direur from UPEC.

Aurora Sustainability Summit 2025 plenary session. © Ciprian Olteanu
Full house at the Aurora Annual Conference 2025. © Ciprian Olteanu
Left to right: Simona Gibalová, Sören Daehn, Mathilde Chaumont, Hanuš Patera and Simon Westhoff. © Ciprian Olteanu
Small group discussions in the courtyard during the Aurora Annual Conference 2025. © Ciprian Olteanu

The three-day conference also saw the rise of the first-ever Aurora Sustainability Summit. The summit spotlighted Aurora’s impressive achievements in developing best practices for sustainable campuses. Furthermore, it brought to light the challenges ahead in the creation of greener, more sustainable universities. The summit featured plenary sessions, followed by interactive workshops exploring key themes such as futures literacy, climate action, and biodiversity. 

The Aurora Annual Conference 2025 served as a window into Aurora’s progress thus far. It provided an insight into its ever-growing community as actors of change planting the seed to shape a more inclusive, greener, and sustainable European higher education landscape.

Aurora Welcomes Veronika Sexl As New President

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Aurora universities are pleased to welcome Veronika Sexl as their new President, effective 1 May 2025, marking the beginning of a new chapter in the network’s leadership and continued commitment to advancing inclusive, research-driven, and socially impactful higher education across Aurora partner universities.

Veronika Sexl, Rector of Universität Innsbruck and Aurora President, effective 1 May 2025

During the opening ceremony of the Aurora Annual Conference 2025, held on 19 May at the historic Sorbonne University in Paris, a significant leadership transition took place. Martin Procházka, former Rector of Palacký University Olomouc, formally handed over the Aurora Presidency to Veronika Sexl, Rector of Universität Innsbruck.

This ceremonial handover not only celebrated continuity in leadership, but also signals a renewed momentum for Aurora’s collective mission to shape the future of European higher education through matching academic excellence with societal relevance and collaboration, research, and social impact actions.

A Vision for Aurora

Reflecting on her new role, President Sexl shared:

“I am deeply honored to take on the presidency of Aurora at such pivotal moment. In a time marked by global uncertainty, societal polarization, and rapidly evolving challenges, the role of higher education and cross-cultural European collaboration is more vital than ever. Aurora exemplifies the strength of European cooperation – diverse, inclusive, and united by a shared commitment to addressing the most urgent issues of our time through education, research, and public engagement.

As President, I will take care of the work of my predecessors and focus on new initiatives that support key Aurora strategic priorities, promote fresh ideas, and enhance Aurora’s impact within our communities; including our involvement in the European Universities Initiative. Aurora has been funded through the Erasmus+ European Universities Initiative since 2020, and through this, it contributes actively to the broader goals of the European Higher Education Area—helping to foster collaboration, innovation, and shared values across institutions.”

About Veronika Sexl

Veronika Sexl brings a distinguished scientific and academic background to her new role as President of the group of Aurora universities. A trained medical doctor, she studied at the University of Vienna before pursuing research fellowships in the United States at prestigious institutions such as the Fred Hutchinson Cancer Research Center and St. Jude Children’s Research Hospital. Her academic career has included professorships at the Medical University of Vienna and the University of Veterinary Medicine, Vienna (Vetmeduni), where she chaired the Institute of Pharmacology and Toxicology. Since 2023 she serves as Rector of Universität Innsbruck.

Prof. Sexl is internationally recognized for her contributions to cancer research and molecular pharmacology. Her work focuses on translational medicine, immune-mediated tumor surveillance, and key signaling pathways in hematopoiesis and leukemogenesis. Her research excellence has been recognized with numerous awards, including the ERC Advanced Grant and the Kardinal Innitzer Prize, and she is a member of both the Austrian Academy of Sciences and the German National Academy of Sciences Leopoldina.

With a keen focus on fostering collaboration, driving innovation, and making a positive impact, President Sexl is set to lead Aurora towards an even stronger and more connected future. She is deeply committed to supporting young researchers, recognizing that the next generation of scientists is key to shaping the future of knowledge and discovery.

Science and Society: Open Science and Citizen Science in Aurora

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Aurora recognizes the transformative power of science to address societal challenges through openness and collaboration. Through the Aurora 2030 programme, a dedicated task team on  Science and Society focuses on  advancing both Open Science and Citizen Science, two interconnected approaches that together foster a more inclusive, sustainable, and impactful research ecosystem.

A recent survey launched by the task team yielded comprehensive results from 250 respondents across Aurora universities. Representing a broad spectrum of roles within the academic community, the survey results showed that Open Science and Citizen Science initiatives are currently gaining momentum within each institution.

Despite different levels of institutional engagement, the survey highlighted the potential for continuing growth in Open Science and Citizen Science practices. Key development areas include increasing financial and infrastructural support, ensuring formal recognition of contributions, and providing training to overcome technical and time-related barriers.

Addressing the above challenges can help universities to further enhance the role of Open Science and Citizen Science in solving societal problems, fostering innovation, and promoting public engagement with science.

“Overcoming barriers to participation requires a comprehensive approach,” says Roberto Delle Donne, Professor at University Federico II of Naples and lead for the Aurora  Science and Society task team. “Universities must invest in robust training programs, streamline infrastructure for accessibility, and formalize recognition of contributions to Open Science and Citizen Science. Equally important is fostering partnerships between researchers and communities, empowering citizens to co-create knowledge and address shared challenges.”

Open Science and Citizen Science: A Synergistic Relationship

Open Science and Citizen Science are deeply associated with one another. Open Science promotes transparency, accessibility, and collaboration by ensuring that research outputs—data, publications, and methods—are openly shared. Citizen Science complements this by actively involving the public in the research process, from defining problems to collecting data and disseminating results. Together, Open Science and Citizen Science  democratize knowledge creation, breaking down barriers between researchers and society.

Citizen Science thrives in the Open Science ecosystem, which provides the tools, data, and frameworks necessary for effective public participation. Conversely, Citizen Science enriches Open Science by incorporating diverse perspectives, fostering innovation, and addressing real-world problems that resonate with communities. Many of these problems, such as environmental challenges, align with broader goals of sustainable development.

“Sharing scientific knowledge with the general public in creative ways, for instance through Art and Science exhibitions and hands-on demonstrations, creates a strong and lasting sense of awareness and curiosity that can have a major impact on how society responds to the environmental challenges we face,” says Helena Cruz de Carvalho, Associate Professor at Université Paris-Est Créteil (UPEC) and Institut de Biologie de l’Ecole Normale Supérieure (IBENS). 

Towards a Science for Society

By intertwining Open Science and Citizen Science, Aurora is building a research culture that is green, transparent, inclusive, and ethically conscious. The focus on sustainability is reflected in the methods employed and in the topics that are addressed, such as climate change, resource management, and societal well-being.

To this end, the Aurora Science and Society task team focuses on four key objectives:

  • Building Knowledge: Developing a repository of best practices for Open Science and Citizen Science, drawing from diverse disciplines and experiences across  Aurora universities.
  • Empowering Researchers and Students: Creating training modules to equip researchers and students with the skills to engage in open, participatory, and FAIR ((Findable – Accessible – Interoperable – Reusable)-aligned research.
  • Connecting Communities: Establishing inclusive networks that unite Aurora institutions with local and international communities, fostering collaboration and mutual learning.
  • Engaging Citizens: Encouraging public involvement in addressing societal and environmental challenges through workshops, events, and the creation of communities ofpractice.

The goals above catalyse the efforts undertaken by Aurora universities to ensure that science is not only conducted for society, but also with society, creating a shared path toward sustainable development and innovation.

Aurora Meetings Highlight Strategic Development in Education and Training

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International relations and mobility experts, and Aurora Institutional Coordinators, gathered to exchange views on the strategy for Aurora, and the development of Blended Intensive Programmes (BIPs) and the digital campus.

 Hosted by the Universitat Rovira i Virgili (URV) and the Aurora Central Office, close to thirty participants from across Aurora universities met over the week for two major events: Workshop on BIPs and the Aurora Executive Committee Seminar. The objective of these meetings was to move further in the work initiated by the Aurora 2030 Work Package 8 Enabling Mobility and Exchange, and to discuss the future of Aurora and its impact.

Aurora Executive Committee and experts on education and training gather at the Universitat Rovira i Virgili (URV)

Leveraging BIPs for Mobility and Exchange in Aurora

Opened by the Rector of URV Josep Pallarès, the programme began with the Workshop on BIPs led by Marina Vives from the URV International Centre and Nanna Teitsdóttir from the University of Iceland. Blended Intensive Programmes are short-term intensive programmes that use innovative learning and teaching methods.

Part of the training includes a virtual component that requires online cooperation between educators and participants. By enabling new and more flexible mobility formats that combine physical mobility with a virtual component, BIPs aim to reach students from all backgrounds, fields of study and study cycles.

BIPs may include challenge-based learning, in which transnational and transdisciplinary teams collaborate to address issues in society. These issues could be linked to the United Nations Sustainable Development Goals (SDGs), or other societal problems identified by companies, cities or regions.

URV Rector Josep Pallarès Marzal opens the Workshop on BIPs to a full room of participants, including Aurora Institutional Coordinators from all member universities

The workshop included sessions on the long-term strategy for BIPs within Aurora universities, a critical audit of the current and future challenges, and a thorough review of the manual for mobility and communication of Aurora opportunities. Further discussions allowed participants to reflect upon the key aspects of blended intensive programmes, such as the type of collaborations involved, skills the BIPs are intended to improve, and values like diversity and inclusion that must be considered.

“The organisers are very satisfied with the agreements reached in a very collaborative and almost unanimous spirit,” said Marina Vives, Lead for Aurora 2030 Work Package 8 at URV.

Aurora Institutional Coordinators and participants of the Workshop on BIP work hand-in-hand during brainstorm sessions on Blended Intensive Programmes in Aurora

Moving Forward in Aurora

The Workshop on BIPs was followed by the Executive Committee Seminar, a strategic meeting of Aurora Institutional Coordinators representing their universities. The seminar opened with an introduction by Ramon Puras, Aurora Secretary General, about milestone developments in Aurora and on the Aurora 2030 European university alliance programme.

During the meeting, Institutional Coordinators also weighed in on the future of Aurora and its impact. Intensive work sessions were organised around the strategic planning for the alliance, as well as the progress of the Aurora digital campus services.

Full member of Aurora, the Universitat Rovira i Virgili (URV) has been an integral partner since 2019. Together with other universities within the network, URV is aligned with Aurora’s vision of influencing societal transformation through academic excellence and research.

Aurora Communication and Dissemination Team Explores Impactful Communication

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Aurora Communication and Dissemination team recently gathered at Universität Innsbruck for an intensive two-day workshop entitled “Impactful Communication”. Led by experts in the field, the team gained knowledge on communicating with impact, further focused on science communication and citizen science engagement.  

This workshop was part of the activities for Aurora 2030 Work Package 10 on Impact and Dissemination, and more specifically Task 10.1 on Communication and Dissemination. It offered a broad overview of communication best practices – with specific case study examples backed by research – in the areas of science communication and citizen science.  

Aurora Communication and Dissemination team with Universität Innsbruck Aurora Institutional Coordinator Thomas Baumgartner and science communication experts Melanie Bartos and Markus Weiskopf

Communicating with Impact 

Building on the initial phase of the Aurora European university alliance, and in line with the Aurora Communication and Dissemination strategy launched in July 2024, the Aurora Communications team is composed of at least one communication representative from each university in Aurora, called the Trusted Local Communicator (TLC).  

To ensure impactful communications, these TLCs have the responsibility to inform, exchange with, and engage target audiences at their universities and beyond. In addition, TLCs form an advisory committee to the larger Aurora community, and work as key reference persons on all topics related to communication and dissemination.  

The “Impactful Communication” workshop had a two-fold objective: 

  • To learn more about guidelines for effective communication, especially when disseminating information and engaging the general public about research and science 
  • To brainstorm ways to collectively undertake joint communication actions that, overall, will have an impact on the strategic positioning of Aurora within each member university.  

Strengthening the Foundation for Communication 

The workshop kicked off with Markus Weiskopf, science journalist and editor at Research.Table, who gave an interactive talk on “Science, Media and the Public: Current Trends, Challenges and Opportunities for Universities”. He provided an overview of the current state of science communication, and shared resounding research about the public’s declining trust in science.  

Weiskopf further underlined two key aspects in which impactful science communication can help influence: the polarisation on trust in science and the role of (new) media. He explained how trust in science has been slowly chipped away since the coronavirus pandemic in 2020. The increased proliferation and use of new channels of communication such as social media, also exacerbated the spread of distrust in science.  

At a time when virtual communication continues to rise, science communication professionals are constantly seeking ways to keep abreast, hop on the bandwagon, and attempt to counter misinformation, disinformation and fake news related to research and science.  

From left to right: Uwe Steger, Head of Communications and Melanie Bartos, science communicator at Universität Innsbruck, and Markus Weiskopf, science journalist and editor at Research.Table

Speaker Melanie Bartos, science communicator in the Public Relations Office at the Universität Innsbruck offered some insights on this topic through her talk “Behind the Scenes: Exploring Science Communication at the University of Innsbruck”. Specialist in developing multimedia formats like podcasts, online and social media communication, Bartos touched upon the generational gaps on how people perceive and receive information, bearing in mind the different (virtual) channels through which they are exposed to the information.   

Above all, both Weiskopf and Bartos stressed upon science communication as being a solid bridge between science and society. Science communication, in and by itself, is also a research-based field of communication studies, and is especially critical for difficult topics like climate change, or the coronavirus pandemic.  

Science Communication and Citizen Engagement 

Science communication is a strong lever to make science and scientific findings visible and comprehensible to the public. As part of the “Impactful Communication” workshop, Universität Innsbruck science education specialist Florian Westreicher and doctoral student Friederike Barkmann organised an interactive workshop on Citizen Science. Using the Viel-Falter Butterfly Monitoring Austria project, they exposed the challenges scientists face to communicate about their research and its impact, and to engage citizens in their research projects. 

The Aurora Communications team experienced firsthand the preparatory work behind involving (non-scientific) citizens in research, such as accurate field data collection. Guided by Westreicher and Barkmann, the team underwent a crash training course on identifying diverse species of butterflies before proceeding to count mock butterflies hidden on the walls and windows indoors.   

This experience enabled the Communications team to understand the complexities of participatory research projects involving citizens, especially when considering the communication and dissemination actions prior, during and after experiments are conducted. A debriefing session concluded areas of improvement, such as having sufficient training, adequate equipment and tools, and being informed of research results. 

Florian Westreicher, science education specialist, and Friederike Bartmann, doctoral student at Universität Innsbruck, holding an interactive workshop based on the Viel-Falter Butterfly Monitoring Austria project

Collaboration to Catalyse Impact 

Fresh with the conclusions from expert talks and workshops, the Communications team set to work on creating concrete joint actions, in accordance with the strategy to further strengthen communication and dissemination within Aurora universities.  

Breaking out in smaller groups, each team was given the task to identify at least one achievable communication action that could be undertaken collectively. The objective was to raise the visibility of Aurora and its positioning within each university, and to encourage its communities to engage in Aurora activities.  

The Communications team came up with a list of ten joint actions, categorised by priority and ease of implementation, and a timeline of when these actions should be launched. Some examples include: 

  • Social media takeovers by students and staff to share Aurora mobility experiences of learning, training and research across universities 
  • Durable Aurora branded items to instil a sense of belonging 
  • Aurora chat groups to build communities. 

TLC Workshop 2025 on Impactful Communication at the Universität Innsbruck, Austria

The two-day workshop on “Impactful Communication” left the Aurora Communications team with a deeper knowledge of general communication and dissemination practices, science communication and citizen science. It also reinforced the fact that cooperation and intercultural understanding are essential values to ensure success in an alliance such as Aurora.