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

Written by Aniza Pourtauborde on . Posted in News.

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


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

Deepening International Cooperation Through Aurora

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

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

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

Leadership and Institutional Alignment

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

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

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

Alliances as Platforms for Future‑Oriented Cooperation

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

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

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

High Engagement In First Aurora Student Council Open Session

Written by Aniza Pourtauborde on . Posted in News.

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

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

Engagement in Aurora through the Student Ambassador Programme

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

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

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

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

 

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

 

 

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

 

 

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

 

 

Inside the Workings of the Aurora Student Council

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

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

Aurora Explores Pathways for UK–EU University Cooperation

Written by Anna Klas on . Posted in News.

Representatives from Aurora Universities and the University of Sussex convened in Brussels recently to discuss the strategic role of UK universities in European alliances, ahead of the UK–EU agreement on Erasmus+ participation reached on 16 April 2025.

The meeting brought together Paul Creary (Head of Research and Innovation, UK Mission to the European Union), Robin Banerjee (Pro-Vice-Chancellor Global and Civic Engagement, University of Sussex), Pim de Boer (EU Liaison and Policy Advisor, Aurora Universities) and Ramon Puras (Secretary General, Aurora Universities) to explore a forward-looking approach to UK–EU collaboration in higher education.

Discussions focused on longer-term models of cooperation. Several key priorities emerged from the exchange: ensuring coherence between UK and European strategic objectives, building evidence-based cases for the value of cross-border collaboration, and connecting ecosystems across education, research and innovation to bridge existing funding gaps. Participants also identified the need for more flexible and inclusive models of student and staff mobility, as well as sustained investment in long-term institutional infrastructure to support durable partnerships.

Looking ahead, the focus turns to implementation. Delivering on this momentum will require continued collaboration with key partners, including the British Council. Aurora Universities has indicated its commitment to continuing this work as part of broader efforts to strengthen UK–EU university cooperation.

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

Written by Aniza Pourtauborde on . Posted in News.

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

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

SLIDE Study Session, Unpacked

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

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

The Role of Youth in the European Higher Education Area

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

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

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

European Students Union SLIDE Study Session workshop on European values

Key Learnings for Aurora

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

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

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

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

Written by Aniza Pourtauborde on . Posted in News.

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


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

Advancing Aurora’s Educational Mission Through Ludopedagogy

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

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

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

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

Learning Management With Game-based Scenarios

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

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

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

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

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

Teaching for Societal Impact: Inside Aurora’s WP4

Written by Anna Klas on . Posted in News.

Teaching is one of the most visible things a university does. The work that shapes it, the frameworks, the partnerships, the decisions about what learning should actually prepare students for, tends to happen quietly, in working groups and planning documents that rarely make it into public view.
Within Aurora, Work Package 4: Teaching for Societal Impact focuses specifically on teaching and learning for societal impact, bringing together educators, curriculum developers, and institutional leads from across Aurora to think seriously about what teaching looks like when it is designed around real-world impact rather than disciplinary convention alone. In this interview, Marjolein Zweekhorst, lead of Work Package 4, shares what WP4 is working on, what it has already set in motion, and what it will take to move forward.
What is WP4 and its subgroups working towards, and which real-world challenges does it respond to?

Work Package 4 (WP4) focuses on transforming teaching and learning to achieve a clear societal impact. In practice, it works towards embedding service learning, challenge-based co-creation, and education aligned with the Sustainable Development Goals (SDGs) across Aurora universities. Its three subgroups each contribute to this goal in different ways: TT4.1 promotes the integration of service learning and joint, real-world problem solving within curricula; TT4.2 develops and applies the LOUIS competence framework to align learning outcomes with sustainability and personal development goals; and TT4.3 strengthens international cooperation, particularly through partnerships with universities in the Global South. Together, these efforts respond to real-world challenges such as SDGs, e.g., climate change, social inequality, and the disconnect between academic knowledge and societal needs, by making education more applied, inclusive, and globally connected.

Can you give one concrete example of something that WP4 has produced or set in motion this year?

One concrete example is the mapping of more than 100 service learning and SDG-oriented courses across Aurora partner universities. This initiative has created a shared overview of how societal engagement is already embedded in teaching and has made it easier for institutions to exchange practices, collaborate on course development, and identify gaps or opportunities for further innovation. It also lays the groundwork for integrating these courses into a common Aurora Course Catalogue, increasing their access and visibility.

What does working across Aurora universities actually make possible thematically that would not exist if each university worked alone?
Working across Aurora universities enables the development of shared thematic approaches to education that go beyond what individual institutions could achieve on their own. For example, it enables the alignment of curricula around common priorities, such as the SDGs and societal impact, while also supporting the creation of joint learning experiences, such as Blended Intensive Programmes and international learning labs. Importantly, it also facilitates cross-cultural and global collaboration, particularly through partnerships between European and African universities, hence enriching perspectives and strengthening mutual learning. Without this collaboration, universities would be limited to their own institutional frameworks and would lack the same level of coordination, exchange, and global reach.
What is the next step for WP4, and is there anything the broader Aurora community should know about what it takes to get there?

The next step for WP4 is to consolidate and integrate its outputs, including the course mapping, the digital Toolbox, and the planned Experts Centre, into Aurora’s shared digital infrastructure, especially the Course Catalogue. Achieving this will require continued coordination across universities, particularly regarding technical systems, data sharing, and agreement on formats and standards. Moreover, we will assess the impact of the activities conducted in WP 4. For the broader Aurora community, it is important to understand that this phase depends heavily on active participation: universities need to contribute data, engage with the tools being developed, and collaborate across work packages. In this sense, the success of WP4 moving forward relies not only on its own activities but on joint effort and alignment across the entire alliance.

The work discussed in this interview comes to life at the Aurora Symposium on Global Citizenship, taking place 27–29 May 2026 at Vrije Universiteit Amsterdam. Organised by WP4, the symposium brings together educators, researchers, students, and professionals from across Aurora Universities to exchange insights and ideas on fostering global citizenship in higher education.

Registration is free for Aurora alliance members. The deadline to register is 30 April 2026.

Introducing the Doctoral Candidates of the seizmic Doctoral Network

Written by Anna Klas on . Posted in News.

The seizmic Doctoral Network, developed within Aurora Universities, engages 15 early-career researchers working on the theory and practice of scaling social entrepreneurship. Funded by the Marie Skłodowska-Curie Actions (MSCA), the network integrates expertise in impact investing, business model design, education, and AI-driven technology. The seizmic Doctoral Network is a project developed within Aurora Universities, involving several universities in Aurora and more than 15 non-academic partners. It aims to connect research across member institutions and reinforce Aurora’s commitment to social impact and sustainability.

The network is structured into four interconnected research-based work packages and the 15 doctoral candidates are distributed across these work packages. To enhance research impact and strengthen doctoral training, the Doctoral Network is based on international mobility, requiring at least two secondments per doctoral candidate, including one academic and one non-academic placement. This cross-institutional collaboration supports the career development of doctoral candidates and fosters scientific exchange.

The seizmic Doctoral Network Candidates and their projects

Social Business Models
Work Package 2, “Shifting Paradigms to Social Business Model Design,” examines how innovative and sustainable business models can enable social enterprises to grow while maintaining their social mission. This work package investigates design practices, foresight approaches, and collaborative frameworks that facilitate scaling in diverse contexts.
  • Frederik Hovmark Pedersen
    ESCP Business School, Germany — Supervisor: Florian Lüdeke
    Frederik studies business model design and cross-sector collaboration, classifying design patterns and collaborations to understand their effect on scaling social entrepreneurship.
  • Eugenia Santoro
    University of Iceland — Supervisor: Lára Jóhannsdóttir
    Eugenia uses qualitative, case-based methods to explore how transparency and impact measurement influence the design and scalability of social business models, and to understand their interplay in social entrepreneurship scaling.
  • Valentina Alcalde Gómez
    University of Naples Federico II, Italy — Supervisor: Ramon Rispoli
    Valentina researches alternative design practices that support healing and regeneration in communities undergoing socio-ecological transition, with a focus on the Global South.
  • Anika Keils
    Université Paris-Est Créteil, France — Supervisor: Felipe Koch
    Anika investigates social foresight methods supporting the design and scaling of social business models, using participatory, future-oriented approaches.
Impact Investing
Work Package 3, “Impact Investing for Social Entrepreneurship Scaling,” explores financial mechanisms that sustain and accelerate the growth of social enterprises. It examines interactions between impact investors and social enterprises, the role of hybrid financing instruments, and the management of tensions between financial returns and mission fidelity throughout the investment cycle.
  • Lisa Pramann
    Copenhagen Business School, Denmark — Supervisor: Kai Hockerts
    Lisa examines how impact investors can drive systemic change and scale social entrepreneurship by analysing how financial actors serve as catalysts for societal transformation.
  • Elizaveta Petroskaja
    University of Iceland — Supervisor: Magnus Torfason
    Elizaveta investigates how social enterprises maintain mission throughout the investment lifecycle, focusing on the tension between scaling ambitions and social fidelity.
  • Zhihui Chen
    Universitat Rovira i Virgili, Spain — Supervisor: Xiaoni Li
    Zhihui examines the role of impact investment in social enterprise scaling, aiming to identify financing strategies that balance the needs of enterprises and investors.
  • Bao Toan Le
    University of Aalborg, Denmark — Supervisor: Svenja Damberg
    Bao Toan investigates financial instruments driving social enterprise growth, with a focus on the effectiveness of hybrid and impact finance mechanisms in scaling.
Education & Competencies
Work Package 4, “Competencies and Education for SE Scaling,” looks at the human and educational dimensions of scaling. It studies the role of educators, mentoring structures, and competency frameworks in preparing social entrepreneurs to navigate complexity. Special attention is given to inclusive education practices and to the integration of emerging tools, such as AI tutors, into pedagogical settings.
  • Anne Schlieker
    Copenhagen Business School, Denmark — Supervisor: Kristian Roed Nielsen
    Anne researches social entrepreneurship education, integrating futures thinking and systems thinking to strengthen teaching practices that prepare students for complex entrepreneurial challenges.
  • Pelin Sürmeli
    Copenhagen Business School, Denmark — Supervisor: Florence Villesèche
    Pelin examines the macro-level impact of social entrepreneurship through Institutional Theory, focusing on FemTech and how social ventures drive systemic change in gender-specific sectors.
Digital Ecosystems & AI
Work Package 5, “Digital Ecosystems and Artificial Intelligence Use,” investigates how digital platforms, ecosystems, and artificial intelligence tools foster the scaling of social enterprises. It addresses topics such as AI-driven mentoring systems and the role of digital ecosystems in marginalised or conflict-affected regions, aiming to develop technological solutions that are socially inclusive and mission-oriented.
  • Michail Skalistiris Pikis
    Copenhagen Business School, Denmark — Supervisor: Torkil Clemmensen
    Michail examines how GPT-based AI mentors can support creativity and learning among social entrepreneurs, helping them identify social issues and design innovative business models.
  • David Melubo Kisotu
    University of Naples Federico II, Italy — Supervisors: Vincenzo Rispoli
    David investigates digital ecosystems in marginalised contexts, focusing on how AI and social media platforms shape social enterprise innovation in Kenyan startups and contribute to innovation at the margins.
  • Sophie Schierle
    University of Innsbruck, Austria — Supervisor: Johann Füller
    Sophie explores how AI-driven tools can support social entrepreneurship and sustainable innovation, with applications in resource allocation, impact measurement, and stakeholder engagement.
  • Sarbinaz Nagyzkhan
    University of Innsbruck, Austria — Supervisor: Johann Füller
    Sarbinaz analyses how communities in conflict zones create digital ecosystems of self-organised networks and develops practical recommendations for municipalities supporting local resilience.

The seizmic Doctoral Network is funded by the European Union through Marie Skłodowska-Curie Actions, project number 101169098. The Principal Investigator of the seizmic Doctoral Network is Kai Hockerts (Copenhagen Business School). For further information, visit seizmic.eu and follow the project on LinkedIn. Direct inquiries may be addressed to the project manager, Ricky Celenta, at rc.msc@cbs.dk.

 

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

Written by Aniza Pourtauborde on . Posted in News.

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


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

Governance and Strategic Vision

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

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

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

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

Charting the Way Forward

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

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

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

UPEC Hosts Aurora Workshop on LOUIS Educational Tool

Written by Aniza Pourtauborde on . Posted in News.

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


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

LOUIS As An Assessment Tool For Transversal Skills

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

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

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

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

Adapting LOUIS To Teaching Practices

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

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

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

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

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

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

Aurora Communication and Dissemination Team Explores Brand Storytelling Through Merchandising Strategies

Written by Aniza Pourtauborde on . Posted in News.

From 3 to 5 March 2026, Palacký University Olomouc (UP) hosted the annual Aurora Trusted Local Communicators (TLC) Workshop, bringing together communication representatives from across Aurora universities. Over two days, participants explored how brand storytelling can be shaped through visual communication and merchandising strategies.


Aurora Communication and Dissemination team during the Aurora TLC Workshop 2026

The workshop was part of Aurora 2030 Work Package 10 on Impact and Dissemination, particularly Task 10.1 on Communication and Dissemination. It provided an understanding of the different ways that universities can adopt storytelling strategies that communicate vision, values and impact to their target audiences.

Institutional Strategy as a Foundation

The programme opened with a welcome by UP Vice-Rector for International Relations Ivona Barešová, who highlighted the importance of collaboration in shaping strong and lasting institutional narratives.

This was followed by a presentation from Matěj Dostálek, UP Vice-Rector for Communication and Social Responsibility. Emphasising on the maxim of being “regionally rooted, globally connected”, Dostálek revealed “UP to the Future”, a ten-year strategic framework leading the development of the university in the context of future challenges. Based on the values of responsability, sustainability and resilience, this framework aims to build the university of the future as a space of trust, an actor of public responsability, and a European institution in both its values and action.

Left to right: Ivona Barešová (UP Vice-Rector for International Relations), Selma Porobic (Aurora Institutional Coordinator at UP), Matěj Dostálek (UP Vice-Rector for Communication and Social Responsibility) and Vendula Lužná, Science Communicator

Storytelling in Practice

Communication being the driver of change, UP representatives demonstrated how storytelling is applied across communication activities:

Vendula Lužná, Science Communicator
“Science is not finished until it is communicated.” Lužná pointed to the university’s role in building trust by connecting scientific research with real-world issues through active scientist engagement. UP is able to connect topics of interest to real societal issues such as mental health, healthy aging, and digital technologies.

Ondřej Martínek, Head of Marketing and University Events
“We define and sell the values of the university.” Martínek outlined UP’s strategy of building a “love brand” and promoting Olomouc as a student-friendly city, supported by strong marketing tools such as social media, video, a mobile app, merchandising, and a student ambassador programme.

Michael Kozák, Marketing and Events Specialist
“University storytellers.” Through a series of beautiful photographs, Kozák presented the UP Student Ambassador programme, highlighting students’ key role in peer-to-peer communication and community building through events such as roadshows, education fairs, and festivals.

Vojtěch Kmenta, Photographer and Social Media Manager
“Stories connect, emotion drives engagement.” Building on five content pillars, Kmenta demonstrated how UP uses Instagram to create an emotional gateway to the university through visually driven storytelling.

Sustainable Merchandising as Storytelling

Sustainability is one of the core values at UP, reflected in its merchandising. Marie Hanušová, UPoint Shop Manager, presented the principles behind UP’s official merchandise store in Olomouc city:

  • A clear framework for evaluating sustainable materials and suppliers
  • Practical design and production strategies
  • Tools for communicating sustainability authentically.

Marie Hanušová, UPoint Shop Manager, presented the principles behind UP’s sustainable merchandising strategy

“Sustainable merchandise is not a cost. It’s a statement of values,” says Hanušová. “When done well, sustainable merchandise builds emotional connection, extends brand reach, and positions your institution as a leader – not a follower – in the values economy.”

Each product’s story adds value, builds trust, and invites customers to be active participants of something good beyond just being regular buyers. The session offered practical guidance for more impactful merchandising choices in future Aurora activities.

From Ideas to Practice

Participants then applied these insights in two interactive workshops focused on Aurora’s upcoming participation at the EAIE 2026 conference in Glasgow. Discussions explored:

  • Visual concepts for the Aurora exhibition booth
  • Ideas for sustainable and engaging merchandise.

Working in groups, participants first developed creative concepts without limitations and then refined them under specific constraints, encouraging both innovation and strategic thinking.

Brainstorming visual design and merchandising strategies for the Aurora booth at the EAIE 2026

The Aurora TLC Workshop 2026 on Brand Storytelling through Merchandising Strategies provided a clear and practical overview of how storytelling, design, and sustainability can work together to strengthen institutional communication and enhance the Aurora brand.