For students – Page 5

Workshop Presentation of the Agora Platform Promoting Digital Collaboration in Higher Education

The network Unite! invites Wroclaw University of Science and Technology employees to participate in online workshops dedicated to the Àgora platform. It facilitates access to information using artificial intelligence (AI) systems. The workshops will commence on Friday, January 26th, at 10 a.m.

The workshops are aimed at individuals from university environments (faculty and administrative staff) who collaborate with other entities and institutions. The Àgora platform facilitates access to all information using artificial intelligence (AI) systems.

The coordinating team of the European project aUPaEU, led by Universitat Politècnica de Catalunya-Barcelona Tech (UPC), is organizing virtual workshops titled “Introduction to the Concept and Implementation of Àgora,” aimed at individuals from university communities (faculty and administrative personnel) collaborating with other entities and institutions.

The main goal of Àgora is to strengthen collaboration, particularly in the areas of research and education, by promoting their digital transformation through the involvement of specialized acceleration services.

Interested individuals from Wroclaw University of Science and Technology are invited to informational workshops, which will take place virtually on January 26, 2024, at 10:00 a.m.

“During the workshops, we will have the opportunity to unveil all the details of the Àgora platform and its operation, presenting Àgora developed for the Unite! alliance, to which UPC belongs,” explained Professor Jesús Alcober from UPC, the project’s main coordinator. According to Alcober, these platforms, with the support of artificial intelligence, “can build and implement acceleration service models for similar organizations, ensuring the exchange of collective experience among European higher education institutions, networks, university alliances, and their sponsoring organizations.”

More information:

Date and time: January 26th at 10:00 a.m. (CET)
Registration: Interested individuals are requested to fill out the registration form to participate in the informational event.
Access to the online sessions: The access link to the virtual session will be emailed to registered individuals.
For any questions or additional information, please contact the organizers at agora@widening.eu.

Unite! Launches the U!Reading Book Club with “La plaça del diamant” by Mercè Rodoreda.

The inaugural meeting of the international university Book Club will take place online in the second week of February. Registrations for the Club have already started.

Students from nine alliance universities can now sign up for the Club. The first meeting will be held online in the second week of February. Organizers anticipate that each university’s library will provide Club members with books suggested for discussion, either in the original version or in English.

Mercè Rodoreda and her work “La plaça del diamant” are the first book chosen to kick off the Unite! Book Club initiative, led by Universitat Politècnica de Catalunya-Barcelona Tech (UPC) and funded by the alliance through the Seed Fund for student projects. The idea for this proposal comes from Martina Massana, a student at UPC, Carme Fenoll, the director of the culture and community area, and two students from Grenoble and Aalto.

Join the U!Reading Club

The organizing team will select works from various cultures and academic disciplines to introduce participants to diverse literary and academic traditions. Their aim is to combine proposals of classic literature from each country with works by young and emerging authors.

Every month, they will suggest a book from one of the countries, and during different sessions, Club members will be able to share their ideas and thoughts after reading the proposed work. Organizers plan to invite authors to sessions whenever possible, promoting direct debate and knowledge about the authors among students.

The aim of the organizing team is to encourage critical thinking, facilitate the exchange of ideas, debates, recommendations, and experiences in an international and non-academic environment.

You can find registration and additional information about the Club here.

Language Tandems Unite! Return with the New Year!

The first edition of the initiative launched in October 2023 gathered nearly 50 virtual language tandems, enabling students to develop their language skills. Registration for the second edition is now open!

Spanish, Catalan, German, Italian, French, Swedish, Finnish, Portuguese, Polish, or English. If you want to improve your speaking skills in any of these languages, Unite! virtual language tandems will help you with that.

This Unite! initiative offers the opportunity to enhance any aspect of languages. It’s a great chance to improve your speaking skills in the language you want to master while getting to know other students and their culture, and expanding your international network!

How does it work?

You will be paired with a student matching your language interests within 15 days from the registration date. Please note that matching students to Language Tandems depends on the offers and demands of participants. The Unite! Language Tandem team will strive to organize as many tandems as possible.

Further grants for doctoral research within three priority areas of Unite! We invite you to apply.

Until December 31, 2023, applications are open for doctoral scholarships under the cooperation agreement between ULisboa and the Foundation for Science and Technology (FCT).

The University of Lisbon (ULisboa), in collaboration with FCT and with the support of the Unite! consortium, will award 9 doctoral scholarships.

Priority will be given to research in areas crucial to the Unite! network, although the organizers do not rule out the possibility of selecting projects not directly related to them.

Priority areas:

Energy conversion and storage (photovoltaics, wind, batteries, and hydrogen)
Artificial intelligence
Industry 4.0

Projects awarded with the grant should promote institutional cooperation, meaning they should involve collaboration between the University of Lisbon and another partner institution within the Unite! consortium.

The grants will be financed by the Fundação para a Ciência e Tecnologia (FCT) under the FCT-UNITE protocol.

All application procedures, including submission, evaluation, announcement of results, pre-interviews, claims, and appeals, will be conducted exclusively online.

More details can be found on the Unite! website:

https://www.unite-university.eu/unitenews/doctoral-research-grant-opportunities-in-three-unite-priority-areas-1

GreenChips-EDU: The Future of Microelectronics for a sustainable tomorrow

The international project led by TU Graz brings together six Unite! universities, companies, and research institutions to train urgently needed specialists for the semiconductor industry. The EU is funding the project with 7.15 million euros.

The study programs focus on the development and production of sustainable and energy-efficient microchips. Unite! partners involved in the project include TU Graz, PoliTo, TUDa, UPC, Grenoble INP-UGA, and ULisboa.

The European Chip Act aims to elevate the European semiconductor industry by investing several billion euros in the construction of new semiconductor production facilities, including in Germany, Poland, and Italy. To operate these new, technologically advanced facilities, a large number of engineers and technicians are needed, although it is currently unclear where they will come from. The electronics sector already faces a shortage of qualified personnel – Austria alone needs an additional 14,000 qualified workers, with estimates across Europe ranging from 60,000 to 150,000.

To address the shortage of qualified workers, seven European universities have joined forces with eight industry and research partners under the “GreenChips-EDU” project. Together, they aim to accelerate the training of qualified professionals in the field of microelectronics. The European Commission is funding the four-year project with 7.15 million euros, and the Austrian Research Promotion Agency is adding another 750,000 euros. “In the past, production costs were a decisive factor in the location of semiconductor manufacturing facilities,” says project leader Bernd Deutschmann, director of the Institute of Electronics at TU Graz.

“Today, microchips are being developed and built where qualified workers are available. Thanks to GreenChips-EDU, European universities are joining forces for the first time to develop joint teaching programs in electrical engineering and microelectronics to train the necessary specialists in the best possible way.”

Project leader Bernd Deutschmann, director of the Institute of Electronics at TU Graz.

Key topics:

Energy efficiency
Sustainable development in power electronics

University programs focus on the development and production of sustainable and energy-efficient microchips, as energy-efficient microchips are essential to achieve climate goals in Europe. According to Bernd Deutschmann, particular emphasis is placed on the field of power electronics: “This is an area where Europe is an international leader and has a high demand for personnel, which we want to train young people for.” Internationally harmonized university programs facilitate the cross-border recognition of academic achievements and promote student mobility. “GreenChips-EDU also demonstrates the importance of international university alliances. Graz University of Technology is part of the European University Alliance Unite!, as are several partners of the GreenChips-EDU project. A good network of contacts with excellent partners from the worlds of science and industry is primarily what enables the implementation of such a project,” says Andrea Höglinger, Vice-Rector for Research at TU Graz.

“Our goal is for 600 students to complete bachelor’s or master’s degrees during the four-year project period,” says Bernd Deutschmann. Bachelor’s and master’s programs need to be maintained after the project period ends. In addition to the GreenChips-EDU study programs, further and higher education programs for industry professionals are being developed – from short workshops to microcredits and MBA programs.

Theses in collaboration with companies

In addition to universities, associations, and a research institute, GreenChips-EDU involves six companies, including Infineon Technologies Austria and Končar from Croatia. Industry partners engage, among other things, through the implementation of didactic tasks and collaboration on master’s theses. More information is available on the Unite! website.

Expand your communication skills and reach out to others with Unite!

The seminar is aimed at students and doctoral candidates who want to gain new tools and resources to improve communication and reach others with their message. The seminar will take place online on November 21st. Participation is free, but registration is required.

The topic of the first seminar for students as part of the Unite! Outreach training is networking and effective communication. The training is aimed at alliance students interested in enhancing their communication skills when working with non-specialized audiences, such as prospective students, public organizations, residents, small and medium-sized enterprises, or public administration.

The session aims to identify and understand the possibilities of working with these audiences and to learn effective dissemination and co-creation techniques. Participants will analyze and evaluate methods proposed by trainers in practical and real-life cases related to the context of social responsibility in engineering and technology. Through these exercises, they will gain tools and knowledge to achieve excellent results in outreach and communication. The session will also include group work and participant presentations.

PRACTICAL INFORMATION

Date: November 21st, from 5:00 PM to 7:00 PM.

Registration: Until November 15th, via the: Unite! Agora platform

Training: Online via Zoom in English.

Additional information on the website (https://www.unite-university.eu/unitenews/level-up-your-outreach-communication-skills)

Participants will receive an Open Badge certificate confirming their participation in the training.

Virtual Unite! Fair for Students and Academic Staff!

On November 8th, you can join the international virtual fair and explore the complete offering of courses, programs, and activities from Unite!. Just register your participation and log in to the portal to discover what the Unite! network can offer you.

What exactly happens at the Virtual Fair for Students?

If expanding your global network, studying at other European universities, experiencing diverse cultures, or collaborating with students or teachers from across Europe are areas of interest for you, then these fairs are for you.

On November 8th, from 2:00 PM to 4:00 PM, using the link you’ll receive the day before, you’ll join the platform and be able to explore various opportunities for international study and collaboration offered by Unite!. You’ll have the chance to meet with other students, educators, and university staff from the nine institutions within the network.

Discover information about:

Joint Master’s degree programs
Short-term mobility programs, including winter and summer schoolsVirtual courses in architecture, engineering, and energy
Language and cultural course
Opportunities related to internship programs
Student engagement activities
Information about U!Train courses and Ideathon events

How to Register:

Secure your spot by registering here. Please register no later than November 6th. The link to the Spatial Chat will be sent to all registered participants on November 7th.

What exactly happens during the fair for academic staff?

This year, Unite! Virtual Fair on November 8th will also be a space for educators interested in international teaching and networking. The fair will be available from 4:15 PM to 5:00 PM. You will find information here about frameworks for blended and virtual teaching in international contexts.

What kinds of internationalization offers are available for academic staff?

Internationalization of online courses
Blended intensive programs
Online joint teaching
International joint Master’s programs
Lectures abroad
Information about available grants
Assistance with international marketing

How to Register:

Secure your spot by registering here: [Registration Link]. Please register no later than November 6th. The link to the Spatial Chat will be sent to all registered participants on November 7th.

Additional information regarding the fair for students and teachers is available on the event’s website

Learn languages in Unite! Language Tandems.

Do you want to improve a foreign language? Or perhaps you’re planning to learn a new language from scratch? Check out Unite’s Language Tandems!

Spanish, Catalan, German, Italian, French, Swedish, Finnish, Portuguese, Polish… Do you want to improve your speaking skills in any of these languages? You have the opportunity thanks to Unite’s Language Tandems!

Tandems offer the opportunity to practice any aspect of the mentioned foreign language with another student from a university belonging to the Unite! network. This is a great opportunity to develop speaking skills in the foreign language you want to improve, while also meeting other students and expanding your international network of contacts!

How does it work?
Register now in the Metacampus Language Tandems space.
Within 15 days, you will be paired with a student matching your interests.
Enjoy your tandem!

You can find additional details on the website.

Another opportunity for student initiative funding from Unite! Seed Fund!

Only until December 15th, proposals are being collected for funding student initiatives under the Unite! Seed Fund!

This is the second edition of this project, where you can apply for support for a student project in the amount of up to €20,000.

What is the Unite! Seed Fund?

The Unite! Seed Fund helps finance ideas coming from the Unite! community – from students, researchers, and academic staff of the nine universities belonging to the network. This fund offers financial support to promote collaboration between at least two universities.

What can the Seed Fund offer to students?

Qualified projects can be on any subject or topic outside the curriculum that adds value to students and strengthens collaboration between them. Possible ideas include joint projects such as exhibitions, events, trips, competitions, hackathons, courses on Metacampus; in areas such as innovation, sports, career, language, education, communication, information activities, or any other promising idea.

Who can apply?

Undergraduate and postgraduate students (including doctoral students). Applicants must ensure student status until the end of the project.
Student organizations/associations.
Units and centers of student activity (such as sports associations, language centers, etc.).
What can funding be used for?

Eligible costs:

Personnel costs related to organizational tasks (only for staff employed by the university).
Student assistants (defined as possible to be employed by the university).
Travel costs: preferred sustainable travel methods (if possible, use trains instead of planes!).

Other costs:

Such as: material resources, research materials, on-site workshops/hybrid workshops, external services (e.g., moderators, language services).

Detailed information about the Fund, including the application form, can be found on the project’s website or with the Unite! Student Coordinator – Katarzyna Sławińska-Oleszek.

Doctoral scholarships from Unite! are waiting to be taken!

Under the cooperation agreement between the University of Lisbon (ULisboa) [https://www.ulisboa.pt/en], FCT [https://www.fct.pt/en/], and Unite!, the call for doctoral scholarships for research has been launched.

The University of Lisbon (ULisboa), in collaboration with the Foundation for Science and Technology (FCT) and in conjunction with Unite! (https://www.unite-university.eu/), will award 15 doctoral scholarships in three priority areas. These areas are:

Energy conversion and storage (photovoltaics, wind, batteries, hydrogen)
Artificial intelligence
Industry 4.0

The foundational research work for the grants will be conducted at the University of Lisbon and another partner institution within the Unite! alliance. The grants will be financed by the Foundation for Science and Technology (FCT) under the FCT-UNITE protocol.

All application procedures, including submission, evaluation, result notification, preliminary interviews, claims, and appeals, are conducted exclusively online. The application period runs from July 20th to August 21st, 2023.

Additional details can be found on the website (https://www.unite-university.eu/unitenews/doctoral-research-grant-opportunities-in-three-unite-priority-areas).