ATHENA - European University

On 6 May 2026, representatives from academia, European institutions, regional authorities, and industry gathered at the European Parliament in Brussels for the high-level conference “Investing in Europe’s Future: Funding Pathways for Higher Education.” The event was co-organised by Member of the European Parliament Krzysztof Hetman, Maria Curie-Skłodowska University, Business & Science Poland, and the ATHENA European University Alliance.

The conference focused on one of the most pressing questions facing Europe today: how to effectively invest in the future of European higher education in a rapidly changing social, economic, and geopolitical landscape.

The keynote speech was delivered by Piotr Serafin, who shared perspectives on the future vision for European funding, competitiveness, and innovation. Discussions throughout the event highlighted the strategic role of universities in strengthening Europe’s resilience, fostering innovation, and supporting regional development.

Among the speakers were Krzysztof Hetman, who addressed the links between higher education, cohesion policy, and Horizon Europe, and Anne Besnier, Vice-President of the Region Centre-Val de Loire and member of the European Committee of the Regions, who presented regional perspectives on implementation and funding challenges.

The conference also showcased concrete examples of European university alliances and their long-term sustainability. Mariusz Głąbowski from Poznań University of Technology presented the EUNICE4U project, while Eric Blond, President of the ATHENA European University Alliance and representative of University of Orléans, shared ATHENA’s experience in building a sustainable alliance model without core funding.

The event created a valuable platform for dialogue between policymakers, university leaders, researchers, and industry representatives, reaffirming the importance of international cooperation and strategic investment in higher education across Europe.

ATHENA is proud to contribute to shaping the future of European higher education and to strengthening collaboration between universities, institutions, and society.

On April 9, the University of Siegen warmly welcomed the second EMINENT cohort as they began their second semester. As part of a diverse and engaging Welcome Day, students were introduced to an informative program designed to prepare them for the months ahead.

The event began with an official welcome session, including an introduction to the semester program and the structure of Faculty IV. Participants received a comprehensive overview of courses, lectures, and examination procedures. In addition, key information about the language center was provided, along with practical tips for living in Siegen.

Another important part of the program was the selection of individual specialization tracks. During an open Q&A session, students also had the opportunity to clarify questions and actively engage with the organizers.

Following a joint lunch break at the Mensa together with students from the first cohort, the afternoon program continued with a lab tour at INCYTE and a guided walk across campus, including a visit to the ATHENA office.

The university looks forward with great anticipation to the coming months and the development of the new cohort. The goal is to support students in both their academic and personal growth while ensuring they have a rewarding and enriching experience in Siegen.

From March 16 to 20, 2026, representatives from academia, doctoral funding and university management from the ATHENA European University Alliance met at the University of Siegen to discuss the further development of doctoral training and interdisciplinary skills. The focus was on comparing different approaches, exchanging best practices and working together on standards for a future-oriented doctorate.

The Hellenic Mediterranean University successfully hosted the Blended Intensive Programme (BIP) “Emerging Materials and Applications” in Heraklion, within the framework of the EMINENT – European Master on Embedded Nanosystems Engineering (Erasmus Mundus) & the ATHENA European University Alliance.

The programme was delivered in a hybrid format (17–27 February 2026) and brought together 52 undergraduate students and 10 academics from six European universities. Through online lectures, on-site laboratories, student poster sessions, and visits to advanced research facilities—including the Institute of Electronic Structure and Laser—participants explored cutting-edge applications of emerging functional materials.

The BIP strengthened interdisciplinary collaboration, research-oriented learning, and international teamwork, while awarding 3 ECTS credits under Erasmus+.

HMU & ATHENA continue to invest strategically in internationalisation, innovation, and high-impact academic partnerships across Europe.

The Maria Curie-Skłodowska University (UMCS) in Lublin, Poland, is inviting two visiting professors to teach courses as part of the ATHENAWORKS project starting in the summer semester of 2026. One of the planned courses is offered by the Faculty of Economics and is described below. 

Study one year at VILNIUS TECH in Vilnius, Lithuania, and one year at University of Siegen in Germany and finish with a Master of Science Degree from both Universities! An exciting option: a wide range of contact opportunities, an international profile and valuable life experiences enhance your skills alongside the high-quality course content.

AWithin the framework of the European University ATHENA, the partner universities University of Siegen and VILNIUS TECH offer a Master's degree programme in Electrical Engineering with a double degree.

The programme is designed as a full-time course of study in electrical engineering. Enrolment takes place in the winter semester. When enrolling at the University of Siegen, students opt for the double degree in Electrical Engineering (taught in English). When enrolling on the course at VILNIUS TECH, students choose the double degree option in Electronic Engineering.

The ATHENA Alliance participated in the FOREU4ALL workshop “Putting the European Degree Label into Action: Bridging Policy and Practice”, held from 3 to 5 December 2025 at Università Ca’ Foscari Venezia. The event brought together European universities, alliances, quality assurance bodies, policymakers, and students to discuss the concrete implementation of the European Degree Label.

ATHENA was represented by Dr. Ilka Kureck (University of Siegen) and Laura Lopez (Université d´Orléans), who actively contributed to discussions on joint programmes, quality assurance, and the operational challenges linked to the European Degree Label.

Over the three days, participants explored how policy frameworks can be translated into institutional practice. Key sessions addressed the purpose and added value of the European Degree Label, quality assurance requirements, and practical tools for compliance. Panels featuring representatives from the European Commission, university alliances, quality assurance agencies, and student organisations highlighted both opportunities and ongoing challenges.

ATHENA representatives also took part in breakout sessions focused on embedding European Degree criteria into collaborative programme design, aligning quality assurance practices across alliances, and enabling existing joint programmes to qualify for the label. These exchanges provided valuable insights into different national and institutional contexts, reinforcing the importance of cross-alliance dialogue.

The workshop confirmed the European Degree Label as a key instrument for strengthening transnational cooperation in higher education. ATHENA’s participation reflects its continued commitment to developing high-quality joint programmes and contributing to a shared European approach to education, QA, and degree recognition.

From October 1 to 2, the EMINENT WelcomeDays took place on the beautiful island of Crete.
Welcome Days took place on the beautiful island of Crete. We welcomed 26 new students from different countries, including Brazil, Mexico, Ecuador, Portugal, Egypt, Nigeria, Pakistan, Iran, Thailand and India.

This new group of students is not only international - representing a total of 17 countries from all over the world - but also extremely motivated to start their EMINENT journey.

During the Welcome Days, the students learned more about life in Greece and at the Hellenic Mediterranean University (HMU). The information provided should help them to settle in on Crete and prepare for the start of their studies. In addition, a current first-year EMINENT student and representative of the EMA shared her experiences and answered numerous questions from the new students.

As the program allows students to study at up to four different universities, representatives from NOVA University, the University of Siegen, the University of Orléans
and Vilnius Tech
were present. Each presented the respective specialization focus of their university.

A sunny campus tour and a visit to the Venetian city walls of Heraklion brought the two Welcome Days to a successful conclusion.

We wish all EMINENT students a good start to their studies and a wonderful time on the island of Crete!

We are pleased to announce the launch of our newly updated Shared Resources Directory (SRD).

The SRD is a unique platform that supports researchers and educators across the ATHENA network. It serves as a hub to foster new ideas, strengthen collaboration and explore the capacities and research areas of our community.

To improve coordination in research and teaching projects, the SRD organizes its activities into thematic clusters. There are currently four clusters in which joint activities are planned:

• Digitalization for All
• Sustainable Production
• Health and Wellbeing
• Creative Industries

Within these clusters, new ideas can be submitted, ongoing projects explored and collaborations initiated with colleagues across the network.

Projects or ideas that do not fit into any of the cluster topics are also welcome and will be stored in the "sandbox".

To access the SRD, simply log in with your university email address here → https://athena.um.si/wp4(access is only available to ATHENA members).

The SRD is an excellent tool for innovation, networking and knowledge sharing within the ATHENA community. Become active today and network with other ATHENA partners!

If you have any questions about the SRD, please contact Ilka Kureck: ilka.kureck@uni-siegen.de