NEWS & EVENTS

The third and final ENLIGHT Incubator Grants call officially closed this spring, once again demonstrating strong engagement across the alliance and a growing interest in innovative joint educational cooperation.

A total of 21 project proposals were submitted in this year’s call, bringing together 147 participating academics from across the ENLIGHT universities. Among the submissions, 3 projects applied under Strand A, requesting a combined budget of 85,000 euros, while 18 proposals were submitted under Strand B, with a total requested funding amount of 324,780 euros.

The 2026 call focused exclusively on Incubator Grants, as no new call for ENLIGHT Thematic Networks (ETNs) was launched this year. Meanwhile, the alliance continues to support a vibrant community of ongoing collaborations, with 26 active ETNs and 30 ongoing Incubator projects developed through previous calls.

As in earlier editions, the Incubator Grants aim to stimulate international and innovative educational initiatives connected to one or more of the six ENLIGHT focus areas. The call supports sustainable educational activities with measurable outputs to be implemented by October 2027.

The final edition of the Incubator Grants consisted of two strands: Strand A supporting the development of joint bachelor’s and master’s programmes among ENLIGHT partner universities, and Strand B fostering international and innovative educational initiatives such as seasonal schools, micro-credentials, lifelong learning activities, and joint courses in blended, virtual or physical formats.

Selected projects may receive up to 30,000 euros under Strand A and up to 20,000 euros under Strand B. The results of the call are expected to be announced in the second half of July.

The continued enthusiasm around the Incubator Grants reflects the strengthening collaboration culture within ENLIGHT and the alliance’s commitment to advancing innovative, international education across Europe.

Representatives of ENLIGHT played an active role at the second FOREU4ALL Workshop in Granada. The event brought together professionals from European University Alliances to discuss how project management and impact assessment can better support long-term institutional transformation.

Out now: The latest episode of ENLIGHT Insights: Learning Spaces explores how the alliance supports educators in internationalising their teaching.

Silvia Hlavinkova speaks with Dr. Angelika Thielsch and Dr. Tanja Reiffenrath from the University of Göttingen about practical tools for joint course design, professional development, inclusive teaching, and collaboration across Europe. The conversation highlights the ENLIGHT Teaching and Learning Conference, the role of Challenge-Based Education, and how educators can connect with partners across the alliance.

Listen now to discover how ENLIGHT is shaping the future of teaching across Europe.

The Staff Week at the University of Tartu Centre for Ethics explored the diverse possibilities for values development in education, research and society. During the four‑day staff training week, participants engaged with the Centre’s long‑standing experience in implementing values‑based approaches across different levels of society. Each day focused on a distinct aspect of values development, combining theoretical insights, practical tools and real‑life examples. Alongside the main programme, participants also had the chance to discover the University of Tartu and the cultural life of the university city.

In this Face of ENLIGHT interview, Professor Ulrich Norbisrath of the University of Tartu reflects on rethinking academic boundaries through interdisciplinarity and innovation. He highlights how digital tools, collaboration, and human-centered teaching are reshaping higher education. His perspective points to a future of learning driven by curiosity, creativity, and cross-border exchange. To read the full interview, click here.

Last month, students and scholars from across Europe gathered in Tartu, Estonia for the ENLIGHT Student Network Conference 2026, themed Digitalisation in European Universities: Efficiency, Sustainability and the Human Touch of AI. Over two inspiring days, participants came together for challenging workshops, lively debates, and hands-on experiences centred around digitalisation, artificial intelligence, and their impact on society and everyday life.

What happens when a researcher stops waiting for opportunities and starts building them?

For Professor Ekaterina Yahyaoui at University of Galway, the answer is a story of persistence, human connection, and remarkable results.

On 27 April 2026, the fifth meeting of Slovak universities involved in European University Alliances took place at the Science Park of Comenius University Bratislava, a member of the ENLIGHT alliance and host of this year’s gathering. The event brought together representatives of Slovak higher education institutions with the aim of exchanging experiences and strengthening cooperation across alliances.

The ENLIGHT Alliance is supporting a pioneering educational initiative led by Comenius University in Bratislava: the first registered lifelong learning micro-credential in Slovakia.

Launched in April 2026, the programme “Humour as a Communication Tool in Healthcare” is coordinated by the Faculty of Medicine at Comenius University in Bratislava. It highlights the growing importance of communication skills in healthcare and explores how humour can strengthen trust, empathy and the overall quality of care.