Colleagues from ERUA, Una Europa and ECIU University invite staff and students to a three-part online workshop series on meaningful student participation in higher education, starting on 27 October 2026.
What does meaningful student participation look like, and how can we create space for it? Universities and European Universities Alliances have developed a wide range of approaches to promoting student engagement across their campuses. Yet meaningful participation often remains a challenge, for students and staff alike.
This interactive online workshop series invites participants to unpack the roles we assign to students and the roles we take on ourselves, with the aim of moving towards a more human-centred, co-created university community. The series is facilitated by colleagues from three European Universities Alliances – ERUA, Una Europa and ECIU University – and offers a space for exchange across institutional and alliance boundaries.
The three 90-minute sessions build on one another, moving from understanding the status quo to exploring possible actions and developing concrete plans. They combine interactive inputs, practical examples and reflective exercises. Each session can be attended independently, but joining all three offers the full journey and continuity.
Programme
Tuesday, 27 October 2026, 2:30–4:00 p.m. CET
Who are we talking about when we are talking about students and why does it matter: Identifying the patterns and practices shaping the status quo
Wednesday, 4 November 2026, 2:30–4:00 p.m. CET
Diving deeper and putting the human perspective first: Critical reflections for more connected student-staff communities
Thursday, 12 November 2026, 2:30–4:00 p.m. CET
Putting action behind the awareness: Creating a human-centered university community for all
Facilitators
Stinne Vognæs (University of Helsinki / Una Europa)
Niki Kasis (European University Viadrina / ERUA)
Ryan Wakamiya (University of Twente / ECIU University)
Who is it for?
The series is aimed at staff working on student engagement in higher education, whether locally or within European Universities Alliances. It is also open to students who are interested in the topic or involved in student participation at their university or alliance. Everyone interested in rethinking and reimagining the relationships between staff and students is warmly welcome.
Event information
📅 Dates: 27 October, 4 November and 12 November 2026
🕑 Time: 2:30–4:00 p.m. CET
📍 Format: Online (the meeting link will be sent to registered participants)
Language: English
Registration
You can sign up for one, two or all three workshops via the registration form:
https://forms.cloud.microsoft/e/KbBbLk2xmi
If you have any questions, please contact Niki Kasis (European University Viadrina / ERUA): kasis@europa-uni.de
Bring your questions, experiences and ideas – we look forward to rethinking student engagement together!
