INVEST European University Alliance

🗞️ New article: throwback on our participation to the third FOREU4ALL workshop   On 2nd & 3rd June 2026, Louise Depermentier, Communications & events officer at the University of Reims Champagne-Ardenne, had the opportunity to take part in the third FOREU4ALL workshop at the European Parliament in Strasbourg   🔗 Read more about it: https://lnkd.in/eHcVd7Fg   Slovak University of Agriculture | University of agribusiness and rural development | University of Thessaly | Karelia University of Applied Sciences | Università degli Studi di Milano-Bicocca | Universidad de Córdoba | Université de Reims Champagne-Ardenne   #INVESTAlliance #EuropeanUniversityAlliance #EuropeanUniversities #StudentEngagement #CommunityEngagement #EuropeanCommunity #HigherEducation

🌿 Bringing the INVEST Centre of Excellence into FARE's European Day! Yesterday, we were delighted to share the floor with our colleagues from Ingénierie de projets européens Direction Recherche Projets Innovation during a half-day dedicated to European projects and networks at Unité Mixte de Recherche FARE. We presented the INVEST Centre of Excellence to researchers for the lab community to explore collaborative opportunities beyond their walls. The FARE laboratory, specialised in the fractionation of agro-resources and environment, is a natural fit for the INVEST CoE, with strong thematic connections across three of our research clusters: 🔬 Cluster 6 - Circular and bio-based economy 🌾 Cluster 1 - Sustainable smart agriculture ⚡ Cluster 2 - Green energy & transition FARE's expertise is already fully aligned with the INVEST CoE's research agenda. The alliance gives you the framework to take it further, through opportunities such as seed funding, researcher mobility, joint European projects, and cross-border partnerships. A big thank you to the FARE team for the warm welcome and for making space for this exchange. These conversations are exactly what makes the INVEST CoE come alive! 🙌 👉Curious about how your lab could connect with the INVEST CoE? Reach out to us at invest@univ-reims.fr     INVEST European University Alliance | Slovak University of Agriculture | Université de Reims Champagne-Ardenne | University of agribusiness and rural development | University of Thessaly | Karelia University of Applied Sciences | Università degli Studi di Milano-Bicocca | Universidad de Córdoba   FOREU4ALL | INRAE   #INVESTAlliance #EuropeanUniversityAlliance #INVESTCoE #Research #AcademicResearch #HigherEducation #OpenScience #ResearchOpportunities #HorizonEurope #PhDLife #SmartAgriculture #GreenEnergy #DigitalTransformation #YoungResearchers

📸 Throwback on the FUTOUR Summer school   For one intensive week, the Slovak University of Agriculture in Nitra hosted the FUTOUR – Future of Sustainable Tourism summer school, bringing together students from 6 countries: Spain, France, Italy, Bulgaria, Finland, and Slovakia Participants worked in multidisciplinary international teams to create a sustainable tourism development strategy for the municipality of Topoľčianky The FUTOUR Summer School provided not just professional knowledge, but an immersive experience emphasizing teamwork and bridging theory with practice Thank you to everyone who made this week so special! 🙌   🔗 Read the article: https://lnkd.in/eC35UNkK Slovak University of Agriculture | University of agribusiness and rural development | University of Thessaly | Karelia University of Applied Sciences | Università degli Studi di Milano-Bicocca | Universidad de Córdoba | Université de Reims Champagne-Ardenne   FOREU4ALL   #INVESTAlliance #EuropeanUniversityAlliance #SUANitra #SustainableTourism #SummerSchool #Topolcianky #HigherEducation #Internationalisation

🎯 The INVEST Training of Trainers event in Thessaloniki, hosted by the University of Thessaly, has been successfully completed The event brought together administrators and technical staff from INVEST partner universities for hands-on training on the UTH-developed digital ecosystem, including the Virtual Campus, EDUC8EU, Mobility Journal and Micro-credentials Platform The Training of Trainers marked an important step in moving INVEST digital services from development to practical use across the alliance, preparing participants to act as local digital ambassadors within their institutions   🔗 Read the full article and see photos/videos here: https://lnkd.in/ed9rRJgD     Slovak University of Agriculture | University of agribusiness and rural development | University of Thessaly | Karelia University of Applied Sciences | Università degli Studi di Milano-Bicocca | Universidad de Córdoba | Université de Reims Champagne-Ardenne   FOREU4ALL   #INVESTAlliance #EuropeanUniversityAlliance #EuropeanUniversities #DigitalTransformation #HigherEducation #UniversityOfThessaly #TrainingOfTrainers #DigitalPlatforms

💫 The INVEST Summer School in Thessaloniki, hosted by the University of Thessaly, brought together students from INVEST partner universities to explore the theme “Building Smart and Sustainable Regions” Throughout the week, students participated in lectures, interdisciplinary group work, an educational visit to smart home facilities, project presentations and an awards ceremony The programme connected academic knowledge with practical collaboration on sustainability, regional development, food systems, mobility, circular bioeconomy and digital innovation   🔗 Read the full article and see photos/videos here: https://lnkd.in/eJJPJvis     Slovak University of Agriculture | University of agribusiness and rural development | University of Thessaly | Karelia University of Applied Sciences | Università degli Studi di Milano-Bicocca | Universidad de Córdoba | Université de Reims Champagne-Ardenne   FOREU4ALL   #INVESTAlliance #EuropeanUniversityAlliance #EuropeanUniversities #HigherEducation #SummerSchool #Sustainability #RegionalDevelopment #StudentEngagement #Thessaloniki

⚡ The INVEST Training of Trainers and Summer School officially opened today in Thessaloniki, hosted by the University of Thessaly The Training of Trainers brings together administrators and technicians from INVEST partner universities for hands-on training on the digital services developed by UTH In parallel, the INVEST Summer School welcomes students from across the Alliance, offering them the opportunity to engage with INVEST tools, collaborate internationally and explore the practical value of the Alliance The event represents an important step in moving INVEST digital services from development to real alliance-wide use, supporting students, staff, mobility, cooperation and long-term sustainability. 🔗 Read more: https://lnkd.in/djQDCzDT Slovak University of Agriculture | University of agribusiness and rural development | University of Thessaly | Karelia University of Applied Sciences | Università degli Studi di Milano-Bicocca | Universidad de Córdoba | Université de Reims Champagne-Ardenne   FOREU4ALL   #INVESTAlliance #EuropeanUniversityAlliance #EuropeanUniversities #HigherEducation #Digitalisation #UniversityOfThessaly #TrainingOfTrainers #SummerSchool #Thessaloniki

🎓 Bridging research & European opportunities - one lab at a time! Yesterday, we had the privilege of presenting the INVEST Centre of Excellence opportunities to PhD students and early-career researchers at the CReSTIC annual research day, a dedicated event where doctoral and junior researchers showcase their latest work to the entire lab community Why does this matter? Because the education–research continuum is at the heart of what the INVEST European University Alliance is building. And what better moment to open the door to European collaboration than when researchers are actively shaping their scientific identity? During our session, we matched CReSTIC's research teams and projects to the most relevant INVEST CoE clusters: 🌱 Cluster 1 – Smart & Sustainable Agriculture → hyperspectral imaging, AI-driven crop disease detection ⚡ Cluster 2 – Green Energy & Ecological Transition → control systems, renewable energy optimization, Cellflex 4.0 platform 💡 Cluster 7 – New Entrepreneurship Models & New Technologies → digital transformation, AI, open innovation, industrial partnerships The message was clear: your research already speaks the language of European collaboration. INVEST gives you the framework to take it further through seed funding, joint projects, researcher mobility, and cross-border partnerships. We were also delighted to share the floor with our colleagues from PUI InnoRem and Ingénierie de projets européens Direction Recherche Projets Innovation, who presented their own tools and support mechanisms for researchers looking to engage with European and innovation ecosystems. A great reminder that navigating these opportunities is always better as a team! 🤝 A big thank you to the CReSTIC team for the warm welcome and the engaging discussions. The energy in the room confirmed what we believe: the next generation of researchers is ready to go European. 🚀   👉Curious about how your lab could connect with the INVEST CoE? Reach out to us at invest@univ-reims.fr     INVEST European University Alliance | Slovak University of Agriculture | Université de Reims Champagne-Ardenne | University of agribusiness and rural development | University of Thessaly | Karelia University of Applied Sciences | Università degli Studi di Milano-Bicocca | Universidad de Córdoba   FOREU4ALL   #INVESTAlliance #EuropeanUniversityAlliance #Research #AcademicResearch #HigherEducation #OpenScience #ResearchOpportunities #HorizonEurope #PhDLife #SmartAgriculture #GreenEnergy #DigitalTransformation #YoungResearchers

⚡ New capacity-building webinar   Hosted by Cristina Zogmaister, co-founder of the Italian Reproducibility Network (ITRN) and Associate Professor of Psychology at the University of Milano-Bicocca, this webinar will tackle Open Science: what is it, why does it matter and how to get started   Join this webinar: 📆 24th June ⏱️ 11:00 – 12:00 CET / 12:00 – 13:00 EET 🔗 Register now: https://lnkd.in/eg3F6n_k   In this session, Cristina will walk through the structural roots of the reproducibility crisis — publication incentives, opaque methods, and undisclosed researcher choices — and introduce the Open Science toolkit researchers can use right now: pre-registration, open data and materials, transparent reporting, and open access Whether you're a researcher, a student, or part of the administrative staff, this webinar will give you a clear picture of where science stands today and what you can do about it — especially as funders like NIH and Horizon Europe are now making open practices a formal requirement   For more information on the webinars offered through INVEST 👉 https://lnkd.in/epqc73ab   INVEST European University Alliance | Slovak University of Agriculture | Université de Reims Champagne-Ardenne | University of agribusiness and rural development | University of Thessaly | Karelia University of Applied Sciences | Università degli Studi di Milano-Bicocca | Universidad de Córdoba   FOREU4ALL   #INVESTAlliance #EuropeanUniversityAlliance #INVESTCoE #Research #AcademicResearch #HigherEducation #OpenScience #Webinar #ReproducibilityResearch #ResearchIntegrity #OpenAccess #ITRN

🇪🇺🎓 INVEST Alliance shares experience and best practices for the future of higher education in Bulgaria!   On June 4, 2026, a key roundtable discussion on "Micro-credentials and joint training with foreign higher education institutions - quality assurance and accreditation" was held at the St. Cyril and St. Methodius University of Veliko Tarnovo This prestigious forum brought together academic leaders, business representatives, the Ministry of Education and Science in Bulgaria, and the National Evaluation and Accreditation Agency (NEAA)   💡 As an alliance driven by innovation and regional sustainability, implementing modern educational tools is a top priority for INVEST During the event, Assoc. Prof. Dr. Ekaterina Arabska – Vice-Rector and Local Coordinator of INVEST at the University of Agribusiness and Rural Development (UARD) – presented our alliance's accumulated experience and successful models in building a new type of European University 🌱 Key highlights from the forum: · Micro-credentials: We discussed how short-term courses and continuing education can be successfully integrated and recognised as part of bachelor's and master's degree programs · European Approach to Quality: We focused on the current challenges facing accreditation procedures in Bulgaria and the necessity for legislative changes to facilitate the application of shared European standards for joint educational programs The Rector of UARD, Assoc. Prof. Dr. Svetla Dimitrova, and the Head of the Department of Economics and Finance, Assoc. Prof. Dr. Valentina Marinova, actively participated in the discussions alongside the President of NEAA, Prof. Dr. Eliza Stefanova, and the Rector of VTU, Prof. Dr. Dimitar Dimitrov The INVEST Alliance continues to be a driving force in transforming higher education and fully integrating regional universities into the common European Education Area! 🚀 🔗 Article: https://lnkd.in/e5W6JwTv Slovak University of Agriculture | University of agribusiness and rural development | University of Thessaly | Karelia University of Applied Sciences | Università degli Studi di Milano-Bicocca | Universidad de Córdoba | Université de Reims Champagne-Ardenne   FOREU4ALL   #INVESTAlliance #EuropeanUniversityAlliance #EuropeanUniversities #HigherEducation #Microcredentials #QualityAssurance #Innovation #RegionalSustainability #UARD #VTU #NEAA

📣 Don’t miss out on the second webinar on the INVEST Centre of Excellence x EXEBIO series - Turning biomass into materials: from building blocks to agromaterials in construction 📆 June 11, 2026 ⏱️ 1:00 – 3:30 pm (CEST) | 2:00 – 4:30 pm (EET) 🔗 Register now: https://lnkd.in/dTgccmZt   Programme: · Introduction by Hélène Lacroix, Director of the EXEBIO Institute 🎯 Session 1: From biomass to building blocks – Moderated by Pauline Blyweert, Junior Professor at the University of Reims Champagne-Ardenne (URCA) · Lignin as bioactive colloidal additives for the design of multifunctional materials, by Trystan Domenech, Junior Professor at URCA · Engineered Polysaccharide-Based Materials by Irene Tagliaro, Assistant Professor at the University of Milano-Bicocca (UNIMIB) · Lignin valorisation in the tyre industry by luca zoia, Associate Professor at UNIMIB · Utilization of Reclaimed Wood from Demolition Activities for the Production of New Engineered Wood Products, by GEORGIOS NTALOS, Professor at the University of Thessaly 🎯 Session 2: Agromaterials, from biomass to construction – Moderated by Pauline Blyweert · Evaluation of hygrothermal performances of beet pulp composites for buildings, by Chadi Maalouf, Senior Lecturer & Tala Moussa, Assistant Professor at URCA · Advancing Charred Wood and Biochar Innovations for Sustainable Construction, by Mikko Matveinen, Project Manager & Markus Hirvonen, Project Specialist at the Karelia University of Applied Sciences · Closing comments by Stephan Dorey, Leader of the Research Excellence Pillar at the EXEBIO Institute     👉 About this webinar series Run jointly by the Institut International en Bioéconomie et Environnement EXEBIO - Université Reims Champagne-Ardenne and our INVEST Centre of Excellence, this series brings together researchers and practitioners across Europe on bioeconomy and environmental issues     INVEST European University Alliance | Slovak University of Agriculture | Université de Reims Champagne-Ardenne | University of agribusiness and rural development | University of Thessaly | Karelia University of Applied Sciences | Università degli Studi di Milano-Bicocca | Universidad de Córdoba   FOREU4ALL   #INVESTAlliance #EuropeanUniversityAlliance #INVESTCoE #Research #HigherEducation #OpenScience #Bioeconomy