On the road to borderless education with three international pilot Masters programmes

The EU GREEN Alliance has begun its journey to cross-border education by selecting the first three joint pilot Masters programmes that students from our nine universities can complete. The selection was made during WP2 Staff Week, which took place from June 25 to 27 at the University of Évora.

The three pilot study programs

The selected proposals are: “Sciences and technologies for the ecological transition of agricultural and urban ecosystems” by UNIPR, UeX, UPwR, UÉ and UA; “Green energy for sustainability and resilience” by UeX, ATU, HiG, UO, OvGU and “Sustainability, Innovation, Entrepreneurship in Intelligent Rural Areas” by UeX, ATU, UÉ, UA and UO.
The selection of the three joint pilot study programs is an important milestone in the efforts of the EU GREEN Alliance to promote cooperative, transnational education.‍

WP2 Staff Week in Évora

The Staff Week, organized by the University of Évora, was attended by around 80 people, including members of WP2, as well as other work packages, vice rectors, members of the student council and students who are active in EU GREEN.‍

Day 1: Presentations and Workshops

All three days of the meeting were dedicated to promoting sustainability in higher education through a series of workshops, presentations and cultural activities. The first day began with the opening session and the presentation of the current status of the WP2 implementation teams and the student council. However, the highlight of the day was the presentation of eight proposals for joint study programs and the subsequent meeting of the selection committee, which successfully selected three joint pilot programmes from those presented.

This first session set a positive tone for the following events. During the day, participants took part in various interactive workshops, including the “Cinema for Sustainability” workshop, whose aim was to raise awareness of environmental issues. In addition, the “Portuguese 101 Crash Course” helped participants gain a basic understanding of the local language and culture and promoted a sense of community and cultural integration. The evening discussions focused on intercultural competence and emphasized the importance of cultural understanding in creating a cooperative academic environment.‍

Day 2: Sustainability and cultural highlights

On the second day, a session on the “Minor for Sustainability” and workshops on aligning curriculum units with the Sustainable Development Goals (SDG) provided valuable insights and sparked impetus for new initiatives among those present. However, a highlight of the day was the speech by Filipe Rocha, the local coordinator of the European Campus of City Universities (EC2U). Rocha's presentation on the challenges and solutions for implementing joint European degrees gave participants an insight into the practical challenges facing the EU GREEN Alliance.

The day ended with an impressive musical performance by the CORUÉ Choir from the University of Évora. In the evening, participants were also able to visit the lively local festival “Feira de São João”, which combined education and entertainment.‍

Day 3: Future planning and excursion

On the last day, the individual implementation teams and the student council presented their action plans for 2025. These presentations presented detailed strategies for integrating sustainability into curricula and institutional practices and laid the groundwork for future progress. During a trip to Alqueva and Monsaraz in the afternoon, participants got to know some practical examples of sustainability practices, engagement and environmental responsibility. The event ended with a dinner at Restaurant Monsaraz, which reflected on the week's achievements and discussed future collaborations.

Conclusion: Exchange and progress

WP2 Staff Week promoted the exchange of ideas and best practices for sustainability in higher education. The workshops on adapting to the SDGs and on intercultural competence were particularly important due to their practical relevance and appealing content. The participants praised the event for the opportunity to participate in meaningful discussions.

Looking ahead: Next steps of the EU GREEN Alliance

WP2 Staff Week in Évora was a transformative experience that provided valuable insights and fostered connections that will drive our sustainability initiatives. Building on the success of WP2 Staff Week, the EU GREEN Alliance plans to implement the action plans presented at the event and further support the development of joint study programs and other sustainability-oriented education projects.