Group: For students

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. 

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.

A new joint PhD training programme developed by Vrije Universiteit Amsterdam and Palacký University Olomouc, as part of the Aurora 2030 Capacity Development Support Programme, is equipping researchers at Aurora associate partner universities in Central and Eastern Europe with advanced skills in research and science communication. 

Hands-on Learning Across the Research Spectrum 

Over several intensive sessions, participants engaged in a dynamic mix of hands-on workshops, expert-led seminars, and collaborative exercises. The training covered the full spectrum of research dissemination: from navigating academic publishing to communicating findings beyond university walls. 

“It made me aware that science is not only about producing knowledge, but also about sharing it with people. The combination of learning by doing and networking made this workshop so impactful and helpful for my future career development,” said Mladen Micevski, PhD candidate at South-West University Neofit Rilski (Bulgaria).

A Comprehensive Curriculum 

The programme addressed key areas of modern research practice: 

• Open Science & AI in Research – Implementing open science practices and exploring the ethical use of AI.
• Mastering the Literature – Practical strategies for reviewing and synthesizing academic sources.
• From Paper to Publication – Crafting strong manuscript introductions and understanding editorial expectations.
• FAIR Data & Software – Applying FAIR principles, archiving data and code, and documenting research effectively.
• Science Communication & Visibility – Translating complex research for non-academic audiences, writing engaging blog posts, and interacting with media.
  

Building Connections and Peer Learning 

Beyond skill development, the programme fostered a supportive peer-learning environment, connecting researchers across disciplines and institutions. Participants engaged with global experts, gaining insights into ethical publishing, open-access strategies, and storytelling in science.

“The workshop was an intensive and very engaging experience. The sessions combined theory with practical and hands-on insights on academic writing, open science, and science communication. What I appreciated most was that the workshop offered many useful hints on using digital tools for research and publication, which can be applied immediately in everyday academic work,” said Oleksandr Kryvtsov, PhD candidate at V.N. Karazin Kharkiv National University (Ukraine).

Tools to Enhance Research Impact 

By the end of the programme, participants had a tailor-made toolkit to strengthen both the quality and reach of their research. The initiative not only enhanced publishing and communication skills but also advanced Aurora’s broader mission: promoting knowledge sharing, encouraging interdisciplinary collaboration, and bridging the gap between science and society. 

For more details, the full programme can be found here. 

The Aurora Student Council (ASC) is made up of two elected student representatives from each university within Aurora. Its role is to focus, and collectively decide, on priorities for the student population. The ASC ensures that the student voice is heard and integrated in decisions taken in Aurora. Paula Mora, student at Universitat Rovira i Virgili, talks about her year-long experience as Communications Officer for the ASC in the academic year 2024/2025.

Memorable moments with the Aurora Student Council

One day, I opened my inbox and came across an email about joining a student programme called the Aurora Student Council. I wasn’t entirely sure what it was about, but something in me felt drawn to it. A few days later, I found myself filling out an application form, then sitting for an interview and, just like that, I became part of something much bigger than I had imagined. At the time, I didn’t know it would lead to one of the most enriching experiences of my university life.

A Space of Possibilities

The Aurora Student Council (ASC) is a space where students from all Aurora universities come together to represent their communities, share perspectives, and work on joint initiatives to improve the student experience across the alliance. Through monthly meetings and events, students engage in real discussions about inclusion, mobility, and participation in higher education, contributing to a more connected and student-driven European university landscape.

At the beginning, everything felt new and slightly overwhelming. I was stepping into a space full of possibilities, an entire network of universities, projects, and people, but I wasn’t entirely sure how to find my place in it. However, after just a few meetings and thanks to the support of both the team at my university and the rest of the Council, I gradually found my rhythm. The sense of community made all the difference.

The Power of Dialogue and Meaningful Engagement

One of the most enriching lessons I’ve learned during my time in Aurora is the power of dialogue. There is something truly special about sitting at a table with students from different countries, fields of study, and cultural perspectives, and realising how much we can learn from one another. Every conversation opens a door to new ways of thinking, and that kind of exchange is something I’ll always carry with me.

Aurora Student Council at conferences in Palacký University Olomouc (Czech Republic) and Université Paris-Est Créteil (France)

Another key lesson has been about the value of meaningful change. With the right tools and the right environment, it is possible to create small but impactful improvements. Aurora, in this sense, is an essential tool. It connects universities in a way that allows ideas and best practices to circulate across borders. That connection creates a kind of collective intelligence, a system where solutions can be shared, tested, and improved together.

I’ve also learned the importance of clarity and communication when working in international teams. Expressing ideas, making space for others, being flexible and proactive, these are skills I’ve strengthened through my experience in the Council. Aurora gives you a space where students can take initiative and learn by doing, all the while being supported by others who care just as much as you do. At the end, student voices are powerful when they are heard, and even more powerful when they are united.

Another realisation has been how closely student engagement is tied to real-world impact. Many of my peers in Aurora are not only students, but also passionate individuals who follow politics, care about climate, education, inclusion…and who want to be part of the solutions.

Unforgettable Opportunities and Shared Moments

Of course, I’m also deeply grateful for the many travel opportunities and people I’ve met along the way. I’m fully aware that travelling is a privilege, and I feel lucky to have attended events like the Aurora conferences in Naples and Paris, and the Student Conference in Palacký University Olomouc. These are not just destinations, they’re memories shared with incredible peers. With Aurora, you don’t just discover new places, you discover them alongside ambitious and open-minded people. It’s hard to explain how many ideas we’ve exchanged around those tables, how much I’ve learned just by listening.

Shared moments with student representatives and members in the Aurora Student Council

Looking back, Aurora has been an incredible experience; one that I wholeheartedly recommend to any student. I leave with my backpack full of stories, lessons, and unforgettable moments. But more than anything, I leave with hope. Hope, because I’ve seen that there are entire generations of students across Europe committed to working for a better, more connected future.