II Unite! Branding Event

Under the motto “Inspiring People – Sparking Innovation”, the II Unite! Branding Event, which takes place on September 25, aims to highlight the cooperation between universities and society and to present and disseminate the achievements of the alliance to a wider public.

The II Unite! Branding Event will allow participants to reflect on and discuss the impact of the European University Initiative on higher education, and consequently on science, society, and economy. The aim is to address current challenges, explore future aspirations, and highlight the most significant achievements of the alliance. Approximately 500 participants are expected, including attendees from the Rhine-Main region, Unite! partner universities, and their collaborators from Finland to Portugal, as well as high-ranking representatives from the European Commission. The conference will also be broadcasted via Unite! media channels, making it accessible to everyone interested in the initiative, its outcomes, and future prospects.

 

 

“I am delighted that the upcoming Unite! Dialogue is taking place here at TU Darmstadt. With the wide range of offers and in discussions with colleagues from all Unite! partners, our lively alliance and its impact will become even more directly tangible – both for us at TU Darmstadt and for all partners from the Rhine-Main region and beyond, whom we can welcome to the Dialogue and the Branding Event. Unite! inspires us to actively contribute not only to the future of our alliance, but also to new perspectives in the European Higher Education Area. Together as Unite! and with our partners, we will continue to develop creative ideas and thus make new things and innovation possible. I invite everyone: Let Unite! inspire you and become part of the Unite! community.”

– Unite! and TU President Professor Tanja Brühl

Get involved, there are still places available!

Practical information

 

European Researchers’ Night: Ethics and credibility in science and technology

On Friday 27 September, all Unite! students are invited to participate in a dialogue with Unite! researchers about ethics and credibility in science and technology during this years European Researchers’ Night.

 

The European Researchers’ Night is a Europe-wide public event, which displays the diversity of science and its impact on citizens’ daily lives in fun, inspiring ways and aims to:

  • bring research and researchers closer to the public
  • promote excellent research projects across Europe and beyond
  • increase the interest of young people in science and research careers
  • showcase the impact of researchers’ work on people’s daily lives

 

As misinformation, deepfakes, and half-truths spread, it’s getting harder to tell what’s real from what’s fake. This causes people to lose trust in news and information, which weakens democracy by creating confusion and doubt about what to believe. Artificial intelligence (AI) plays a key role in this issue—it can spread fake information and help fight against it. That’s why it’s important to promote media literacy and teach people how to think critically, so they can deal with real and manipulated information

-Prof. Cecilio Angulo Bahón, Universitat Politècnica de Catalunya

 

The event primarily targets High School pupils (15-18 years) and future students in the nine Unite! cities and regions. However, anyone interested is welcome to join.

This event is an excellent opportunity for students to get curious, ask questions, and engage with science. This year, the focus is on AI. The impact and potential of AI is undeniable, but there are still a lot of questions we must answer. While we might not have all the answers, we can always ask ChatGPT! 😀
Despite the complexity of AI, we mustn’t shy away from it, but embrace the challenge and the change, explore its potential, and tackle tough questions. After all, curiosity, learning, and critical thinking are how we move forward in science.

– Moderator Milica Zivanic, SURE! Representative from UPC

This year, the event will take place on Friday 27 September in 25 countries. The Unite! webinar from 10:00 AM – 12:00 (noon) CET, online via zoom, will:

  • Briefly present the European University Alliance “Unite!” and its offer for prospective students.
  • Show that the researcher’s job is interesting, exciting, amazing and provides an opportunity to work with colleagues from all around the world.
  • Explain some elements and reflections on ethics and credibility in science and technology, which are crucial for the advancement of knowledge, the trustworthiness of research, and the responsible application of scientific discoveries. These principles ensure that scientific and technological developments are conducted and communicated in ways that are fair, transparent, and beneficial to society.

Practical information:

Please register in advance here.

Agenda of the session:

  • 10:00 – 10:05 Introduction of the session; Moderator Milica Zivanic, SURE! Representative from UPC, Barcelona
  • 10:05 – 10:10 Welcome address by Unite! Secretary General
  • 10:15 – 10:30 AI-Robotics: Trustworthiness, Trustiness, Truthiness, and Failing Democracy; Prof. Cecilio Angulo Bahón, Universitat Politècnica de Catalunya
  • 10:30 – 10:40 Submitted questions from school classes
  • 10:40 – 10:55 Ethics and consequences of emerging AI tools (tentative); Dr. Teresa Marcinów, Wroclaw University of Science and Technology
  • 10:55 – 11:05 Submitted questions from school classes
  • 11:05 – 11:20 AI governance; Prof. em. Carl-Gustaf Jansson, KTH Royal Institute of Technology, Stockholm
  • 11:20 – 11:30 Submitted questions from school classes
  • 11:30 – 11:55 Discussion and debate between speakers and audience; Dr. Teresa Marcinów, Prof. Cecilio Angulo Bahón, Prof. em. Carl-Gustaf Jansson
  • 11:55 – 12:00 Closure

Transform Your Teaching: Discover Best Practices for Effective Distributed and Blended Entrepreneurship Education!

We’re thrilled to invite you to the final seminar of the Erasmus+ PORTFOLIO project!

Join us as we unveil the insights and tools developed over the past 2 years for advancing Distributed and Blended Entrepreneurship Education. This seminar will provide you with concrete guidelines, tools, and practices to implement innovative teaching and learning methods, absolutely free!

The seminar introduces also keynote and panel talks about the topical themes in European Higher Education landscape both from educator’s and decision maker’s point of view:

  • The current and future trends in European Higher Education, and how to foster Innovative learning and teaching as academic actor and as a decision maker
  • Challenges, learnings, and solutions for creating and running a shared blended and distributed teaching program as a joint effort by several European universities.
  • How to define the required building blocks for designing, coordinating, and implementing a distributed Entrepreneurship Program aligned with European values?
  • How to design and implement a micro-course portfolio as a collective pedagogical process, and to ensure its relevance, impact, and sustainability.
  • How to gather data on effectiveness of teaching about hard-to-measure entrepreneurship skills and competencies?
  • How to make international student teams flourish in a limited-time onsite event leveraging partner ecosystem in it.

The seminar is free of charge and open to educators, teachers, students, professors, academic staff, policymakers, or anyone interested in innovative approaches to teaching and Inter-Connected European Education.

Attend this hybrid seminar either onsite @ Dipoli in Aalto University Campus, or online registering here.

See you in the seminar event, either onsite or online!

Join the Unite! 21-Day Diversity & Inclusion Challenge

A self-directed, online and free learning tool designed to deepen your understanding of diversity and inclusion.

Do you sometimes feel the world we live in should be more inclusive? And do you feel that your social or work environment is accessible and safe? Can you identify situations that might make you feel uncomfortable or could be improved? Then the “21 Day Diversity and Inclusion Challenge” is for you!

This self-directed, online and free learning tool is designed to deepen your understanding of diversity and inclusion. The programme provides a platform for discussion and reflection, helping to raise awareness and promote a more caring and inclusive environment.

By taking just a few minutes each day, you will gain valuable insights and tools to address and improve inclusion, diversity, accessibility and equity in your social and professional settings.

Together, we can make a difference and build a more inclusive and welcoming Unite! community! Sign up for the 21-Day Diversity & Inclusion Challenge on Metacampus now and start your journey on 2 September.

Practical Information:

  • Sign up for the challenge here here
  • Starting date: 2nd of September

 

 

Draw your vision of our sustainable future!

All Unite! Bachelor, master and Ph.D. students are invited to join this exciting Unite! Seed Funded poster competition: selected posters will be awarded and shown online.

Under the sustainable development consensus worldwide, achieving the United Nations’ 17 Sustainable Development Goals (SDGs) is an urgent task. From an architectural perspective, this is close to everyone’s living quality but also relates to energy. Bearing this in mind, the Unite! Seed Fund Poster Contest on Architectural Energy for Sustainable Development aims to get advanced ideas from bachelor, master and PhD students to make contributions to architectural energy for sustainable development.

Posters’ main topics include:

  • architectural design in the energy field,
  • green buildings,
  • sustainable design,
  • advanced methods for architectural energy, and demonstration design projects.
  • Nonetheless, any additional ideas will be more than welcome.

“The purpose of the Unite! Poster Contest is not to compete but to achieve an open, inclusive and free exchange of cutting-edge knowledge under the same goals (SDGs), to deeply integrate our views on how building energy can achieve sustainable development in different ways. Through this event, I hope we can strengthen academic exchanges among universities, expand scholars’ horizons, and build a sustainable future!”.

Dr. Bin Li, coordinator of the project for Politecnico di Torino.

All the qualified posters will be displayed online on Unite! channels, and the winning posters will be awarded during an onsite Ceremony at Politecnico di Torino. The winning posters will be awarded with one 1st, three 2nd and five 3rd Prizes chosen by the Jury members, plus a Special Prize selected by the audience via an online voting poll.

Practical Information:

  • Poster submission deadline: October 20, 2024.
  • Posters should be one-page A1 size with no format requirements.
  • Contact Dr. Bin Li  for further details and applications
Join the contest! Be part of the first Unite! online exhibit!

Unite! Research School: Registration is Open!

The Unite! Research School has launched registrations for the first Unite! Research Week!

From 14th to 18th October 2024, the Unite! Research School will bring together MSc and PhD students, as well as researchers from across Europe, in the fields of Artificial Intelligence, Electrochemical Energy Conversion and Storage, Industry 4.0, Nuclear Engineering and Sustainable Electronics.

The event will happen in Autrans, in the mountains near Grenoble,  taking part in an intense programme of courses featuring:

  • Lectures and plenary sessions,
  • Transversal skills courses,
  • Meetings with others MSc and PhDs students, researchers and industry representatives,
  • A research challenge with mixed teams,
  • Several visits of large instruments and research Infrastructures in Grenoble Area.

In the framework of URW, the Blended Intensive Programme (BIP) will be implemented, allowing students to apply for funding to cover costs.

The programme also includes a day dedicated to the Industry Forum, during which doctoral offers and internships will be proposed.

The Unite! Research School is therefore a unique opportunity to explore global trends in research in engineering and to meet industry representatives. It’s the perfect place to actively expose yourself to new perspectives, people, situations, and topics. There is a lot to be learned from other researchers and students who operate in a same or different discipline than you!

Practical information:

  • Unite! Research School Official Flyer
  • Program Unite! Research Week
  • Date and time: 14-18 października 2024r., górskie rejony Grenoble 
  • Register via  Metacampus 
  • Registration deadline: do 31 lipca 2024r. 
  • Registration is free and includes accommodation and meals from Monday 14th October to Friday 18th October 2024. Additional financial support for expenses such as transportation can be obtained through an Erasmus+ grant or, in the case of doctoral candidates, through the Unite! Seed Fund grant.
  • For more information, contact Prof. Krzysztof Walkowiakkrzysztof.walkowiak@pwr.edu.pl and/or write to the following address:  URW@univ-grenoble-alpes.fr

 

The Third Edition of the Unite! Seed Fund 2024

The Third Call for Applications for the Unite! Seed Fund in the Teaching & Learning Area is Now Open

Unite! announces a special call for applications for the Seed Fund under the program “Teaching and Learning in Unite! Focus Areas.” This is in response to the interest and numerous applications received in the last call. The call is open until August 31, 2024.

This special invitation aims to strengthen collaboration and create joint teaching formats within the alliance, particularly in exchange-based modules at the master’s level. Unite! invites teaching staff, educational units, and educational institutions to submit proposals for joint projects involving as many partner universities of the alliance as possible.

The invitation aims to fund innovation and collaboration in teaching and learning in the following thematic areas:

  • Sustainable Cities and Water (including resilient cities and climate change)
  • Engineering Biology (including Biotechnology)
  • Space
  • Cybersecurity
  • Artificial Intelligence
  • Industry 4.0
  • Energy
  • Entrepreneurship

Funding is open to topics related to the above areas and is targeted at offline, hybrid, and/or entirely online formats.

The aim of the competition is to support the creation of exchange modules within Unite!, which are academic programs allowing students to study at another university—or several other universities within the alliance—for a certain period, thereby increasing sustainable student mobility.

More Information:

All documents required to apply for funding under the Seed Fund can be found [here].
Additional information can be obtained via email: seedfund@unite-university.eu or from the university’s KLO, Prof. Piotr Rutkowski:

piotr.rutkowski@pwr.edu.pl

Unite! brings together engineers exploring the intricacies of biotechnology and synthetic biology

On September 11, 2024, the online event Unite! Engineering Biology will take place, aiming to unite scientists from all partner universities to develop key technologies and sustainable processes.

In the dynamic fields of biotechnology, biological sciences, and chemistry, Unite! supports collaboration and innovation in joint proposals that will help us transition towards a net-zero society. Biotechnology and synthetic biology are crucial for developing sustainable processes that use carbon dioxide and biomass as future resources in various industries.

The upcoming event serves as a platform for scientific exchange and collaboration among researchers specializing in biotechnology, biological sciences, and chemistry, particularly focused on their applications in renewable energy, sustainable development, and engineering solutions for health.

 

The team responsible for the successful seed fund project of 2023, which includes members such as Robert Kourist from TU Graz, Christian Schnepel and Per Berglund from KTH, Heribert Warzecha from TU Darmstadt, and Łukasz Berlicki from Wroclaw Tech, invites event participants to present their activities and key findings from recent research in brief 10-minute presentations. The goal of these presentations is to facilitate networking and collaboration on new proposals submitted to the seed fund. Scientists interested in participating are asked to submit a short summary of their research (max. 200 words) and references to molbiotech.unite@tugraz.at by August 15, 2024.

Practical Information:

Date: September 11, 2024, from 9:00 AM to 5:00 PM CET, entirely online.
Registration: Please send a short abstract with the project title (max. 200 words) and references to: molbiotech.unite@tugraz.at
Registration deadline: August 15, 2024
For more information, please write to molbiotech.unite@tugraz.at

Give your items a second life – Bring them to the SWAP PARTY!

Feeling overwhelmed after the semester? Get rid of unnecessary items! Give them a second life – Bring them to the SWAP PARTY!

Do you have items at home that you no longer use but are still in great condition? Refresh your surroundings without spending a fortune! Join us at SWAP PARTY – a unique event organized as part of the Green Campus project, where you can exchange various items with other participants!

What is SWAP PARTY?

Promo Swap is a gathering where you can bring your unused but still valuable items and exchange them for something new. It’s a great opportunity to give your belongings a second life while finding something useful for yourself.

Why to  participate?

  • New treasures for free,
  • Discover items that could become your new favorites without spending any money,
  • Practical ecology – By swapping items, you help reduce waste and promote a sustainable lifestyle,
  • Community – Meet other enthusiasts and creative people with whom you can share inspiration and experiences,
  • Fun and discovery – You never know what you might find – it could be something you’ve been looking for!

When, how, and where?

Join us for the first SWAP on June 25th at 1:30 PM.

Location: SKS, Wrocław University of Science and Technology

Participation in the SWAP PARTY is free, but space is limited! Register now by filling out the form: here.

 

 

 

Don’t miss this unique opportunity! Join us at the SWAP PARTY and discover new possibilities for exchanging items. We can’t wait to see you!

EU MISSION ADAPTATION TO CLIMATE CHANGE WORKSHOP

We cordially invite you to join the EU Mission on Adaptation to climate change Unite!Widening Workshop.

The aim of the event will be to present the possibilities of participating in the EU Mission Adaptation to Climate Change programs and calls.

Our multi-actor and multifaceted knowledge exchange will pave the road to formulate strategic research priorities for the Widening countries, willing to expand their participation in research and development activities, with particular focus on top research priorities for Poland and Portugal.

The meeting will take place on June 18th (planned meeting time 9:30 a.m. – 1:30 p.m.) at the Wroclaw University of Science and Technology and will be conducted in English, in a hybrid mode.

It will also be an opportunity to establish research cooperation with partners from several EU countries. The special guest of the event will be Elina Bardram, a Manager of Mission Adaptation to climate change and Director in DG CLIMA.

Check the complete programme here.

Participation in the event is free of charge, however filling the registration form is required.

Please register here in order to participate: EU Mission on Adaptation to climate change Widening Workshop.

Additionaly, use the following link for the online presence.

June 18th 2024, h. 9.30-13.30

Wroclaw University of Science and Technology, 27 Wybrzeże Stanisława Wyspiańskiego Street, Budynek A-1, Wroclaw

Info & contact: widening@pwr.edu.pl


 

Keynote Speakers:

Professor Barbara Widera PhD HDr MS., Architect, Associate Professor at Faculty of Architecture, Wrocław University of Science and Technology, Member of the Mission Board of EU Mission for Adaptation to Climate Change, New European Bauhaus Preparatory Action Dimension Lead Expert (Joint Research Center ISPRA). Barbara Widera is a specialist in the field of energy efficiency and environmental strategies in buildings, as well as ecological and bioclimatic architecture. Participant of interdisciplinary research in the field of marine biology and underwater archaeology. Co-author of experimental concepts for counteracting climate change using nature-based solutions for climate-resistant buildings and cities. Member of scientific organizations working to improve the accessibility, comfort, resilience and safety of the built environment, including Polish Academy of Sciences (History of Architecture and Monument Protection Section of the Commission for Architecture and Urban Planning in Wrocław). Read more about Barbara Widera: Web of ScienceBarbara Widera Google Citations

Barbara Widera will moderate the roundtable discussion with focus on new opportunities for regions and research institutions in Widening Countries, and how their synergies can support adaptation to climate change in the most effective and beneficial way.


 

Elina Bardram  is the Director for “Adaptation & Resilience, Communication, and Civil Society Relations” at the European Commission’s Directorate-General for Climate Action and the Mission Manager for the EU Mission on Adaptation to Climate Change. She joined DG CLIMA in 2010 and has held different senior and middle management functions in the area of international relations, including as Head of the EU Delegation to the UNFCCC negotiations between 2014-2018. Between 2003-2010, Ms. Bardram worked in the Strategy Directorate of the External Relations Directorate-General. She holds a Ph.D. in Economics from the Vienna University of Economics and Business. Her academic work has focused on the impacts of globalisation.

In her speech Elina will highlight the critical role of Widening countries in bringing coherence and integration to European efforts of readiness and resilience to climate change. She will also explain how the EU Mission on Adaptation to climate change can support Polish, Portuguese and other regions across EU in their research & innovation activities and adaptation projects.


 

Dr Magdalena Głogowska is a graduate of the Faculty of Social Sciences of the University of Silesia in Katowice, majoring in Political Science. In 2016, she obtained a PhD in environmental sociology. She is a member of program committees for the Horizon Europe Program (Cluster 5: Climate, Energy, Mobility, Cluster 6: Food, Bioeconomy, Natural Resources, Agriculture and Environment, Working Groups: Mission Adaptation to Climate Change, Mission Ocean). She represents the country at committee meetings with the European Commission, contributing to agreeing on the scope and conditions of work programs. Magdalena Głogowska participated in the implementation of many research and development projects financed from national and EU funds.

 

“In my presentation I will give a brief overview of Horizon Europe open calls for proposals within EU Mission Adaptation to Climate Change. I will also look into challenges related to cooperation of different stakeholders on the regional level and how they can be transformed into successful, collaborative projects contributing to climate adaptation and mitigation. “


 

Katarzyna Buszkiewicz-Seferyńska is currently serving as the Operations Expert at the National Contact Point Department for Horizon Europe (NCP Department) at the National Centre for Research and Development (NCBR). Prior to this role, she held the position of Head of International Cooperation Division at the Central Institute for Labour Protection – National Research Institute, where she managed successful international collaborations and EU-funded research projects. She is the coordinator of the NCP_WIDERA.NET project funded under Horizon Europe and Programme Committee Expert for Widening participation and strengthening the European Research Area.

“The presentation will give a concise description of the project NCP_WIDREA.NET: Transnational Network of National Contact Points (NCPs) for Widening Participation and Strengthening the European Research Area, focusing on the instruments supporting applicants from Widening countries designed to fill the knowledge gaps and improve access to funding opportunities under the Framework Programmes.”


 

Karina Barantseva is Chief Operating Specialist at the National Contact Point Department for Horizon Europe (NCP Department) at the National Centre for Research and Development (NCBR).
MA in Linguistics and Public Administration, PhD in Social Philosophy, Associate Professor. For 25 years she was an Associate Professor, a trainer and a senior research fellow in Ukrainian Universities and the European Humanities University in Lithuania, Vilnius.
Now she works at the position of the Polish National Contact Point for the Widening component of the WIDERA Programme, Horizon Europe, and a member of the WIDERA Programme Committee, DG RTD. She is a certified project manager according to the International Project Management Association (level C) methodology.

“The presentation will desribe idea and support instruments created by the EC for the Widening states. It will include presentation of the data concerning the climate change represented in Widening projects, in Horizon 2020 and Horizon Europe, their priorities and  solution types.

Besides, call topics, giving the opportunity for public authorities, other public bodies and NGOs to be coordinators and leaders of projects will be proposed and presented in detail.”


Participation form: EU Mission on Adaptation to climate change Widening Workshop.

Link to the on-line participation: EU Mission on Adaptation.

June 18th 2024