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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 co-signs joint statement on the future of the Marie Skłodowska-Curie Actions.

Written by Anna Klas on . Posted in News.

Aurora has co-signed the joint statement MSCA: Research Talent is Europe’s Strategic Advantage, together with 16 other organisations from the European research community. As negotiations progress on the next Horizon Europe programme (FP10) and the European Union’s long-term budget, the signatories urge European leaders to preserve MSCA as a bottom-up research initiative and to increase its funding considerably, rather than impose a redesign.

The rationale is rooted in MSCA’s 30-year history as a programme that supports researchers at all stages, from doctoral candidates to emerging research leaders. It stays open to every discipline, and because it follows the ideas of researchers themselves, it has been able to respond to questions long before they become political priorities. The statement urges leaders to maintain this openness. There is concern that MSCA may be repurposed to address short-term labour market needs or predefined thematic priorities, objectives that are more appropriately pursued through distinct programmes.

A further issue concerns scale: demand for MSCA significantly exceeds its current budget, resulting in thousands of highly evaluated projects remaining unfunded each year and considerable research talent migrating elsewhere. Retaining MSCA within Pillar I of FP10, ensuring its openness to all fields, and increasing its budget would enable more researchers to remain and advance their careers in Europe.

Read the full joint statement here.

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.

Three Communities Of Practice Receive Inaugural Aurora Awards

Written by Mark Jeffreys on . Posted in News.

During the closing ceremony of the Aurora Annual Conference 2026, three Communities of Practice (CoPs) were honoured as laureates of the inaugural Aurora CoP Awards.

Laureates of the Aurora Communities of Practice Awards 2026. © Photo credit: eventfotograf.in

First-ever Aurora Communities of Practice Awards

Selected from ten recently registered communities of practice (CoPs), the winning teams were recognised for their strong alignment with Aurora’s core values and their demonstrated impact:

Permahaven Research Group (PRG)
Praised for its commitment to sustainability through deeply embedded collaboration between universities and their local communities, the PRG delivers tangible societal impact via regenerative, place-based learning environments. Through applied, experiential learning in permaculture-oriented urban gardens, these living laboratories connect students, staff, and community members, translating sustainability theory into collaborative practice.

Word from the jury: “It is widely perceived as attractive and inspirational, engaging participants intellectually, socially, and emotionally.”

Peace in Practice Across Universities
This CoP stood out for its contribution to societal change-making, translating principles of peace, democratic participation, and global citizenship into collaborative educational initiatives and public engagement activities. Peace in Practice Across Universities gathers Aurora institutions to co-create research, teaching and engagement on peace and global citizenship. Its activities include policy dialogues, public seminars and challenge labs on conflict, democratic participation and intercultural understanding.

Word from the jury: “It excels in collaboration and places peace and intercultural understanding at the center of inter-university collaboration in a time of heightened global polarisation and political divide.”

South-South and Triangular Cooperation on Food Systems and Climate Change (SSTC-FSCC)
SSTC-FSCC was recognised for its exemplary global collaboration model, fostering equitable partnerships between the Global South and North and addressing food systems and climate resilience through inclusive, participatory approaches. This CoP enables Aurora to act as a bridge for building sustainable partnerships, and promotes the use of innovating teaching and research methodologies, like Real-Life Learning Labs (RLLL) and Collaborative Online International Learning (COIL), thereby contributing to societal transformation, collaboration and sustainability.

Word from the jury: “This CoP has a strong ethical positioning and real-world impact, is highly innovative in its approach to knowledge exchange, and reaches out to members beyond Aurora universities, and beyond Europe underlining the importance of a joint global approach to food security and climate change.”

Opening of the award ceremony by Henk van den Heuvel
Laureate: Permahaven Research Group (PRG)
Laureate: Peace in Practice Across Universities
Laureate: SSTC-FSCC

About the CoP Awards

The Aurora Communities of Practice Awards recognise outstanding achievements, innovative practices, and inspiring individuals or teams involved in Aurora’s CoPs. The awards aim to celebrate excellence, facilitate the exchange of best practices, and promote Aurora’s core values of collaboration, societal impact, and sustainability.

Currently registered Communities of Practice include:

  • Permahaven Research Group (PRG)
  • Peace in Practice Across Universities
  • Supporting Doctoral Researchers and Supervisors
  • The seizmic Community of Practice: Social Entrepreneurship Education, Impact Competencies, and Systemic Change
  • Co-Creating Global Education: The Aurora Internationalisation of the Curriculum CoP
  • INSIGHTS
  • LOUIS: Learning Outcomes in University for Impact on Society
  • Low-Dimensional Materials for Advanced (Bio)Sensing
  • Aurora Research Managers
  • South-South and Triangular Cooperation on Food Systems and Climate Change (SSTC-FSCC)

The Aurora Annual Conference 2026 also highlighted how the achievements of Aurora’s first decade have laid a strong foundation for its next phase of development. By combining thoughtful reflection on ten years of progress with a forward-looking vision, the conference demonstrated the vital role European university alliances can play in shaping a more connected, inclusive, and resilient higher education landscape.

Students Contribute To Governance, Collaboration And Community Building in Aurora

Written by Aniza Pourtauborde on . Posted in News.

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.

Dr. Margrethe Jonkman Elected As New Aurora President

Written by Mark Jeffreys on . Posted in News.

VU Amsterdam’s Dr. Margrethe Jonkman has been elected as the new Aurora President for the next 12 months.

The official Aurora Presidency handover took place during the 2026 Aurora Annual Conference, held in conjunction with the 10th anniversary of the Aurora network. The opening session marked this milestone by reflecting on and celebrating the longstanding collaboration among Aurora’s member universities. The conference was hosted by the University of Duisburg-Essen, Germany, and began on 18 May.


Margrethe Jonkman, Aurora President. © Photo credit: eventfotograf.in

During the conference, Margrethe highlighted the importance of sustaining strong inter-university collaboration in the context of rapidly evolving international and societal developments. Furthermore, the conference provided a platform for discussions regarding joint educational projects, knowledge exchange, and Aurora’s strategic direction leading up to the application for funding renewal in 2028.


Left to right: Janette Walde, Vice Rector for Teaching and Students at Universität Innsbruck, and Margrethe Jonkman, Aurora President and President of the Executive Board of VU Amsterdam. © Photo credit: eventfotograf.in

Margrethe was kind enough to answer a few questions about her new appointment:

What are your main priorities as the new President of Aurora in the coming year?

I am grateful to my predecessors and all the work that has been done in the past ten years. My priorities for the coming year begin with securing the extension of Aurora’s flagship programme Aurora 2030, ensuring that its next phase continues to strengthen the values that unite our alliance. With our alliance we can further strengthen our university network, building on a resilient Europe. We see significant potential for our shared work on global citizenship—building on the energy generated by the symposium at VU in May—by drawing on the diverse innovative pedagogies that already distinguish Aurora. Take community service learning, Seizmic, LOUIS, and other collaborative educational initiatives across the alliance.In addition, I would like to explore opportunities to broaden Aurora’s international engagement, including the possibility of deepening connections with partners in the Global South, to reinforce and extend our European collaborations beyond Europe. Together, these priorities reflect my ambition to shape a network that is outward‑looking, socially engaged, and globally connected.

What challenges does Aurora face in delivering on its strategic priorities for diverse education, research innovation, and societal change?

Delivering on Aurora’s strategic priorities will, however, require navigating a number of significant challenges. Geopolitical tensions continue to affect academic cooperation and mobility, while budget cuts across universities place pressure on our capacity to innovate and sustain long‑term transformation. These realities make it even more important to maintain focus on our core mission: diverse, inclusive education; fostering innovation; and driving societal change. With Aurora we need to move forward with confidence and determination.

What is your favourite memory working in an international educational setting?

One of my favourite memories goes back to my student years, when I completed an internship in India. It was an eye-opening experience because it made me realise that the way I viewed challenges and opportunities was just one perspective among many. Working and learning in a different cultural context taught me to listen more carefully, question my assumptions, and appreciate different ways of thinking. That lesson continued throughout my later global role in a corporate environment. Collaborating with colleagues from diverse cultural backgrounds was not always easy, but it consistently broadened my perspective and helped me grow, both professionally and personally.

Read more about Dr. Margrethe Jonkman here.

Aurora backs stronger R&I budget in next EU framework

Written by Anna Klas on . Posted in News.

Aurora joined university networks from across Europe at a European Parliament event on 20 April 2026. Together with CESAER, Coimbra Group, The Guild, LERU, YERUN and other supporting organisations, Aurora discussed the future of EU research funding ahead of the next Multiannual Financial Framework (MFF) for 2028 to 2034.

Speakers called for an ambitious budget of 200 billion euros for FP10, the next Horizon Europe framework programme. The event made clear that Europe cannot afford to underinvest in research, innovation and talent.

Read the full event report to find out what was discussed and what the key takeaways were.

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.