The Engagement & Inclusion Days will take place in Oradea and bring together members from both the Inclusion and Engagement working areas of the EU GREEN Alliance. This joint event aims to foster collaboration between the two teams, with a focus on developing shared strategies that strengthen both dimensions across the Alliance.
Participants will work collectively to design actions that promote inclusion, participation, and a stronger sense of community within EU GREEN. This initiative represents a key step toward building a more cohesive and inclusive European university model, where students and staff feel heard, involved, and empowered.
The first Conference of the Parties (COP1) of the EU GREEN Alliance will take place on October 7, 2025, in Angers, France. This high-level event will focus on fostering collaboration between universities, cities, and regions to advance the goals of the EU Green Deal and the Climate Neutral and Smart Cities Mission. With four EU GREEN member universities already involved in the mission, COP1 will provide a platform to share best practices, inspire joint action, and strengthen strategic partnerships for sustainable development.
The conference will feature plenary sessions, roundtable discussions, expert talks, and interactive exchanges with stakeholders, students, and EU representatives. Topics include climate-neutral city strategies, the New European Bauhaus initiative, and the signing of the EU GREEN Declaration. Participants will also enjoy networking opportunities, poster presentations, and social activities designed to foster community and collaboration.
The Insectopia Festival is a vibrant, hands-on gathering that brings together the EU GREEN community (over 70 participants including university and VET students, researchers, experts, policy makers and external stakeholders) to co-create insect utopias -solutions for biodiversity- and celebrate our shared connection with nature.
At the heart of the festival is the Insectopia Hackathon, where multidisciplinary teams of students, researchers, and mentors work together to answer a common challenge designed by the Insectopia Team, to produce innovations that connect ecological insight with local action.
Throughout the week, participants will take part in:
- Creative and reflective sessions set in nature
- Cultural and intercultural exchange activities
- Community-building moments through music, storytelling, and celebration
All meals served during the festival will highlight local, seasonal produce and offer healthy, inclusive options to accommodate diverse dietary needs.
Insectopia Team is honoured to welcome a representative from the European Commission’s DG Environment – Pollinators Team, who will participate in the Festival as a keynote guest and jury member in the Hackathon, adding valuable perspective to the event’s dialogue and outcomes.
On the occasion of World Bee Day 2025, the EU GREEN European University Alliance will host the Insectopia Online Ceremony, a digital gathering to honour the role of pollinators and showcase innovative biodiversity actions emerging from European campuses.
- A presentation on the evolution of Insectopia from a campus-based initiative to a transnational biodiversity platform, including the Insectopia Festival and Hackathon, to be held in Jarandilla de la Vera, Spain, from June 2nd till 6th .
- Showcases of selected proposals developed by multidisciplinary teams from EU GREEN universities
- Reflections from project leaders, students, and academic contributors
- A shared commitment to pollinator protection, ecological awareness, and community-based action
The EU GREEN alliance is proud to announce the EU GREEN Light Festival – Light for Sustainability, a dynamic week-long celebration in honour of the International Day of Light (IDL), an initiative by UNESCO held annually on May 16th. This year’s festival highlights how light and light-based technologies are central to scientific innovation, cultural expression, and achieving the United Nations Sustainable Development Goals (SDGs).
PROGRAMME
University of Oradea (Romania) – May 14th
- “Surrounding Light” Exhibition | 10:00 (GMT+3)
A visual celebration of light through eco-conscious lamp designs by students from the Decorative Arts and Fashion Design programs. The exhibition includes a short film with English text and behind-the-scenes footage of the design process. - Online Creative Workshop | 10:00 (GMT+3)
Learn to build sustainable lamps from waste materials in a hands-on virtual session.
Register here: Workshop Registration - Celebration of Light with Music | 20:00 (GMT+3)
A tranquil evening of live guitar music by candlelight and handmade lanterns, coordinated by Prof. Ariadna Mircescu of the Music Department.
University of Parma (Italy) – May 15th
- “Optical Fibers for a Sustainable Future” | 10:30–12:30 (GMT+2)
Two expert-led online seminars exploring the relationship between optical fiber technology and environmental sustainability.
Speakers under the patronage of the IEEE Photonics Society Italy Chapter and the RESTART Foundation:
• Piero Castoldi – Scuola Superiore Sant’Anna, Pisa
• Sara Mazzarella – Open Fiber S.p.A.
Register here: Seminar Registration
University of Évora (Portugal) – May 16th to June 6th
- School at Light Speed Competition | May 16th–June 6th
A national competition for secondary school students to measure the speed of light using simple equipment and scientific principles. - “Better Understanding of Light… the Colours and… Us!!!” | May 16th, 16:00 and 17:30 (GMT)
Engaging sessions by Rui Dias (University of Évora), who will explore colour perception from a new angle: what if objects don’t have colours? We’ll consider the implications of this idea for the evolution of living beings, offering a perspective that goes beyond traditional biology or palaeontology. Tailored for EU GREEN Alliance students and teachers.
Link to Join In Portuguese (16:00 GMT): https://videoconf-colibri.zoom.us/j/94155703249?pwd=abKsaNGSIRJBk6eytbfInsFcbjZEry.1
Link to Join In English (17:00 GMT): https://videoconf-colibri.zoom.us/j/97549672706?pwd=5bygG2woSatxAPu79sTinQvx4pSKY0.1
- “Light: From the Visible to the Invisible” | May 28th, 15:00 (GMT)
A talk by Bento Caldeira (University of Évora), that explores light in its full range – from the visible to the invisible – by examining its physical principles and how technologies use radiations like infrared, microwaves, and X-rays to enhance our ability to see, diagnose, and explore the world and the universe.
Targeted at Portuguese secondary school students and educators.
Join us for an inspiring session of the EU GREEN Stakeholders Lecture Series, in which we bring together the university community and its external partners to explore sustainability in its different dimensions (economic, social and environmental) through innovative approaches.
This edition features the Helga de Alvear Museum of Contemporary Art, a leading institution dedicated to building bridges between society and contemporary art. Through various educational programs, the Museum fosters accessibility, inclusion and critical engagement with art and its broader social, cultural and environmental contexts.
The keynote speaker will be Ms. Clara Paolini, Director of Communications and Marketing of this museum.
In this conference, we will:
- Explore how contemporary art can serve as a powerful medium for sustainability education and community engagement.
- Showcase the Museum’s strategies for making art accessible and relevant to diverse audiences.
- Discuss practical ways in which universities and cultural institutions can collaborate to drive sustainable change.
- Equip participants with practical ideas for integrating sustainability into academic and cultural settings.
This event offers a unique opportunity to connect the concept of sustainability and its various dimensions (economic, social and environmental) with artistic practice, fostering dialogue, critical thinking, and community impact.
