Group: For students

Universität Innsbruck, in cooperation with Università degli Studi di Napoli Federico II (Italy) and Palacký University Olomouc (Czech Republic) and representatives of the Université Paris-Est Créteil (France), successfully convened a hybrid working meeting to launch the hybrid Joint Master Degree Programme entitled “Digital Society, Social Innovation, and Global Citizenship” (DIGISOC).

This innovative joint programme aims to address the pressing challenges, but also the opportunities, of increasing digitalisation through a collective effort. 42 colleagues from all involved universities and participating organisations took part in this intensive working session, either on-site or online.

During the meeting, the Vice Rector for Teaching and Student Affairs at Universität Innsbruck, Univ.-Prof. Dr. Janette Walde, emphasised the need for a unified curriculum that effectively combines the diverse offerings of the three degree-awarding universities and for optional practical phases involving companies and small and medium enterprises (SMEs).

Aligning University Structures Into A Cohesive Programme

The complexity of aligning three different university structures into a cohesive programme was acknowledged as a significant challenge, but the commitment of the staff involved paved the way for future collaboration, moderated by the responsible Dean of Studies assoz. Prof. Mag. Dr. Nikolaus Umlauf and Christina Raab.

Key issues discussed included the development of scholarship opportunities, student enrollment processes, and key elements for the successful implementation of the Joint Master’s Programme. The selection process will be coordinated by Università degli Studi di Napoli Federico II. It was also agreed that each university will publish information about the Joint Master Programme and a call for scholarships, specifying the criteria and stipends, so that eligible students can apply. The aim of this initiative is to increase accessibility and to attract a wide range of students from different fields of study.

Participants also discussed in detail the creation of a comprehensive website to promote the Joint Master’s Programme. The proposed website will serve as a landing page with key information, including the application process. It is planned that the website will be ready for public access by the end of March 2025. In the meantime, the institutional information pages of the three degree-awarding universities will provide information and, of course, link to this page in the near future.

Launching of the Joint Master’s Programme

Looking ahead, the launch date for the Joint Master’s Programme is set for October 1, 2025. The universities expressed their collective commitment to address remaining challenges and completing the necessary accreditation and administrative processes in preparation for this date. The next steps will involve continued faculty and administrative collaboration, with a follow-up meeting scheduled to review progress and finalise outstanding issues.

The Joint Master Degree Programme “Digital Society, Social Innovation, and Global Citizenship” aims to prepare students to become leaders capable of managing global citizenship in a digital society while fostering social innovation; at the same time, it is a demonstration of the added value and feasibility of international cooperation in higher education.

DIGISOC originates from the Aurora Educational Hub “Digital Society & Global Citizenship”, which has facilitated the development of this two-year European Joint Master Degree Program (120 ECTS credits). Due to the ambitious and resource-intensive nature of this initiative, an additional project proposal, EURIDICE, has been submitted to the EU call DIGITAL-2022-SKILLS-03. DIGISOC has now been realised based on this call.

The Aurora Student Conference is a unique occasion for students from Aurora universities to meet in-person and exchange on topics addressing the opportunities and challenges for our students. The 2025 edition took place between 27 and 29 January 2025 at the Palacky University Olomouc (UP) in the Czech Republic. It welcomed 50 Aurora Student Council (ASC) members and Student Ambassadors across Aurora universities on the Olomouc campus. Throwback to the two-day intensive, student-led and student-focused programme by Ari Ljunggren, Bachelor degree student from Copenhagen Business School (CBS) and second-year Aurora Student Ambassador.

There’s something special about returning to a place that once opened your eyes to new ideas. Two years ago, I arrived in Olomouc for the first time to take a course called Sustainable Social Enterprises at UP. In hindsight, this experience was more than just an academic course. It broadened my perspective on how businesses can rethink their priorities to create real, meaningful impact. Collaborating on a business idea with fellow students from CBS and UP made me realize that, with the right mindset, entrepreneurship can be a powerful force for positive change.

Fast-forward to today, now nearing the end of my bachelor’s degree, and I find myself back in Olomouc. This time, I’m here as Student Ambassador for Aurora, proudly representing CBS at the Aurora Student Conference 2025.

Day One: A Warm Welcome and a Grand Introduction

The conference began on Tuesday with an institutional welcome in a stunning, frescoed room on campus. The conference had two main goals: strengthening the European alliance’s community and collaborating on creative ways to enhance Aurora. The room was filled with students from nearly every Aurora partner university. I saw some familiar faces from past events, but also many new ones I was excited to meet.

The day kicked off with an Introduction to Aurora, outlining what makes this alliance unique among other European university networks. We explored its core mission, ongoing strategic initiatives, and the distinct opportunities it offers students. Having been part of Aurora for some time, I particularly appreciated and agreed with the speaker’s focus on Aurora’s well-structured events, a strong sense of community, and tangible opportunities for collaboration.

After a short coffee break, we jumped straight into the Aurora Student Council’s Open Session. This was an in-depth discussion on the role of the ASC, the impact it has had so far, and ways for students to shape its direction. The conversation highlighted key student-led initiatives, reinforcing how much influence we, as students, have within the organisation.

In the afternoon, we also attended a session on the Aurora Student Ambassador Programme, which focused on student leadership within Aurora, followed by the Beliefs, Events, and Values Index (BEVI) Workshop. In the Ambassador session, we explored how ambassadors act as a bridge between their home universities and the broader Aurora network, fostering engagement at both local and international levels. The BEVI workshop, on the other hand, was a thought-provoking experience that encouraged deep introspection about our own personal and collective values.

After the workshops and talks, we took a guided tour of the city. Although I had explored Olomouc before, I was once again struck by its charm and even picked up a few new facts from our guide, Jan. The university buildings are architectural gems, preserving their rich historical beauty. Throughout the city, Baroque fountains, a Soviet-era astronomical clock, and centuries-old spires stand in stark contrast to the sleek, functional designs of modern cities.

After the official programme ended, a few of us unleashed our competitive sides at a local go-kart track that evening. It may seem like an unusual post-conference activity, but it was a fantastic icebreaker. Cheering each other on (and occasionally bumping into one another’s karts) brought out everyone’s fun side. We ended the night with dinner at a traditional Moravian restaurant, where we had the chance to connect and share stories over the local cuisine.

Day Two: Workshops, Reflections, and Future Plans

The second day began with a peer learning workshop focused on mental health. We openly discussed ways to destigmatize mental health struggles and how different cultures approach these challenges. Hearing such a diverse range of perspectives was eye-opening. Everyone brought personal experiences, and by the end, we had a deeper understanding of how to support one another.

After lunch, we reviewed our collective BEVI results before moving into an afternoon public speaking workshop led by a fellow Swede. Public speaking has always been a challenge for me, but practicing in a supportive setting made all the difference. We received useful advice, tested new techniques, and encouraged each other. By the end, I felt more confident about tackling future presentations, whether in a classroom setting or at a conference.

To conclude the official program, we had a cultural exchange where each ASC member brought a unique treat from their home country to share. Students from across the alliance contributed a variety of specialties—Université Paris-Est Créteil (UPEC) students brought macarons, Universität Innsbruck students offered wafer cookies, and the University of Iceland students presented dried fish chips (which, I must admit, I have yet to gather the courage to try!).

Looking Ahead

As the conference came to a close, I felt a mix of excitement and sadness. There’s something incredibly energizing about being surrounded by passionate students from across Europe, all working toward meaningful change in our communities and institutions.

Thankfully, I know this isn’t the end of my journey with Aurora–just another step forward. Over the past two years, I’ve seen the alliance evolve into a more streamlined, collaborative network, and I’m eager to stay involved. Perhaps I’ll contribute through the student council, especially given the growing momentum behind Aurora’s initiatives.

For those unfamiliar with Aurora: if you’ve ever thought about joining an Aurora project or conference, take this as your sign to do it! You’ll gain fresh perspectives, friendships that cross borders, and a deeper understanding of what’s possible in higher education.

A huge thank you to our generous hosts at UP, and to Aurora for constantly pushing us to think bigger, collaborate more, and challenge the status quo. I’m already looking forward to what’s next—if it’s anything like this experience, it’s going to be incredible.

Open all year round, the seizmic AWARDS is part of the social entrepreneurship and innovation activities being developed within the Aurora 2030 programme. Led by Copenhagen Business School (CBS), the AWARDS is an opportunity to recognise the creativity and innovation of students and early-stage social entrepreneurs. 

 This year, the seizmic AWARDS received a total of 45 submissions from across the globe. Projects submitted are built on the seizmic APP, an open access tool for all social entrepreneurs who aim to transform their business ideas into reality.

“We started the seizmic AWARDS with a shared passion for making a positive impact,” explains Kai Hockerts, professor at CBS and seizmic project coordinator. “The diversity and innovation in the submissions reflect the collective drive for positive change worldwide. Congratulations to every participant who contributes to building a better future.”

Truly inspired by the quality of the social entrepreneurship projects submitted this year, the expert jury faced the challenging task of selecting the 2024 winners. After two rounds of jury selections, the following projects won the seizmic AWARDS 2024:

To access their full business model on Babele, you first need to create a user profile. Follow this step-by-step guide. 

First Place: thisABILITY

Team: Victor Ilic, Mathias Brun, Benjamin Eriksen, Augustas Skarbalius and Svend Hahn Larsen (Copenhagen Business School)
Discover the business model.

thisABILITY is a social enterprise dedicated to raising awareness about invisible disabilities through interactive exhibitions that allow people to experience what living with such conditions feels like. In Denmark, approximately 20% of the population lives with an invisible disorder, and the challenges they face are significant. Currently, 340,000 individuals with disabilities are unemployed, with one in three young people from this group lacking a job or education – compared to less than one in ten among those without disabilities. This disparity negatively impacts the life satisfaction of individuals with hidden disabilities and costs the Danish government up to 6 billion DKK annually (approximately 800 million euros).

Runner-up: Empowering local businesses

Team: Anna Rumenova, Daniel Türk, Stijn van Meerten, Miles del Prete, Lea Marie Adams (ESADE, Spain)
Discover the business model.

The objective is to build a sustainable business that empowers local shops by providing a digital platform to connect with both local and global customers. This social enterprise addresses a pressing social challenge: small local businesses often struggle to compete with online retail giants like Amazon. These businesses typically lack the resources, technical skills, and support necessary to establish a strong online presence, leaving them vulnerable to losing local customers to larger platforms. This trend weakens local economies, reduces the diversity of retail options and erodes respect for small businesses.

Runner-up: Synergy Hydrogen Solutions

Team: Vrije Universiteit Amsterdam (VU Amsterdam), Netherlands
Discover the business model.

To address the issue of excess electricity during periods of high production and low demand, the project proposes using this surplus to produce hydrogen gas. Currently, wind turbines are often shut off because the power grid cannot accommodate the excess electricity, hindering the continuation of large solar and wind energy projects. Building local hydrogen plants can harness the full potential of existing green power sources, free up capacity for new renewable installations, and create green hydrogen fuel for mobility and various other applications.

Curious about the seizmic AWARDS 2025?

Submissions are now open! Go to seizmic AWARDS.

The Social Business Model Panorama helps in navigating each step in the development of an impactful project. To find out more, contact: seizmic@cbs.dk.

The Aurora Student Council (ASC) recently showed its dedication to student advocacy and international collaboration at the European Students’ Union (ESU) Conference of Student Bodies of the European Alliances of higher education institutions.

Representing Aurora were four student leaders: Mathilde, ASC President and Andrea, ASC General Secretary, both from the Université Paris-Est Créteil (UPEC), Sören, ASC Vice President from Copenhagen Business School, and Simona of Pavol Jozef Šafárik University in Košice. Their participation highlighted the council’s commitment to working together and sharing ideas with student leaders from other European university alliances.

The ESU is an organisation of 44 National Unions of Students (NUS) from 40 countries. Since 1982, it has been standing up for students’ rights across European countries. It organized the conference to bring together student representatives from all over Europe. ESU focuses on working with key institutions like the European Union, the Bologna Follow-up Group, the Council of Europe, and UNESCO. Some of its recent projects include addressing the EU Commission’s European Degree proposal, supporting students at risk, improving Erasmus+ programmes, and promoting equal access to education.

Strong Student Representation on the European Agenda

Over 100 students from 30 alliances attended the three-day conference, which focused on common challenges and opportunities for student representation. The first two days featured speakers who explained important topics like the Bologna Process and the European Commission’s agenda for higher education. Students joined round table discussions to share their experiences and discuss solutions to common problems. Furthermore, they came up with ideas to strengthen student involvement in European university alliances.

“These kinds of conferences are incredibly empowering,” said Mathilde. “They allow us to learn from the best practices of other student councils. They also enable us to recognise our strengths and weaknesses, and work to improve them.”

Simona, Aurora student representative, agreed. “It was very enriching to gather with student representatives from different European university alliances. We exchanged experiences in addressing similar problems that impact students in different universities. This conference was just a beginning of a very important cooperation.”

The ESU Conference provided an opportunity for students to connect, exchange ideas, and work toward common goals. The Aurora Student Council’s active involvement showed their commitment to making a positive impact and building stronger partnerships across Europe.

Hosted by the University Federico II of Naples (UNINA), the fourth edition of the seizmic Hackathon “Re-thinking Food Systems in the Anthropocene” is one of the most consolidated training initiatives by the social entrepreneurship and innovation team at Aurora universities. Part of seizmic activities, the hackathon is the culmination of a Blended Intensive Programme (BIP) organised by UNINA, in partnership with Copenhagen Business School, University of Iceland, University Rovira i Virgili and Vrije Universiteit Amsterdam.

From 21 to 25 October 2024, 50 students from Aurora universities visited Naples and the surrounding rural areas, Pietraroja and Morcone (in the province of Benevento). Thanks to the collaboration with Mario Festa, architect and President of the Rural Design for the Regeneration of Territories association (Ru.De.Ri.), the students were able to visit interesting examples of the regeneration of urban green areas and social promotion such as the orchard maintained by N’sea Yet in Viviani Park and Quartiere Intelligente in Naples.

Assessing Systemic Change

Coordinated by Ramon Rispoli, Adam Arvidsson, Benedetta Toledo and Nunzia Ambrosino, the aim of the seizmic Hackathon workshop was to develop design proposals for the transformation of food production and distribution systems in the Campania region. Students from diverse disciplines like Design, Business, Social Sciences, and Environmental Sciences, fostered a transdisciplinary dialogue to address the potential of real, systemic change within the region.

Through various field trips, students learnt more about local agriculture and tasted local food products. Chefs Peppe Zullo and Annamaria Mastrantuono delighted all participants with their exquisite regional cuisine. These field experiences enabled students to question the new role that particularly fragile rural areas – such as those in the Campania hinterland – could play in reorienting the food chain towards ecological compatibility and social justice.

seizmic Hackathon: A Comprehensive Programme

As a BIP funded by the Erasmus+ programme, the seizmic Hackathon workshop was divided into virtual and in-person components. Both components consisted of lectures which covered the following topics:

• Anthropocene by Adam Arvidsson, full professor of Sociology, UNINA.
• Re‐thinking the City Through Food, and Design for Social Innovation by Ramon Rispoli, associate professor of Design, UNINA.
• Consumer Input in Designing Sustainable Food Supply Chains by Laurence Beierlein, visiting professor from Université Paris-Est Créteil (UPEC).
• Social Innovation and Food Waste by Nunzia Ambrosino and Benedetta Toledo, PhD students, UNINA.
• How to Integrate a Community In a Social Innovation Project by Marco Cecere, architect and designer, Avventura di Latta.
• Introduction to Naples Markets by Adam Arvidsson, and Eugenia Santoro, researcher, UNINA.
• Glocalizing Food: The Informal Kitchens of Piazza Garibaldi by Dario Minervini, Cristina Trey and Najoua El Kasmi.

After a week of lectures, field trips and intense group work, the students presented their systemic design proposals for rethinking food systems in the Campania Region before the Final Jury composed of Laurence Beierlein, Dario Catania and Luca Esposito. These projects will be part of the seizmic Awards 2024, a competition organised by Copenhagen Business School to promote creative and innovative social entrepreneurs.

To learn more about the seizmic Hackathon course content and discover its activities in detail, as well as staying up-to-date on the next editions, follow the seizmic Hackathon instagram page @hackathon_aurora_dbe.

This past summer, VU Amsterdam hosted its 11th Summer School edition, welcoming 380 students on its campus, including several students from Aurora universities across Europe.

Throughout July and August, VU Amsterdam Summer School provided 24 exceptional short courses designed specifically for students from Bachelor, Master and PhD levels. Lasting between one to two weeks, these highly-intensive courses cover diverse subjects such as international law, environmental science and policy, and statistical research.

Passionate Professors Empowering Future Entrepreneurs

Dedicated professors from the university shared their knowledge and expertise through interactive lectures, challenging group discussions, and  practical assignments. One course in particular, “New Venture Creation in the Amsterdam Entrepreneurial Ecosystem” used a state-of-the-art tool for students to work on their business ideas. Led by professor Enno Masurel, Aurora students were able to envision the potential growth of their start-up ventures through “Business Model Canvas for Start-ups & Scale-ups”.

Beyond business models, Aurora students also reflected on how they could each make a positive impact that responds to the issues within the United Nations Sustainable Development Goals (SDGs).

Creating A Lasting Impact

The summer school would not have been complete without offering students insights into the Dutch culture. Thanks to the university’s International Office, students explored Amsterdam through an array of cultural activities, including city tours, museum visits and workshops.

The VU Amsterdam Summer School offered a comprehensive and enriching experience. It blended quality academic knowledge and hands-on learning, with immersive cultural activities. The programme’s diverse and inclusive environment fosters cross-cultural understanding and promotes collaboration among students from around the world. It provided  opportunities for students to network, form friendships, and create lasting memories.

From 17 to 28 June, Université Paris-Est Créteil (UPEC) hosted its first-ever Aurora Summer School on Futures Literacy and social foresight. The two-week course focused on training students from Aurora universities to reframe today’s challenges to better anticipate the impact of decisions taken for the future.

Held at AEI International School in UPEC, the Aurora Summer School welcomed 26 students from UPEC, University of Iceland, Vrije Universiteit Amsterdam, Università Federico II of Naples and Copenhagen Business School. Over a fortnight, our students were exposed to an immersive educational and intercultural experience.

Anticipating Tomorrow Today  

The Aurora Summer School in UPEC introduced our students to the disciplines in social entrepreneurship, prospective studies and social innovation. Its objective is to encourage them to master the skills to prepare for the future by addressing today’s complex societal challenges.

The programme included courses that were designed to enable our students to understand how actions and decisions can have a real impact on society. By learning the fundamentals of Futures Literacy, they looked at issues touching social, societal, economic and entrepreneurial aspects.

Led by professor Felipe Koch, Vice-Dean of AEI International School at UPEC, the first week of the summer school began with comprehensive lectures and practical sessions on the topic of Futures Studies. These sessions took place in the Futures Literacy Laboratory, where our students experimented with innovative methods to drive transformative change.

Week two of the summer school further broadened perspectives and provided our students exposure to a wide range of expertise. Renowned speakers included:

• Philippe Frouté, Dean of AEI International School, UPEC, lectured on data analysis and forecasting.
• Fabio Scarano, UNESCO Chair on Futures Literacy: Planetary Wellbeing and Regenerative Anticipation, spoke on regenerative futures.
• Rocco Scolozzi, professional futurist, trainer and facilitator, explained the implementation of systems thinking.
• Dr Fernando Bozza, lead researcher at the World Health Organization (WHO), exchanged on social innovation, entrepreneurship and managing decision-making under deep uncertainty.

Intercultural Exchange in the Heart of Paris 

One of the benefits of student mobility between Aurora universities is the possibility for a rich intercultural exchange. Incoming students get to learn more about the French culture while also being introduced to other European cultures, thanks to the diversity of the students coming from different universities within Aurora.

The Office of International Affairs at UPEC organised two cultural visits in the heart of Paris:

• Opéra Garnier on the theme Intermezzo: Our students discovered the history of Palais Garnier, its unique 19^th century theatre art architecture and the various artistic activities undertaken by the Parisian opera house.
• Seine river cruise: Through a guided cruise by some of the most beautiful monuments viewed from the Seine river, our students learnt more about Parisian culture and the city’s historical heritage. 

The Aurora Summer School at UPEC was a huge success for the university that officially joined Aurora as full member in 2023. Since its entry into the Aurora European university alliance, UPEC has been co-leading two strategic work packages in the Aurora 2030 project: Enhancing Quality of Research through an Aurora Research and Innovation Community, and Impact and Dissemination.