The session started with an overview of what the alliance has achieved in its first sixteen months. Cooperation between the partner universities has already produced strong results. In teaching and learning, staff members have developed 102 short learning opportunities for students. In research, three new Applied Research and Innovation Centers are supporting 29 joint projects. To strengthen social engagement, the alliance launched a volunteering program with 41 active opportunities and created four Think-and-Do Tanks focused on regional challenges. CUAS is leading the initiative on cultural diversity.
International mobility is also growing quickly. Last year, CUAS recorded 85 outgoing mobilities, mostly involving staff members. This year, there have already been 91 outgoing participants, and two-thirds are students. This shows that students are increasingly interested in the new international learning opportunities.
After the introduction, participants joined virtual breakout rooms where they could talk directly with colleagues and students involved in ACE²-EU activities. Discussions covered topics such as applied pedagogy schools, intercultural competence training, the development of micro-learning programs, and many others.
One of the most popular sessions focused on student experiences. They shared their positive experiences related to their studies in partner universities, including courses such as 3D printing in Spain or cultural workshops in North Macedonia. The students described the application process as simple and highlighted the benefits of building an international network. At the same time, they suggested that greater flexibility from faculty would help students join these one-week mobility programs without missing important classes at home, which creates a further room for improvement.
The meeting was concluded by a final discussion in which all participants agreed how valuable it was to see students and staff from different backgrounds working together across Europe. Because of the strong interest and useful discussions that took palce, the European Universities Office considers to arrange this “ACE²-EU in Practice” info call every semester to keep the university community informed and connected."
The next ACE²-EU in Practice Info Talk is planned to take place in early June. Stay tuned!
