The Johannes Kepler University Linz hosted the first annual EC²U-Forum, opens an external URL in a new window in October. Employees, researchers, and students from eight European universities came together under the motto “Empowering Minds for a Peaceful Society” and discussed ideas on how to address and resolve modern-day challenges.

Distinguished Guests
Stefan Koch (JKU Rector) and Alberta Bonnani (Vice-Rector for International Relations) officially opened the Forum, which included opening remarks by state representatives, guests from other institutions, including Dietmar Prammer (city of Linz), Helena Kirchmayr (Upper Austrian State Parliament), Angelika Sery-Froschauer (Upper Austrian Chamber of Commerce), and Simone Mesner (Austrian Ministry of Education, Science & Research). Philipp Bergsmann, (JKU Student Union representative), kicking off an inspiring week of dialog.

An Impressive Turnout
The Forum attracted 375 participants. 96 students took part in the Student Challenge. The participants also had an option to take part in the Forum online and many utilized this option, underscoring the Forum's inclusive and hybrid approach.

A Unique Alliance Across Academia
Since joining the Alliance at the end of 2023, the JKU has maintained close ties with universities in Germany, Portugal, France, Italy, Spain, Romania, and Finland. Dr. Adriana Estrada, EC²U Alliance coordinator at the JKU, remarked: “The EC²U is more than just a partnership and network, the alliance builds bridges between universities and their home cities, supports student and researcher mobility, international research initiatives, and shared European values.” Rector Stefan Koch also stressed the broader mission: “The EC²U Forum allows us to drive new ideas in support of higher education in the future forward, as well as build bridges between people, countries, and disciplines.”

Forum Highlights
The EC²U Forum featured a diverse, wide-ranging program of discussions, presentations, workshops, and interactive sessions.

1. Think-Tank Session: Peace-Building and Social Innovation
   Participants in this interactive session explored innovative strategies to promote peace within their communities. A 40-minute poster session featured each partner university presenting unique projects designed to foster and encourage social harmony.

2. The Science Competition: Showcasing Ingenuity
   Teams from the JKU, Iasi University, and Salamanca University competed against each other in an inspiring science competition, showcasing interdisciplinary solutions to address complex issues. Held in partnership with the JKU’s Circus of Knowledge, the competition demonstrated the power of science and its ability to inspire people and connect communities. The University of Iasi won the competition however in the end, the focus was on sharing information and coming up with solutions together.

3. Student Voices: Creating the Future
   The final session of “Student Voices” served as a platform for student representatives from within the Alliance to present their ideas regarding five current global issues. The topics ranged from supporting an inclusive campus for refugees, to managing digital transformation in higher education.

If you missed these - or any other – sessions, or would like to re-watch any particular session, recordings are available on YouTube, opens an external URL in a new window.

Collaboration Broadens Horizons
JKU Vice-Rector Alberta Bonanni praised the Forum’s creative and collective spirit: “We need international partnerships in order to overcome global challenges, particularly in research. The EC²U Forum provides space and opportunities to network across borders, thereby benefitting students, researchers, and all university employees equally.”

The EC²U: Heading Towards the Future Together
The 2024 EC²U Forum was a testament to the Alliance's mission and purpose. As part of the network, the JKU and its partner institutions aim to lay a well-balanced foundation to build a vibrant, liberal, and inclusive European academic community. Each Forum drives the EC²U's mission forward by fostering unity, sharing common values, and focusing on innovative solutions that address today's global issues.