Skip to main content

Aurora Showcased at CEEDUCON Conference in Prague

Written by Niels Hexspoor on . Posted in News.

On 19 and 20 November 2025, Palacký University Olomouc (UP) represented Aurora at CEEDUCON 2025, one of Central Europe’s leading conferences on the internationalisation of higher education. The seventh edition of the event, formerly known as CZEDUCON, brought more than 900 participants to Prague’s O2 Universum.  Over the course of two days, they participated in expert lectures, interactive sessions, and exchange among practitioners and policy makers.

The Czech National Agency for International Education and Research organised CEEDUCON, together with several other central European Agencies such as DAAD and OEAD. It serves as a key platform for advancing dialogue on global engagement in higher education. This year’s programme featured over 50 sessions and focused on themes central to Aurora’s mission. These included Internationalisation for All, strategic Global & Regional partnerships, Smart & Sustainable International Cooperation, and Alumni, Employability & Future Skills.

Representatives of Palacký University Olomouc participated in discussions, panels, and workshops. They shared their institutional experience and achievements, contributing Aurora’s perspective to the broader European conversation on higher-education cooperation.

Strengthening Stakeholder Engagement

The UP Aurora Office prominently highlighted Aurora in two sessions, also featuring Aurora associate partner Pavol Jozef Šafárik University in Košice (UPJS).

Selma Porobić, Aurora Institutional Coordinator at UP, chaired a panel “Advancing Strategic Global & Regional Partnerships: Insights and Lessons from European University Alliances”. It featured contributions from Silvia Ručinská (UPJS), as well as Magdalena Sikorska (EUNICE Alliance) and John Gardiner (Ulysseus Alliance). The discussion drew on experiences from the FOREU4ALL Topical Group – Internationalisation and Global Outreach, chaired by Selma, Magda and John.   

The panel featured three concrete case studies of best practices:

  • Aurora  – a regional cooperation model focused on structured outreach and capacity-building in the CEE region;
  • Ulysseus – showcasing global strategic programmes and multi-continent partnerships;
  • EUNICE – presenting global gateway initiatives and innovative formats for inclusive stakeholder collaborations.

Additionally, Niels Hexspoor, Aurora Engagement and Impact Leader at UP, led an interactive workshop that explored how European university alliances can create inclusive and future-proof student communities in “Next Gen Student Communities: Futures Thinking for European Universities”. In the workshop, participants were challenged to imagine different possibilities for inclusive student engagement.

UP’s active presence at CEEDUCON 2025 was a great opportunity to demonstrate Aurora’s commitment sharing and learning with other higher education professionals to shape the future of European higher education—foregrounding openness, inclusivity, and strategic partnership building as shared priorities across Europe.

From City to Countryside, From Laboratory to Practice: Palacký University Hosts Dual BIP on Sustainability

Written by Niels Hexspoor on . Posted in News.

At the end of November 2025, Palacký University Olomouc hosted two Blended Intensive Programmes (BIPs): Cultivating Futures and From the City to the Country. Participants from across Aurora took part in a week of lectures, workshops, and field activities. These focused on sustainability, urban resilience, and cultural heritage.

The programme was coordinated by the Faculty of Arts with support from the Faculties of Science and Law and CATRIN. It was led academically by Assoc. Prof. Pavlína Flajšarová, and organised by Marie Sieberová.

The week began with sessions on natural resource management, circular economy, and biotechnology, followed by a field visit to the Molitor House and the Cathedral District. Subsequent days covered urban archaeology, urban heat islands, and nanotechnologies, along with structured spaces for sharing research and building international cooperation.

Then, a full-day excursion to the Lavender Farm in Bozděchov and Úsov Castle placed environmental topics in cultural and historical context. Additional workshops addressed plant physiology, examples of green urban development, and environmental law.

Throughout the programme, students engaged in training for the Three Minute Thesis (3MT) competition, aimed at improving skills in communicating scientific research clearly and concisely.

The week concluded with the 3MT final. Under the guidance of Suzanne Whitby and Prof. Toby Wikström, students presented their projects to a jury.

Winners:

  • 1st place: Grigor Vrhovac (Universität Innsbruck)
  • 2nd place: Livia Hökl (Universität Innsbruck)
  • 3rd place: Julia Kianzad (University of Duisburg-Essen)
  • Audience Award: Xin Chen (University of Iceland).

After the competition, a closing lunch provided space for informal exchange and reflection. The event demonstrated the value of interdisciplinary learning and cooperation across Aurora institutions.

Building the Future of Flexible Learning: Aurora’s Shared Approach to Micro-credentials

Written by UIBK on . Posted in News.

Micro-credentials are rapidly transforming higher education in Europe. As certified, small-scale learning units with clearly documented and assessed learning outcomes, they offer a flexible, inclusive, and responsive way for learners to acquire relevant competences. Within Aurora, micro-credentials play a vital role in shaping the inter-university campus of the future – one that is modular, transdisciplinary, and accessible across borders.


Christina Raab from Universität Innsbruck presents the Aurora Guidelines for Micro-credentials

The newly developed Aurora Guidelines for Micro-credentials provide a shared framework for designing, issuing, and recognising these qualifications across partner universities. Grounded in the European Council’s Recommendations and driven by Aurora’s mission for societal impact, these guidelines aim to harmonise practices and strengthen collaboration throughout the alliance.

A European Approach for a Changing Learning Landscape

Micro-credentials have emerged as important instruments to support lifelong learning, upskilling, and mobility within the European Higher Education Area. They allow learners to engage in small-scale learning experiences while ensuring that the acquired competences and knowledge are quality-assured, portable, transparent and stackable.

For Aurora, micro-credentials are more than just short courses. They are building blocks for a European inter-university campus:

  • Gateways to flexible participation across institutions
  • Tools for harmonising recognition and mobility
  • Foundations for socially impactful, transdisciplinary education.

The alliance’s decision to develop shared guidelines stems from the need to remove structural and technical barriers, align institutional practices, and ensure that learners can benefit from high-quality, jointly recognised opportunities – regardless of where they begin their studies.

These guidelines fully align with the 2022 Council Recommendation on a European approach to micro-credentials, as well as the principles of the European Qualification Framework (EQF), National Qualifications Frameworks, and the European Standards and Guidelines for Quality Assurance (ESG).

Designing Micro-Credentials for Quality, Transparency, and Impact

Aurora micro-credentials follow a set of shared principles to ensure comparability and quality across universities:

  • Learning outcomes-based design: Each micro-credential integrates subject-specific and transversal competences, drawing on frameworks such as the Aurora Competence Framework, LOUIS, BEVI, and seizmic
  • Standardised size and structure: Typically 3 to 10 ECTS credits, documented according to the standard elements defined by the European Council Recommendation
  • Quality assurance: Each issuing university applies its institutional QA processes, guided by ESG standards and national regulations
  • Levels of Aurorisation: Micro-credentials must reach at least Level 2 – meaning they are aligned with an Aurora Educational Hub, an SDG, and at least one key competence, ensuring a clear connection to Aurora’s mission and pedagogical standards.

Together, these principles ensure that every Aurora micro-credential is robust, comparable, and recognised across the alliance and beyond.


Aurora Academic Matchmaking Retreat where the Aurora Guidelines for Micro-credentials were presented

Collaboration Across Borders: How Joint Micro-Credentials Are Built

Joint micro-credentials are co-designed within Aurora’s Educational Hubs, where academics collaboratively develop content, align learning outcomes, and agree on assessment methods. “Joint” may also simply refer to the fact that participating students can come from all Aurora universities. While co-creation in the development process is the intended goal, it is not an absolute requirement for every joint micro-credential. Each participating university quality-assures the components it teaches, while one or more designated universities act as the official issuers. Because not every partner institution is equally positioned or technically equipped to issue micro-credentials, issuing responsibilities are assigned based on regulatory and technical feasibility. This collaborative model – anchored in mutual trust and transparent procedures – allows learners to combine learning units across institutions and receive a single, high-quality, jointly recognised credential.

To ensure consistency and support continuous development, Aurora’s Micro-Credential Coordination Committee (Aurora-MCC) – formally established in November 2025 – serves as a central body for coordination, expertise, and peer learning. Rather than enforcing compliance, the committee fosters a shared ecosystem, promoting visibility, interoperability, and alignment across work packages.

Digital Solutions for a Seamless Learning Experience

Technology is central to Aurora’s micro-credential ecosystem. The Aurora Virtual Campus serves as the central platform for publishing, accessing, and promoting Aurora micro-credentials. The corresponding courses will be displayed in the Aurora Joint Course Catalogue, enhancing visibility, transparency, and open participation for Aurora students and staff.

Aurora universities currently issue micro-credentials in two primary formats:

  • Digitally signed (e-sealed) PDF certificates, and
  • Secure digital badges, compliant with EU interoperability and data protection standards.

Looking ahead, the alliance aims to adopt European Digital Credentials (EDC) and digital wallets, enabling learners to securely store, manage, and share their achievements across Europe.

These digital solutions reinforce learner ownership, transparency, and employability -supporting a truly borderless learning experience.

Next Steps: Harmonisation, Visibility, and Future Readiness

Implementation of the guidelines will progress through several key actions:

  • Mapping existing micro-credentials and aligning them with Aurora standards
  • Increasing visibility through the Aurora Virtual Campus and shared catalogue
  • Developing shared workflows for issuing, recognition, and interoperability
  • Establishing a regular review and peer-learning cycle under the Aurora-MCC.

By 2030, micro-credentials are expected to become a core element of Aurora’s inter-university campus model. They will support personalised learning pathways, enable digital and physical mobility, and strengthen the alliance’s mission to foster research-driven, socially impactful education across Europe. Aurora also plans to expand micro-credentials into non-formal learning spaces and diverse learner communities, promoting access, inclusion, and lifelong learning.

Reflections: Opportunities and Challenges Ahead

The movement toward micro-credentials brings immense promise. They empower learners to design their own pathways, support cross-institutional collaboration, and encourage institutions to adopt more flexible, outcome-based approaches to teaching, learning and recognition. They also help connect formal and non-formallearning in more seamless ways.

Yet challenges persist. Aligning institutional regulations, recognition procedures, and digital infrastructures remains complex. Equally important are the cultural aspects: varying understandings of learning, hesitations around new practices, and the natural pull toward familiar institutional traditions.

Overcoming these challenges requires openness, trust, and a shared commitment to innovation. For Aurora, the path forward is clear: building a flexible, interoperable, and learner-centred ecosystem that supports Higher Education’s transformation in an era of continuous change.

Throwback to the Spark Social Programme Experience With Four Students From Universitat Rovira i Virgili

Written by Aniza Pourtauborde on . Posted in News.

Last spring, four students from Universitat Rovira i Virgili (URV) travelled to Reykjavik, Iceland, to co-create solutions to global challenges related to educational innovation and digital sustainability. 

From left to right: Natalia Rodríguez, Laia Daura, Mireia Mei and Ruth Prats, during their visit to Reykjavík, Iceland

Promoting Transdisciplinarity Within The Spark Social Programme

Every year, the University of Iceland organises Spark Social, an Erasmus+ Blended Intensive Programme (BIP), offered to students from Aurora universities across Europe. The objective of this blended programme is to gather Masters to third-year Bachelor students under one roof, to co-create social entrepreneurship projects that respond to the United Nations Sustainable Development Goals (SDGs). Four students were selected from URV to be part of the programme:

  • Mireia Mei, student in the Interuniversity Master’s Degree in Health Data Science
  • Ruth Prats, student of the Bachelor’s Degree in Advertising and Public Relations
  • Laia Daura, student of the Bachelor’s Degree in Psychology
  • Natalia Rodríguez, student of the Bachelor’s Degree in Audiovisual Communication and Bachelor’s Degree in Advertising and Public Relations.

A Blended Programme Fostering Creative Solutions

After several virtual sessions between January and April 2025, the programme culminated in a five-day stay in Reykjavik, Iceland, where the teams worked to define and test solutions to real challenges. The methodology used was a combination of transitional thinking and design thinking, which fosters creative solutions to complex societal problems, social innovation through empathy, collaboration and prototyping, and in this case, international and interdisciplinary teamwork.  

GEN NEXT: Education for a new generation of active citizenship 

Natalia Rodríguez and Ruth Prats were part of the team that created GEN NEXT, an educational project focused on motivating adolescents between the ages of 12 and 15 through critical thinking to become active in the local community. Using a card game called A Can of Worms, young people explore different issues such as the environment, health and urban culture, and propose actions to improve their city. The project is completed with field research, urban observation and participation in municipal budgets, all fostering a culture of responsibility and real civic engagement. 

aqua.ai: Making visible the invisible impact of AI 

For their part, Mireia Mei and Laia Daura worked on the aqua.ai project, a proposal that addresses the environmental impact of technology. Focusing on the hidden water consumption of artificial intelligence systems, the project aims to develop an environmental awareness-raising package for governments, schools and institutions. This includes a browser extension that quantifies the water impact of digital queries, as well as educational materials on the subject. The objective of the project is to inform citizens and encourage change in the design of sustainable digital public policies to ensure that technological innovation does not work against the planet. 

Annual Hackathon Trains Students To Rethink Food Systems In The Anthropocene

Written by Aniza Pourtauborde on . Posted in News.

The annual hackathon “Rethinking Food Systems in the Anthropocene” is one of the most established activities for social entrepreneurship and innovation within Aurora. The fifth edition of the hackathon took place in October 2025 at the Università Federico II of Naples (UNINA), hosting 47 international students coming from eight European universities involved in the Aurora network.


Group gathering at the 5th edition of the seizmic Hackathon hosted by Università Federico II of Naples (UNINA)

Sustainable and Regenerative Food Systems

The hackathon kicked off with opening remarks by Aurora Institutional Coordinators at UNINA, Alessandro Arienzo and Bruno Catalanotti, followed by an introduction from Ramon Rispoli, Associate Professor of Design at the Department of Architecture at UNINA. Adam Arvidsson, professor at UNINA’s Department of Social Sciences, delivered his lecture “Anthropocene/Capitalocene”, exploring critical perspectives of societal transformation due to human activities, and capitalism. One of the main sessions of the day focused on creative cultural processes, via an insightful talk by Ottavia Semerari, co-founder of Variabile K, a social enterprise based in Ercolano, nearby Naples. Guest speaker Yaiza Agata Bocos Mirabella of Universidad de La Laguna, also gave a lecture on the “Aesthetics of Complexity: Between Art and Life”.

Following a morning of thought-provoking sessions, the afternoon continued with the Design Brief. During this briefing, participants were introduced to the central challenge of rethinking food systems in the Anthropocene. UNINA doctoral candidate Nunzia Ambrosino delivered a lecture on “How to Transform Cities in Regenerative Environments”. Her lecture was followed by an engaging talk with Giulia Sodano, one of the founders of N’SeaYet, and further opened a discussion led by Rosanna Laudanno from Parco Viviani, Comunità del Parco. This discussion emphasised the social and ecological value of community gardens in Naples.

Academics and guest speakers deliver lectures on urban agriculture, circular economy, civic responsibility, and the seizmic tool

After a full day of lectures and a preview of the hackathon challenge ahead, participants had the opportunity to experience the knowledge they had acquired during a field trip to Parco Viviani the next day. Representatives from Aurora universities Isabel Froes of Copenhagen Business School (CBS), and Begoña Alonso-Fernández and Léa Chambaudet from Université Paris-Est Créteil (UPEC), offered insights into ecological regeneration through a talk on permaculture. From the talk to the table, students enjoyed local vegetarian dishes especially made by the amazing cooks of Tavuliata, a female empowerment project by Variabile K.

Day two continued with a lecture on “Seeds of Liberation” by Valentina Gómez Alcade from the seizmic MSCA Doctoral Network. The lecture zoomed in on transition design and the politics of traditional food. Following this talk, UNINA doctoral candidate Benedetta Toledo facilitated an interactive workshop called “Build your toolbox to co-design food systems”, where students worked in groups to learn to recognise the key values for sustainable and social innovative food systems.

Circular Economy and the Role of Society

As the first two days concentrated on introducing students to sustainable and regenerative food systems, day three started with an exposure to themes related to society and societal impact. Martina Bosone from UNINA’s Department of Architecture, gave a talk entitled “The Circular Economy as a Regenerative Model to Reshape Production and Consumption Processes in Cities”. This talk was followed by Vincenzo Capasso, President of Let’s Do It Italy, who presented “Citizen Science: The Role of Civic Responsibility to Regenerate Agricultural Lands”.

Then, UNINA doctoral candidate Edoardo Amoroso delivered “Feeding the City: Rethinking Food Infrastructures for the Smart Land”. The day concluded with a field trip to the Florist Bar and a conversation on urban food production and permaculture with Stefania Salvetti, owner of the bar and gardener.

Field trips for hackathon participants to experience urban food production, permaculture, and sustainable food systems

Transdisciplinary Hackathon to Rethink Food Systems in the Anthropocene

The final two days of the week-long in-person hackathon was fully dedicated to teamwork and the development of final deliverables in response to the Design Brief provided. Through collaboration and practical discussions, participants applied frameworks from the previous lectures and used the seizmic app to refine their design concepts. Mentors guided the process, encouraging each team to integrate ecological, social, and technological perspectives into their solutions.

Since students come from different educational backgrounds, such as Design, Business, Social Sciences and more, the hackathon fostered innovation, cooperation, and transdisciplinary dialogue throughout the entire week. During the submission of the final deliverables, participants presented their projects, showcasing their diverse approaches to rethinking food systems in the Anthropocene. The event concluded with final remarks and acknowledgments, celebrating an inspiring week of cross-disciplinary and international collaboration and creative engagement across cities, communities, and nature.

This hackathon is part of the seizmic courses undertaken within the framework of the Aurora 2030 Work Package 3 “Social Entrepreneurship and Innovation”. Discover more about seizmic, its different activities, and its learning impact for students engaging in social entrepreneurship.

Aurora Marked Active Presence at EAIE 2025

Written by Aniza Pourtauborde on . Posted in News.

Aurora joined more than 35 European Universities Alliances to exhibit at the EAIE 2025, the 35th annual conference and exhibition organised by the European Association for International Education (EAIE). Held in Gothenburg, Sweden, from 9 to 12 September, representatives from Aurora universities took part in the conference sessions, and welcomed more than 50 visitors at the Aurora booth.


Representatives from Aurora universities gathered at the Aurora booth at the EAIE 2025

European Universities Unite for Collaboration and Innovation

Under the theme “Go-Create”, the EAIE 2025 showcased how collaboration and innovation between higher education institutions are redefining the landscape of higher education across Europe.

This was especially evident during the World Café session entitled “European Universities Alliances & FOREU4ALL: Creating Value for the Wider Higher Education Sector”. Organised by FOREU4ALL and the European Commission, the session facilitated exchanges about sharing knowledge, expertise and tools developed by the Alliances. Participants also talked about emerging developments like new models of partnerships, joint degrees and micro-credentials, among others.

Through open dialogue between higher education institutions and their stakeholders, this session offered practical pathways for universities, policy makers and quality assurance bodies to tap into a broader ecosystem of cross-institutional innovation and collaboration.


Representatives from European Universities Alliances in the FOREU4ALL World Café session at EAIE 2025

Leadership and Governance in European Universities

One of the key highlight sessions included a roundtable discussion featuring speakers from three European Universities Alliances: Anna Stina Sinisalo from Una Europa, Sabine Sainte-Rose from ENGAGE-EU, and Martin Schwell from Aurora.

Entitled “Who is Driving Your EUI Alliance? Perspectives on Co-creating Shared Leadership”, the discussion explored the complexities of shared governance and leadership structures within European universities. Speakers emphasised the need for co-creation and sustainable collaboration to mitigate the risk of dependency on single individuals or institutions.

Robust shared governance models must have built-in clarity on the roles and responsibilities of each alliance member university, to ensure that decision-making is well-distributed, transparent and inclusive. Such governance models also consider sustainable processes and practices that can sustain the test of time and turnover in personnel or institutional priorities.

Leadership in European Universities Alliances is an evolving ecosystem, in which member universities play a critical part in steering the vision, navigating through challenges, and adjusting the course whenever necessary.


From left to right: Anna Stina Sinisalo (Una Europa), Martin Schwell (Aurora), and Sabine Sainte-Rose (ENGAGE-EU)

Digital Mobility and the European Student Card Initiative (ESCI)

Enabling European mobility opportunities for students is one of the advantages of the European Universities Initiative (EUI) launched by the European Commission in 2019. This topic engaged an insightful panel session “Shaping the future of the European Student Card Initiative” with speakers Victor Aguilar Mendez of the DG EAC at the European Commission, Robert Willems from KU Leuven, and Aurora representative Nanna Teitsdóttir from the University of Iceland.

During the panel, speakers discussed next steps for the European Student Card Initiative (ESCI), zooming in on its digital infrastructure, complementary Erasmus Without Paper (EWP), and real-world experiences of universities – such as the University of Iceland – that have begun implementing these tools.

Continuity of infrastructure and the consolidation of processes between higher education institutions will help move the cursor toward digital transformation in student mobility and transnational collaboration.


Nanna Teitsdóttir (University of Iceland) shares the implementation of the digital infrastructure to support student mobility

Showcasing Aurora Developments

Further to the conference sessions, Aurora marked an active presence at the EAIE 2025 exhibition hall, welcoming more than 50 visitors to its booth. Visitors were able to learn more about the initiatives within Aurora, such as the use of seizmic for social entrepreneurship and innovation, implementation of Collaborative Online International Learning (COIL), success of the Aurora Call Incentive Research Collaboration, as well as the growth of the Aurora Student Ambassador programme.

The booth was also a space for Aurora member universities to gather and meet with their institutional partners beyond the Aurora network. Over warm cups of coffee and national sweet treats brought in by Aurora representatives, the meet-ups were valuable in-person networking moments to foster tangible relationships for future cooperation.

Reflecting on the event, global collaboration, co-created innovation, and inclusive practices are key to addressing the rising challenges in higher education. As European Universities Alliances look ahead to EAIE 2026 in Glasgow, Scotland, they reaffirmed a shared vision: building a stronger, more connected future for European and international education.

Simon Fraser University Joins Aurora Universities Network As Global Member

Written by rostanetek on . Posted in News.

On 29 October 2025 in Vancouver, Canada, Aurora officially welcomed Simon Fraser University (SFU) as Global Member, marking a key step in Aurora’s growth as a global network of universities dedicated to societal impact through academic excellence.


From left to right: Veronika Sexl, Aurora President and Rector of Universität Innsbruck; Dugan O’Neil, SFU Vice-President Research and Innovation; and Ramon Puras, Aurora Secretary General

Transatlantic Collaboration Engaged To Global Societal Impact

SFU’s membership strengthens Canadian–European collaboration in higher education and research. In times of global uncertainty, this partnership reflects a shared commitment to academic cooperation, democratic values, and societal engagement. Together, Aurora and SFU will advance work on sustainability, equity-driven inclusion, and educational innovation, connecting regional strengths with global impact.

“Strengthening our relationship with SFU is a major milestone in expanding our global partner network,” said Veronika Sexl, Aurora President and Rector of Universität Innsbruck. “We share not only values and visions but also many thematic intersections and opportunities for growth. United by our mission to build bridges and positively shape societal change, we are reinforcing transatlantic cooperation during challenging times.”

“SFU is committed to collaboration across borders as we help build solutions to the global challenges affecting us all,” said SFU President Joy Johnson. “Membership in the Aurora European Universities network allows us to pursue exciting partnerships with leading institutions in Europe. I look forward to strengthening our international engagement while furthering our research and innovation impact.”


Celebrating transatlantic collaboration and commitment to societal impact between Aurora and Simon Fraser University

The Connection Agreement, signed on 29 October 2025 at SFU’s Burnaby campus, formalises the partnership between SFU and Aurora. The signing took place in the presence of Aurora President Veronika Sexl, SFU Vice-President, Research and Innovation Dugan O’Neil, and Aurora Secretary General Ramon Puras.

“This agreement marks an important milestone for Aurora’s global development,” said Ramon Puras, Aurora Secretary General. “It opens new opportunities for transatlantic collaboration and for turning shared values into meaningful societal impact.”

Strengthening Collaboration Between European University Alliances

Written by rostanetek on . Posted in News.

Duisburg, October 24, 2025 

A strategic meeting was held at The Place Beyond the Bytes Startup Incubator, hosted by Professor Dr. Hannes Rothe. The session brought together representatives from two leading European university alliances: Professor Dr. Jan Kratzer and Rozaliia Pait (ENHANCE Alliance/ TU Berlin) met with Professor Dr. Karen Shire, Petra Günther, and Dr. Tomasz Waliczko (Aurora Universities/ University of Duisburg-Essen) to explore new pathways for collaboration in education, research, and innovation.

 Discussions focused on advancing academic mobility, launching joint research initiatives, and developing short-term mobilities that promote innovation and sustainability. Participants shared a strong commitment to connect students, researchers, and entrepreneurs across Europe and to turn today’s dialogue into concrete actions in the near future.

Aurora Science and Society Team Launches Cycle of Workshops, Trainings and Open Seminars

Written by Aniza Pourtauborde on . Posted in News.

Aurora Science and Society team launches a cycle of workshops, training events and open seminars from November 2025 to May 2026. This cycle of events are designed to foster awareness, skills, and discussion on the practical implementation of Open Science and Citizen Science across Aurora universities.

As part of Aurora 2030 Work Package 10 Impact and Dissemination, this series is organised by Task 10.2 Science and Society, and blends structured learning, hands-on training, and thematic debates. Designed for doctoral candidates, Master students, early-career researchers, and academic staff, these events run for seven months during the academic year 2025-2026. The workshops, trainings and seminars aim to empower attendees with the knowledge, competencies, and ethical awareness needed to integrate Open and Citizen Science practices in research and teaching.

Addressing Key Topics in Open Science and Citizen Science

Co-organised by Università Federico II of Naples and Université Paris-Est Créteil (UPEC), this cycle of events is composed of three types of delivery:

  • Workshop: Offers a comprehensive overview of best practices in Open and Citizen Science, highlighting exemplary projects, innovative community engagement strategies, and the interplay between Open Science, AI, and research innovation.
  • Training: Practical sessions on operational and methodological aspects of Open and Citizen Science.
  • Open seminars: Discussion-based events on broader cultural, ethical, and institutional dimensions.

The events provide attendees exposure to critical topics and skills in FAIR (Findable, Accessible, Interoperable, and Reusable) data, open-source workflows, ethical and legal aspects, open publishing and peer review, and the role of AI and innovation in Citizen Science.

Save the Dates!

Organised once a month beginning November 2025, the Aurora Science and Society team invites attendees to explore best practices, hands-on tools, and discussion with experts across the Aurora network on the following dates:

Workshop – Best Practices in Open Science and Citizen Science: From Principles to Practice
Date: 4 November 2025 at 09:00 – 11:00 CET
Mode: Hybrid

Trainings (from December 2025 to March 2026)

  • Training 1: Managing and Sharing Research Data; FAIRness; Ethics in Citizen Science.
    Date: 18 December 2025 | Mode: Online
  • Training 2: Open-source software and workflows; open licencing; tools for collaborative Citizen Science; open peer review simulation; OA platforms; integrating CS in academic publications.
    Date: January 2026 | Mode: Online
  • Training 3: Open Access publishing; Open Peer Review; Citizen Science communication and public engagement.
    Date: March 2026 | Mode: Hybrid

Open Seminars (from February to March 2026)

  • Seminar 1: Open Data and Open Access in teaching; Citizen Science in higher education.
    Date: February 2026 | Mode: Hybrid
  • Seminar 2: Legal and ethical challenges; data protection; open licensing for community-driven research.
    Date: April 2026 | Mode: Online
  • Seminar 3: The role of Open and Citizen Science in AI and innovation; practical examples of AI in CS projects.
    Date: May 2026 | Mode: In-person during the Aurora Annual Conference at the University of Duisburg-Essen.

Registration is mandatory for all sessions.

 

The Aurora Science and Society cycle of events is an initiative to build an active, interconnected community of practice within Aurora, strengthening collaboration, mutual learning, and our shared commitment to transparency, inclusiveness, and societal relevance in research.

Aurora Course Design Retreat Strengthens Collaboration and Innovation in Education

Written by Sharon Feijen on . Posted in News.

From 15 to 17 October, dozens of academics from across Europe gathered at Vrije Universiteit Amsterdam for the Aurora Course Design Retreat and Academic Matchmaking. Over three days, participants worked together to design new joint educational initiatives within the Aurora universities – from campus-based courses and micro-credentials to a Blended Intensive Programme (BIP).

Welcome by Jeroen Geurts, Rector Magnificus at Vrije Universiteit Amsterdam

The event was one of the initiatives in the broader Aurora 2030 programme, which is part of the European Universities Initiative launched by the European Commission aimed at achieving high-quality education with societal impact. It offered professors a unique opportunity to co-create, exchange ideas, and strengthen partnerships around key themes such as sustainability, digitalisation, health and well-being, culture, social entrepreneurship and innovation, and peace education.

Plenary Session: “Doing BIPs well!”

One of the highlights of the Course Design Retreat and Academic Matchmaking event was the plenary session “Doing BIPs well!”, presented by Marina Vives Cabré from Universitat Rovira i Virgili (URV). Leading the Aurora team working on Enabling Mobility and Exchange, she introduced the new Aurora BIP Handbook – a comprehensive guide for designing and implementing Blended Intensive Programmes.

In her presentation, Vives highlighted how BIPs offer unique opportunities for collaboration among Aurora universities. “Blended Intensive Programmes allow us to bring together students and staff from different countries in innovative short learning formats that reflect our shared values and address global challenges,” said Vives.

The handbook provides practical guidelines, tips, and a timeline for developing BIPs, helping institutions strengthen partnerships and enrich their teaching practices.

 
Marina Vives Cabré launches the Aurora BIP Handbook, a comprehensive guide for developing and organising Blended Intensive Programmes in Aurora universities 

Design, Collaboration and Inspiration

During the Course Design Days, participants worked in thematic groups – such as Sustainability and Climate Change, Digital Society and Global Citizenship, and Peace Education – to develop potential inter- and transdisciplinary micro-credentials and joint courses.

There was also room for inspiration: workshops on teaching methods, presentations of successful Aurora course formats, and a contribution from VU Amsterdam’s own A Broader Mind Course, which exemplifies interdisciplinary learning in practice.

Building the Future of European Education Together

The event marked an important step in advancing the Aurora Educational Hubs and followed earlier gatherings in Tarragona and Paris. Participants left Amsterdam with new ideas, collaboration plans, and concrete course designs.

The Aurora Course Design Retreat and Academic Matchmaking event demonstrated how cross-border cooperation leads to innovative education – and how the Aurora community is jointly building a more connected, sustainable, and inclusive future for European higher education.

Aftermovie