Join us at the JKU Campus or via the official livestream, opens an external URL in a new window.

The 2024 EC²U Forum: Student Voices

Join us for the "Student Voices" session where student teams from all of the EC²U partner universities present the innovative solutions to pressing global issues they discussed throughout the week. After a week of intensive discussions, the students will share their insights on five key sub-topics, each guided by expert mentors:

1. Creating Strong Universities: Strategies to enhance university quality, infrastructure, and partnerships to prepare for future challenges. Mentors for this topic include:
   • Bianca Pitiruț, a PhD student at Alexandru Ioan Cuza University, whose research explores the psychological factors driving pro-environmental behaviors in response to climate change.
   • Patricia Stark, from the Linz Institute for Transformative Change, focuses on sustainable strategies in higher education (more info available from previous posts).
   • Kerstin Pell-Langaditis, a visionary at the Art x Science School of Transformation, brings a creative approach to institutional transformation.
   • Lorenz Wolf, representing JKU Austros, contributes expertise in organizational and structural development within academic settings.
2. Integrating Refugees and Internationals Successfully: This topic delves into best practices to foster an inclusive environment for refugees and international students. 
   • Sonja Falkner-Matzinger, Head of the International Welcome Center at JKU Linz, is dedicated to integrating refugees and international students into academic life, leading initiatives like the MORE program.
   • Sabine Wagner, an event organizer at JKU’s International Welcome Center, brings her international experience to her role in promoting inclusion and community-building activities.
   • Carina Kobler, coordinator of the MORE initiative at JKU Linz, focuses on providing educational pathways for refugees, enhancing social diversity and inclusion.
3. How Do You Create a Narrative of Peace in a Polarized World?: Techniques to foster dialogue and understanding among diverse perspectives.
   • Lidia Gallanti, a communications officer at the University of Pavia and seasoned journalist, shares her expertise in building impactful narratives that promote peace in polarized environments.
   • Veronika Wittmann, Associate Professor at JKU Linz, offers deep insights from her extensive research on global politics, science diplomacy, and sustainable development.
4. Students at Risk: Ensuring that students affected by global conflicts can continue their education.
   • Irinja Paakkanen, Head of International Relations at the University of Turku, contributes her extensive experience with scholars at risk and supporting displaced students in higher education.
   • Denisa Mazuru, a PhD student at Alexandru Ioan Cuza University, focuses her research on innovative pedagogical strategies, particularly for integrating modern teaching methods in challenging contexts.
5. Challenges and Opportunities for Universities in a Growing Digital World: Exploring the impact of new technologies on higher education.
   • Marie Kollek, an expert in intercultural communication at Friedrich-Schiller University Jena, brings her research on digital tools and post-colonial theory to the discussion.
   • Nick Ludwig, also from Friedrich-Schiller University, specializes in virtual teamwork, team training, and intercultural collaboration, offering unique insights into the digital transformation of universities.

This session is a unique opportunity to listen to perspectives by students coming from diverse backgrounds and foster significant discussions about topics that impact the future of higher education.

Join Us and Empower Your Mind

We welcome students, researchers, faculty members, and anyone else interested in the future of higher education and student perspectives on key issues to attend.

See you at the Student Voices session!