This year, EUNICE has been particularly active in developing a diverse offer of Blended Intensive Programmes (BIPs) and summer schools for students and staff across the alliance. These initiatives provide much more than academic learning: they create space for participants from different countries and disciplines to meet, exchange ideas, work together and gain experience in an international environment.
By combining specialised courses with practical activities and intercultural exchange, BIPs and summer schools help strengthen cooperation within the EUNICE community and build lasting professional and personal connections.
Find below the highlights from across the EUNICE alliance.
1. EUNICE Summer Schools in Poznan Combined Digital Security and Essential Soft Skills
From 6 to 10 July 2026, Poznan University of Technology hosted two EUNICE summer schools: Network Security and Soft Skills. The programmes brought together students from EUNICE partner universities and offered complementary learning opportunities in both technical and interpersonal competences.
The Soft Skills Summer School covered intercultural communication, team building, effective listening, body language, and polite ways of agreeing and disagreeing. Classes were delivered by the lecurers from the Centre for Languages and Communication.
The Network Security Summer School introduced participants to topics such as L2 networks, access control lists, VPNs, advanced firewalls, and IDS/IPS systems. Classes were taught by the lecturers from the Faculty of Computing and Telecommunications.
Both summer schools were organised under the WERSE project, funded by the European Union within the “Support for European University Alliances” initiative, reference number FERS.01.05-IP.08-0219/23. The programmes combined practical learning with international exchange and contributed to strengthening cooperation across the EUNICE community.
2. Teaching in English Across EUNICE: An Intensive Summer Programme in Poznan
As part of EUNICE’s 2026 summer learning activities, Poznan University of Technology hosted an intensive English Medium Education programme for academic staff from across the alliance. The blended programme began with online sessions in April, followed by an on-site week in Poznan from 8 to 12 June, attended by 16 participants. Workshops focused on teaching methodology, effective use of English in the classroom, intercultural communication, presentation skills and academic writing.
Developed by the EME team from the Centre of Languages and Communication from Poznan University of Technology, the University of Cantabria, the Polytechnic Institute of Viseu and the University of the Peloponnese, the programme combined practical training with international exchange and networking. Participants shared experiences, discussed the challenges of teaching specialised subjects in English and developed solutions for use in their own institutions.
The project will also result in recommendations for EUNICE universities, while the next edition is planned for 2027 at the University of Cantabria.
3. Two EUNICE Summer BIPs in Santander Addressed Global Challenges Through Technology and International Cooperation
At the University of Cantabria (Spain), two BIPs were hosted in Santander in summer 2026. Innovating Solutions: Micro-Nano Technologies and Sensors for Global Challenges, co-coordinated with the University of Catania and in collaboration with Menéndez Pelayo International University, took place from 22 to 26 June and brought together 26 students.
Delivered by lecturers from the University of Cantabria, University of Catania, University of Mons, Poznan University of Technology, Université Polytechnique Hauts-de-France, and University of the Peloponnese, it explored sensor technologies for agriculture, heritage, environment, healthcare and mobility.
Global Studies in a Changing World: Challenges and Solutions was held from 29 June to 10 July, gathering 33 students to address globalization, migration, decision-making and global health challenges. Lectures came from University of Cantabria, University of Catania, University of Vaasa, Brandenburg University of Technology Cottbus-Senftenberg, Polytechnic Institute of Viseu and University of Peloponnese, as well as from the University of North Carolina at Charlotte (USA).
4. Building Resilience in Times of Polycrises: EUNICE BIP in Finland
The University of Vaasa (Finland) hosted the BIP Strengthening Resilience in the Times of Polycrises in Helsinki and Vaasa from 25 to 29 May 2026, partnering with Karlstad University (Sweden) and Brandenburg University of Technology Cottbus-Seftenberg (Germany).
Over the course of the week, 20 students from across to EUNICE universities had the opportunity to learn about resilience, security, preparedness and crisis management in an international context. Visits in different national and regional institutions allowed a field-based learning experience about the Finland’s comprehensive security model. Enriched with expert lectures, including a keynote from an internationally respected intelligence expert, Prof. Jan Goldman from The Citadel Military College of South Carolina (USA), the course offered a diverse, multidisciplinary and international perspective on the topic.
Participant Miguel Angel Lobo Rueda from the University of Cantabria (Spain) enjoyed the experience: “We have learned a lot, mainly about the limits and opportunities to implementation of the Finnish resilience system. This is the perfect context to have a high-level discussion around topics such as security and resilience.”
