ATHENA - European University

What role do European university alliances play in strengthening excellence, innovation and sovereignty? This was the topic of discussion among participants at the two-day conference entitled “Shaping Europe: The Role of Universities in the Weimar Triangle Trilateral Conference on European University Alliances”, which took place on 24th–25th September at the University of Warsaw, and was attended by the ATHENA Office of the Universities of Siegen and Orléans, as well as the President of the University of Orléans.

Take a glance at the memorable moments from the Embedded Intelligence Nanosystems Engineering (EMINENT) programme’s first graduation ceremony held at the Hellenic Mediterranean University (HMU) on 25 September.

Take a look at the key moments from the Embedded Intelligence Nanosystems Engineering (EMINENT) programme’s Welcome Days 2026 at the Hellenic Mediterranean University (HMU).

12 October marked the start of the new academic year at the University of Siegen. The ATHENA European University Alliance team took part in the Freshman Welcome & Career Fair held in the Audimax on the Adolf-Reichwein-Straße campus and greeted the new and returning students.

The Welcome event is always a special opportunity for students to learn about the main university services and programmes which support their studies and professional development as well as provide enriching educational experiences. The ATHENA information stand at the event was a place to discover international education opportunities offered to students and young researchers through the network of Alliance’s partner universities.

Visitors to the ATHENA stand were introduced to its main educational opportunities, such as Blended Intensive Programmes (BIPs), summer and winter schools, conferences and extracurricular courses, and were also able to find out more about the Joint Master’s Degree Embedded Intelligence Nanosystems Engineering (EMINENT) programme. Besides that, students could learn about the new Double Degree Master’s in Electrical Engineering (EMEE) co-organized by the University of Siegen and VILNIUS TECH, two partner universities of the ATHENA Alliance.

One of the ATHENA’s key goals is to foster students’ academic and professional development through international mobility and cooperation. The interest shown by dozens of students in ATHENA’s offers indicates the value of such approaches to higher education and stresses the role of the institutions that put them into practice.

We congratulate all students and members of the academic community on the start of the new semester and would like to extend a special welcome to students joining the EMINENT and EMEE programmes!

We wish everyone a great start to the academic year and can’t wait to see you at one of our future events!

EMINENT Graduation Ceremony and Welcome Days 2026

Survey for students and academic staff as a part of the ATHENA project 
 

With the end of the summer semester, it’s time once again for the EMINENT program’s annual Summer School. This year, students from the second cohort gathered at the INCYTE Research Center on July 27 to spend four days participating in interactive PEP sessions (Professional Design Experience Projects) as well as lectures by researchers from the program’s partner universities and experts from innovative technology companies.

Representatives from the University of Siegen (Germany), NOVA University Lisbon (Portugal), the Hellenic Mediterranean University (Greece), VILNIUS TECH (Lithuania), and the Université d’Orléans (France) shared their expertise with the students through a series of lectures and individual mentoring sessions. At the same time, they provided information on potential topics for master’s theses at their respective universities. 

This year’s industry-led presentations focused on biomedical and health technologies. Arthur Klass from IPG Photonics, the world’s leading provider of fiber lasers, explained the use of the company’s innovative technologies in various industrial sectors. Marta Marques from Biosurfit presented the application of IVD tests in blood analysis and medical diagnostics—the company’s core area of expertise. Rita Cristóvão, CEO of Plux Biosignals, spoke about biosignal monitoring technologies and their potential applications in healthcare, research, and education. Eduardo Coelho from StabVida discussed genetic technologies as well as current developments in modern biotechnology research.

Another highlight of the Summer School was the students’ PEP projects. Over the course of the week, they presented the results of their collaborative research on topics ranging from microsystems engineering to technological design. 

A workshop organized by the University of Siegen’s Career Service offered participants the opportunity to explore their academic and professional futures after graduation.

To wrap up the Summer School, the now-traditional BBQ took place once again this year. Students, EMINENT program staff, and guests took the opportunity to network in a pleasant atmosphere, share experiences, and bring the successful event to a close together.

We would like to once again extend our heartfelt thanks to everyone who made this inspiring event possible. We look forward to welcoming you back to the EMINENT Summer School next year!

We are proud to announce that ATHENA European University has been selected under the European Degree Label call.

This achievement marks an important milestone in our shared mission to shape the future of European higher education through deeper cooperation, innovation, and excellence.

The recruitment for the International Mentoring Programme implemented within the ATHENAWORKS project is now open!

The programme is addressed to students of all ATHENA partner universities who would like to strengthen their research competences, develop academic writing skills, and gain valuable experience in international academic collaboration.