Unite!Energy 3rd Annual Conference comes to Darmstadt

The Unite!Energy 3rd Annual Conference in Darmstadt brings together early-career researchers and experts to exchange knowledge on 26-27 November. Registration is now open!

Sustainable energy, research and gender-responsive STEM education take centre stage in Darmstadt on 26–27 November 2026. The programme will feature scientific presentations, a poster session and interactive workshops on gender-responsive STEM education. A dedicated session on gender in research and education will bring together female professors, researchers and educators to exchange experiences, best practices and perspectives on fostering diversity and inclusion across Science, Technology, Engineering, and Mathematics (STEM).

Students and researchers interested in sustainable energy are invited to take part in the conference and explore current scientific results, developments and innovations in the field. Researchers also have the opportunity to share their latest scientific results with the community.

Participation in the conference is free of charge. Meals during the event will be provided by the organisers. Travel and accommodation expenses are not covered.

Registration is now open and must be completed by 15 October 2026: https://forms.gle/RrPiznB9kUGPE52y6

For professors, researchers and administrative staff: Contribute an activity

Professors, researchers and administrative staff are invited to propose and lead activities as part of the Unite!Energy 3rd Annual Conference.

Proposals can contribute to the conference themes of sustainable energy research and innovation, gender-responsive research and education in STEM, or interdisciplinary approaches connecting sustainability, education and inclusion.

Funding is available to support selected activities, depending on their relevance and feasibility.

Proposals for activities must be submitted by 30 September 2026: https://forms.gle/mipHEDNx6H5sFhiF8

More information

For questions, please contact the organising team at unite.energy@upc.edu or unite-energy@tu-darmstadt.de

Key dates

30 September 2026: Deadline for activity proposals
15 October 2026: Deadline for pre-registration
26–27 November 2026: Unite!Energy 3rd Annual Conference in Darmstadt

Collaborative International Teaching in Practice: Challenges & Opportunities

Teaching together across universities and national borders can create powerful learning experiences for students while opening new opportunities for academic collaboration.

In this interactive workshop, participants will explore opportunities and challenges in collaborative international teaching, including formats such as Collaborative Online International Learning (COIL) and Blended Intensive Programmes (BIPs). Through reflection and discussion, participants will consider the competences needed by both teachers and students, and identify the conditions, support, and resources that enable successful collaboration across institutions.

Drawing on experiences from across the Unite! alliance, the workshop will introduce practical examples, ready-to-use toolkits, competence frameworks, and support structures that can help participants develop future collaborative initiatives.

Whether you are already involved in international collaborative teaching or are curious about how to get started, this workshop offers a welcoming space to exchange experiences, discover resources, and identify possible next steps.

What will participants gain?

Participants will have the opportunity to:

Reflect on opportunities and challenges in collaborative international teaching.

Exchange experiences with colleagues from across the Unite! alliance.

Explore the competences teachers need to design and facilitate collaborative courses.

Consider the competences students can develop through participation in COILs and BIPs.

Identify conditions that support successful collaboration across institutions.

Discover practical resources, toolkits, and support structures available within Unite!.

Explore possibilities for future collaborative teaching initiatives.

Topics addressed

The workshop will focus on:

Opportunities and challenges in collaborative international teaching.

Competences for collaborative learning.

Supporting competence development in practice.

Resources, examples, and support for developing COILs and BIPs.

More information

Who should attend?

The workshop is open to academic staff, educational developers, programme coordinators, and others interested in collaborative international teaching and learning. No previous experience with COILs or BIPs is required.

Date, time and place

Tuesday 13 October, 14:30-16:00. The location is listed in the dialogue schedule.

Registration

Participation is free of charge, but registration is required. Please complete the registration form as soon as possible to reserve your place, as seating is limited.

We look forward to welcoming colleagues from across the Unite! alliance to a shared discussion on collaborative international teaching and learning.

Workshop Series on University-Industry Cooperation – 24 June 2026

We invite you to participate in 4 workshops dedicated to the challenges of cooperation between universities and industry, which will take place on 24 June 2026. The workshops will be led by representatives of both academia and business. Practical experiences will be shared by PhD students, entrepreneurs, and special guests: experts from Polish nuclear sector. Each workshop is addressed to a different target group: we welcome Master’s students and PhD students interested in cooperation with business, as well as researchers. The workshops will be conducted in an interactive format, either on-site or online, and in Polish or English.

To participate in a selected workshop, registration is required via the link.

Workshop 1: Conducting qualitative research in social sciences in non-academic organisations – challenges and chances

For whom: Master’s students, PhD students and early-career researchers interested in applying qualitative research methods outside academia
Time: 24.06.2026, 9.00-12.15
Venue: Room 201, Bibliotech Building (D-21)
Language: English/Polish
Description:

The workshop will discuss the challenges and opportunities associated with conducting research outside the university environment – in local governments and public institutions, businesses, non-governmental organisations, and other settings where research objectives often intersect with practical needs and constraints. Participants will gain an understanding of how qualitative research can support understanding, decision-making processes, and social change in contemporary organisations.

Moderator:

Alicja Krawczyńska – PhD, an Assistant Professor at the Faculty of Management of Wrocław University of Science and Technology, project manager and researcher combining the worlds of academia, business and culture. She specialises in the use of gamification and game-based methods in culture and education and delivers training programmes for cultural professionals.

Workshop 2: The art of preparing, starting and moving forward cooperation with Industry

For whom: Master’s students and PhD students.
Time: 24.06.2026, 9:00-12:15
Venue: Room 102, Bibliotech Building (D-21)
Language: Polish/English
Description:

A practical workshop on preparing for cooperation between academia and industry and on the first steps in establishing such relationships. The workshop will be moderated by Bartosz Stec and Honorata Poturaj, who will share their experiences from the perspective of PhD students at Wrocław University of Science and Technology, being aware of both the challenges and the opportunities associated with the career in academia.

Workshop 3: Challenges of Conducting Research Outside the Academic Environment and Abroad (Online)

From whom: Master’s students considering starting a PhD, and early-career researchers planning cooperation with industry or abroad.
Date: 24.06.2026, 13:15 -16:30
Venue: Online
Language: Polish
Description:

The workshop will begin with a panel discussion featuring Łukasz Tyńc (entrepreneur) and PhD students who also work in business: Tymon Marchwicki, Piotr Bonarski, and Krzysztof Huńka. This will be followed by presentations from PhD students participating in the doctoral programme who will share their experiences of conducting scientific research in cooperation with industry and in institutions abroad.

Workshop 4: How to Prepare and Start Cooperation with Industry?

For whom: Early-career researchers who already have an idea for cooperation with business or are looking for one.
Date: 24.06.2026, 13:15-16:30
Venue: Room 201, Bibliotech Building (D-21)
Language: Polish/English
Description:

A highly interactive session combining practical insights, discussion, and hands-on exercises. Together with the participants, the moderators will explore how to create a cooperation offer that is genuinely attractive to business partners and what to focus on during the early stages of building partnerships with industry. By the end of the workshop, participants will leave with concrete next steps and a tailored plan for engaging with industry partners.

Moderators:

Tomasz Andreasik – an Expert in the Program Management Division at Polskie Elektrownie Jądrowe. He has extensive managerial experience gained as Managing Director of an international industrial company, as well as through the delivery of international business, organizational, and IT projects. He is also the author of project management training programmes used in more than one hundred countries worldwide.

Marcin Guzik – Director of the Program Management Division at Polskie Elektrownie Jądrowe, where he is responsible for the development and operation of the programme management system supporting the construction of Poland’s first nuclear power plant, as well as for coordinating key programme delivery processes. A graduate of the Faculty of Computer Science and Management at Wrocław University of Science and Technology, he has spent many years advising organizations on project management and organizational transformation.

21 Day Challenge 2nd edition | Small Steps, Meaningful Change

We are launching the second GEDI (Gender, Equity, Diversity, and Inclusion) challenge. Two years after the March 2024 edition, this is a new opportunity for both new students and those who missed the first call.

Two years on (it was March 2024) and as we approach the conclusion of Unite! project, which brought together nine partner universities to work on and reflect even upon GEDI (Gender, Equity, Diversity and Inclusion) issues, we are offering a second edition of the challenge: for those who were unable to take part at the time, and for those who were not yet at university.

We would like to remind everyone that the concept of the 21 days comes from the world of plastic surgery; in fact, it takes this number of days for a change to become routine, or at least normal, in our daily lives, just as a new appearance does for those who have undergone plastic surgery.

Inspired by this concept, we invite you to join us for this second edition of the 21 Day Challenge 2026, a collective journey to deepen our understanding of diversity, inclusion, and belonging.

From 8 to 28 June 2026, you will be guided through daily reflections and practical activities designed to help you better understand our society, explore different perspectives, and reflect on the role each of us plays in creating more inclusive spaces.

Each week, you will complete a series of engaging tasks focused on raising awareness and encouraging personal reflection. Every day, a new topic will be introduced, supported by a variety of resources so you can choose the format that works best for you and explore each theme at your own pace.

This is more than just a challenge. It is an opportunity to learn, reflect, and contribute to building stronger dialogue and greater understanding within our community.

Register here via Metacampus

Tri-City SLW Hackathon – Crafting Future Cities Hack the city

Tri-City SLW Hackathon – Crafting Future Cities: Stockholm – KTH | Lisbon – ULisboa | Wroclaw – WroclawTech. Designing inclusive, smart and nature-Integrated urban environments together

Cities today face intersecting challenges: climate pressure, social fragmentation, car-dominated infrastructure, data overload, and widening inequalities in access to high-quality public space. Streets, squares and transit hubs are too often designed for speed, consumption and traffic efficiency rather than for wellbeing, connection and ecological resilience.

The Tri-City SLW Hackathon – Crafting Future Cities responds to these challenges by creating a space for experimentation, collaboration and applied innovation.

This hackathon is a two-day, international innovation challenge under UNITE! Widening project, and is organised by:

KTH Royal Institute of Technology (KTH)
Universidade de Lisboa (ULisboa)
Wrocław University of Science and Technology (WroclawTech)

This 48-hour hybrid innovation will take place on May 21-22 and will bring together students, researchers, professionals and engaged citizens to rethink public space as a living, shared and regenerative commons, to design and prototype solutions that advance more sustainable, inclusive, and human-centred cities. It combines: Hackathon in hybrid format at KTH, ULisboa and WroclawTech.

Why Participate?

Work in international teams
Prototype real urban solutions
Receive mentoring from experts
Present to an international jury
Compete for travel and presentation opportunities
Receive an official international participation certificate

Facilitating Change

This course equips you with the knowledge and tools to drive successful organisational transformations while fostering a healthy work-life culture.

Through live online lectures and interactive pair assignments, you’ll explore the academic theory of change management as well as apply that theory to your own organisational contexts.

Key Topics

How does organisational change develop? And what does it require?
What differentiates buzzwords like Lean, Agile, and Design Thinking?
Learn to use tools and frameworks to clarify the transformation objective
Understand meta-skills and embrace the art of facilitation

By the end of this course, you’ll be ready to lead with confidence — driving change that lasts.

Teaching Period: 22.4.–27.5.2026

Lectures: On Wednesdays 16:15-18:00 (EEST Finnish Time), starting 22.4.

Language: English

The course consists of live lectures held in Zoom and weekly participation in online pair exercises, which are scheduled independently with your pair. To pass the course, you’ll need to take part in all lectures and pair exercises.

Workshops for teams from the strategic areas “Strengthening circularity and climate resilience through EU-funded research”

The UNITE.Widening project team invites you to the “Strategic Areas Workshops”, which will be held under the theme “Strengthening circularity and climate resilience through EU-funded research” on 8 April 2026 in Wrocław. The aim of the workshops is to present the principles of application preparation in the Horizon Europe programme, provide an overview of available funding opportunities, and enable teamwork on project concepts. The workshops cover the project’s strategic areas: Urban & Resources Sustainability and Circular Economy & Materials.

The workshops are part of a series of events organized within the project and dedicated to research communities working in the four strategic areas of the project. Their aim is to provide substantive support in the process of successfully applying for research projects and to build consortia capable of submitting high-quality proposals with a strong chance of receiving funding. An added value of both workshops is networking and the opportunity to establish long-term collaboration with researchers within these strategic areas.

As part of the event, two complementary workshops are planned:

The first workshop: Proposal Preparation – Principles and Framework will be a joint session for communities from both areas, particularly from Wrocław Tech and ULisboa. Its purpose is to present the programme’s objectives, the current calls available for both areas, and good practices in proposal writing. Participants will have the opportunity to become familiar with the basic principles of application preparation and with best practices that will serve as a foundation for further work.
The second workshop: Proposal Development – Practical Lab will take the form of a practical, on-site session. It will focus on presenting and discussing project concepts, as well as building consortia for specific calls.

Both workshops will be held in a hybrid format and conducted in English.

PROGRAMME: here

VENUE: Faculty Council Room (Room 24), Faculty of Architecture, Bolesława Prusa 53–55, Wrocław

REGISTRATION: until 29 March via the registration form. The number of places is limited.

Unite! Virtual Matchmaking – Horizon Europe Calls: Health, Urban, Materials, Digital

As part of the Unite.WIDENING project, the Unite! alliance is organising a matchmaking with the aim of forging new consortia for highly promising Horizon Europe applications. The event is addressed to researchers of the Unite! university alliance, as well as the non-academic partners of the project.

4 focus areas will be covered:

Health & Biotech
Urban & Resources Sustainability
Circular Economy & Materials
Digital & Autonomous Technologies

The matchmaking will take place in two steps:

1) Virtual pre-matchmaking on 19 March 2026, at 13:00-15:30 CET

The aim of the meeting is to establish a first contact between potential project coordinators and partners.

The scope of the meeting is deliberately broad, allowing for up to 48 Horizon Europe topics to be discussed. It is expected, however, that only a fraction of these topics will proceed to the next round: Only the most promising consortia — including a committed coordinator and several partners — will be invited to the later in-person meeting.

2) In-person matchmaking event in Oropa, Italy, on 12-13 May 2026 (details to be confirmed; please save the date!)

The aim of the meeting is to allow promising consortia to begin in-depth discussions on their joint proposal and to set a clear roadmap for the time until the application deadline.

If you wish to participate in the virtual pre-matchmaking on 19 March, please fill in the form available at the following link.

Registration

This registration does not yet require your commitment to travel to Oropa in May. Nor does it guarantee that you will be invited to the latter event.

The deadline for registrations is 12 March 2026 (end of day, CET).

Unite! Networking Hub (Session 5) | Networking and mentoring for administrative staff

This Unite! Networking Hub session is all about solving upcoming tasks among administrative staff. Learn about SekretariaNet, an initiative started at TU Darmstadt over 15 years ago, and discuss on motivation, engagement and building supportive network.

Universities are complex and continuously growing and changing organisations. Thus administrative staff depends to a high degree on up to date information and a supportive network for solving upcoming tasks. We founded SekretariaNet and have developed it over more than 15 years into a vital support. We would like to share with you our experiences on motivating colleagues, good starting points and how to keep going without exhausting committed networkers.

You want to discuss how to deal with upcoming tasks in a complex and continuously changing organisation? The Unite! Networking Hub session on 24 February, hosted by Heidi Rossmann and Anja Spangenberg, is open to administrative staff within the Unite! Alliance interested to learn about SekretariaNet, developed at TU Darmstadt, and to share experiences on how to cope with these challenges. Join this session to discuss, share experiences, and exchange best practices.

More info on the website.

Agenda

Introduction (max. 10 min; led by Unite! Networking Hub team) – Welcome, brief overview of Unite! and Networking Hub, Introduction of Host
Main Discussion (45 min; facilitated by Host) – Diving into the topic for a substantive and engaging conversation
Conclusion with Survey (5 min; led by Unite! Networking Hub team) – Wrap-up with a short feedback survey to gather insights from participants

Call for Applications: Unite! Visiting Professorships at TU Graz

TU Graz invites experienced postdocs from all Unite! universities to apply for two fully funded visiting professorships. The positions will start in the winter semester 2026/27.

The Unite! Visiting Professorship Programme aims to attract outstanding international talent, fostering interdisciplinary teaching and didactic innovation through global exchange. It is open to all subjects represented at TU Graz.

The appointment is expected to cover the lecture period from 1 October 2026 to 31 January 31 2027.

Target group

The programme primarily targets experienced postdocs with appropriate terminal degrees, teaching experience and relevant academic expertise. The deadline for the expression of interest is 20 February 2026.

The award comprises a flexible combination of teaching and research activities, including:

Teaching a minimum of one course (or multiple courses) four semester hours per week (one semester hour = 45 minutes) within one of TU Graz’s programmes.

Advising or supervising advanced students.

Developing joint research projects in collaboration with faculty.

The format and content of courses, as well as research objectives, will be negotiated on a consensual basis with the host institution, taking into account the needs of TU Graz and the grantee’s expertise and interests.

Financing

For winter semester 2026/27, the two Unite! Visiting Professorship positions are fully funded by TU Graz. These positions are intended for full-semester appointments. Visiting professors will be employed by TU Graz for the duration of the semester under an employment contract with a monthly gross salary of €6,968.20.

Expression of interest

Interested candidates are invited to explore the faculties and institutes of TU Graz. Once an institute is identified that aligns with the desired area of interest, candidates are encouraged to directly contact the head of the institute, briefly introducing oneself and providing a proposal for the envisaged teaching and research activities at TU Graz by 20 February 2026.

The following documents should be attached as a single PDF:

A brief motivation letter (half a page)

A short description of the courses you intend to teach at TU Graz (half a page each)

An academic CV

A doctoral certificate (and postdoctoral qualifications, if applicable, for teaching at the professional level)

Submission of application by TU Graz contact

After a match was found, TU Graz academic contacts wishing to establish a Unite! Visiting Professorship should submit their application via email to unite@tugraz.at by 15 March 2026

The application must include the following:

The candidate’s application materials (as listed above)

A recommendation for the proposed candidate (max. one page)

A written statement outlining the added value of the candidate’s teaching and research activities at TU Graz for both, TU Graz and Unite!

Further information and contact

In case you have any queries, do not hesitate to contact the Unite! institutional coordinator at TU Graz, Andrina Dolinšek via email unite@tugraz.at.

The selection of funded visiting professorships will be announced by end of March 2026.