Past Aurora Opportunities

• Taught 1-12 July
• 5 ECTS
• Palacký University, Olomouc, Czechia

Legal clinic is a special form of legal education, combining theory and practice, designed to teach not only knowledge, but also develop skills and instill values, and promote social justice.
In the summer of 2024, Palacký University, Faculty of Law, would like to invite you to experience the Second Instalment of Human Rights Policy Legal Clinic Summer School through a two-weeks intensive schedule of Summer School.
Aurora Alliance students can participate in the academic program free of charge. They may pay an optional fee of 180 EUR in order to be provided with catering during the academic program (2 coffee breaks and lunch each day). If not, there are numerous opportunities in walking distance from the summer school venue for coffee, snacks and meals.

The application deadline is 15 June 2024. To register click here and for more information, please contact Radana Kuncova (radana.kuncova@upol.cz)
 

The 11th edition of VU Amsterdam Summer School specifally for students from Aurora member universities. 10 courses that align with the Aurora pilot domains. The one- and two-week summer courses are small-scale and cover multiple themes. VU provides top-notch short courses in subjects like international law, environmental science and policy, and statistical research. The Summer School professors are passionate about sharing their knowledge through interactive lectures, group discussions, and practical assignments.

All courses are taught in English, and (depending on the course) open to Bachelor’s, Master’s and PhD level.

Please click here for further information!

The University of Iceland can nominate 2 students who will not have to pay tuition fees. If you are interested please contact aurora@hi.is.

Are you considering the next step in your career? Join our upcoming 2-day online Spring School in Transferable Skills!

This event will focus on enhancing your abilities in paper, grant, and CV writing, as well as navigating the process of securing a faculty position. We'll provide an overview of various interview formats you may encounter on your career path and offer opportunities to practice answering interview questions. Additionally, we'll explore topics such as public engagement, gender equality, and effective communication in academia and research.

The Spring School is completely free and will take place online via Zoom on May 9th and 10th, 2024. It's open to all undergraduate, master, and PhD students of Unina and the Aurora network within the STEM (science, technology, engineering, and mathematics ) field. This event is organized by the Internationalization Committee of the Department of Pharmacy in partnership with the Aurora network and the University of Glasgow (United Kingdom).

To register, please send an email to  internationalfarmacia@unina.it  by the 5th of May. A link to the event will be sent to all participants. Further information can be found here.

Students at the University of Iceland can apply for the course Challenges in Europe, which includes a short stay in Amsterdam!

If you are interested in sustainability and European cooperation, this is the course for you.

Students will select a topic of research related to the United Nations‘ Sustainable Development Goals. They will conduct their research with a group of students, guided by the teachers of this course.

The course will be largely taught online, but students will gather in Amsterdam for a conference where they will present their ideas for a more sustainable Europe.

Application deadline is April 10.

APPLY HERE

Challenges in Europe 
Level of study: Bachelor‘s
Credits: 5 ECTS
Online teaching will start in April
Conference in Amsterdam takes place between June 5-7

If a student is accepted to the course the possibility of grant as a contribution towards mobility and subsistence costs can be explored by sending an email to aurora@hi.is. 

Open Science is increasingly endorsed by funders, publishers, institutions, and learned societies. But what does making your research open and transparent mean in practice? What are the options you have to make your work openly accessible?
The Aurora Universities are organising a series of online workshops on different aspects of Open Science to answer and discuss some of these questions. Come and learn more about how to Open up your Science! Find more information about the workshops and registration links below!
  
April 18th, 11.00-13.30 (CET) - Opening Up your Research Data

Registration link: https://vu-nl.libcal.com/calendar/universitylibrary/opening-up-your-research-data

This session will be provided by our friends from OpenAIRE, an Open Science service provider. In this online session on April 18th from 11.00-13.30 (Central European Time), we will discuss the following topics:

• Introduction to the research lifecycle, focusing on the data
• Data Management plan in Argos
• Sharing data in safety using Amnesia
• Publishing Datasets in Zenodo
• There will be plenty of opportunities for questions and open discussion
   

Free radicals in biology and biomedicine

Level of study: Bachelors
Credits: 4 ECTS
Mode of delivery: Blended, online course with a short stay abroad

The University of Palacký, in Olomouc, Czechia offers a course on reactive oxygen species. The course will be taught from March 11 and offers a short stay abroad.

Further information available here.

Questions regarding the course can be sent to ankush.prasad@upol.cz

Applications for summer courses in Copenhagen Business School are now open and four courses are available to students at the University of Iceland, through the Aurora cooperation!

The courses are interdisciplinary and related to innovation and social entrepreneurship, they are open to either bachelor's or master’s students.

Application deadline February 25

Business Responses to Climate Change (BHAAA2402U)

• Level of study: Bachelor‘s
• Length of stay: two weeks, June 24 - July 5 
• 2.5 ECTS credits

Permaculture: A Regenerative Solution for Business, Community and Lifestyle (BHAAA2403U)

• Level of study: Bachelor‘s
• Length of stay: two weeks, June 24 - July 5 
• 2.5 ECTS credits

An Introduction to Social Entrepreneurship (BHAAI1097U)

• Level of study: Bachelor‘s
• Length of stay: three weeks, June 24 - July 11
• 7.5 ECTS credits

Social Entrepreneurship and Business Model Innovation (CCMVI2115U)

• Level of study: Master‘s
  Length of stay: three weeks, June 24 - July 11
  7.5 ECTS credits

Students who are nominated by the University of Iceland will not need to pay tuition fees at CBS. Additionally, there is the possibility of receiving a partial grant towards mobility and subsistence costs. CBS offers student housing at good rates.

You can apply for a nomination through the University‘s exchange studies portal.

Applications will be prioritised in accordance with the University‘s Application Evaluation metric and the diversity of the group.

Each student can only apply for one of these courses. We ask students to state which course they‘re applying for under “comments”.

Palacký University offers two virtual courses to all Aurora bachelor students:

Media Ethics and Sustainable Social Enterprises

Further information available through the links above.

Application deadline February 15

If you have any questions, you can reach out to aurora@hi.is

 

Meticulously tailored for bachelor students aspiring to make a tangible impact on the world, this two-week intensive programme, hosted by AEI International School - UPEC, starting on June 17, 2024, provides a unique opportunity to immerse yourself in the dynamic realms of Societal Innovation and Futures Studies.

Week one, driven by Professor Felipe Koch, promises an exploration of the immersive world of Futures Literacy. Brace yourself for hands-on engagement in a Futures Literacy Lab, mastery of facilitation techniques, and a deep dive into Social Foresight and the Foundations of Futures Studies—equipping you with tools to not only envision but also lead transformative change.

The second week unfolds a rich variety of expertise, featuring renowned lecturers such as Philippe Frouté on Data Analysis and Forecasting, Fabio Scarano on Regenerative Futures, and Rocco Scolozzi on System Thinking. Each module is meticulously designed to challenge your perspectives, empowering you to forecast and shape the future landscape of Social Entrepreneurship and Innovation.

Application deadline 15 March.

Please note that applicants must contact their faculty‘s International Coordinator for information on whether the 6 ECTS awarded for this course can be evaluated into their studies at University of Iceland.
 

The University of Palacký Olomouc invites Aurora students to sign up for a course on soft skills development through videogaming. This is a blended course and will be taught from February-March with the option of an on-site lecture in Olomouc, Czech Republic.

The course is open to bachelor’s, master’s, and PhD students.

Read more about the course and sign up here!

Application deadline February 15

If you have any questions, you can reach out to aurora@hi.is.

 

We are happy to inform you about the new courses offer for the Summer Semester 2024 at the Universität Innsbruck. The courses are open to all Aurora partner Universities - Bachelor and Master students.

All courses are published in the Aurora Course Catalogue.

Students can find all necessary information about the registration & application process on Innsbruck‘s Aurora info webpage, information on the available courses is also available there. A tutorial video will guide students through the registration process via the UIBK online system.

For Bachellor and Master‘s students the available courses are as follows:

• Aspects of Digitalisation: Special Topics in Ethics and Digitalisation
• Term Rewriting
• Lambda Calculus and Type Theory

Those at Master‘s level can also sign up for:

• Religion, Culture and Society
• Interdisciplinary Aspects of Philosophy of Religion
• Sport, Tourismus & Sustainable Event Management
• Lecture series on Climate Protection
• Global Citizenship Education in times of crisis? Introduction to the concept of GCED, GLobal Goals and the Inner Development Goals (IDGs)

Application deadline January 21st

Please note that applicants must contact their faculty‘s International Coordinator for information on whether the ECTS awarded for these courses can be evaluated into their studies at University of Iceland.
 

 

Eco-social Synergies: Legal Challenges at the Intersection of the Environmental and Employment Realms

As the world confronts unprecedented environmental crises and grapples with the transition towards more sustainable economies, the welfare of the workforce stands intrinsically linked to the health of the planet. The urgency to comprehend, analyse, and address the legal, social, political, and economic facets of this interplay has never been more pronounced.

This year’s colloquium will foster an intellectual exchange and multidisciplinary dialogue, facilitating a nuanced understanding of the challenges and opportunities that arise at the intersection of environmental protection and labour rights (health and safety both inside and outside the workplace, right to a decent work, fight against environmental degradation through labour law, right to develop green skills, green collective bargaining, green social protection, etc.). To that end the IX Tarragona International Environmental Law Colloquium (TIEC) aims to explore the critical nexus of Legal Challenges at the Intersection of the Environmental and Employment Realms ” by focusing on three tracks/themes – legal perspectives, key stakeholders, and future challenges.

Further information found here.

 

Do you want to make impact by working on real-world challenges, such as sustainability, digitalization, and social segregation, in  collaboration with societal actors? Register for the Interdisciplinary Community Service Learning course 2 and take your learning experience beyond the classroom, into society. 

In iCSL2, students collaborate in cross-disciplinary teams. By the end of the project you collectively deliver an interdisciplinary report and present the project results back to a scientific as well as societal audience in a Public Dialogue Event.

This course will be taught between February and June and is open to students from all disciplines and faculties. Ideally, students have conceptual and/or empirical affinity with one (or more) of the following topics:

• Energy transitions
• Food system transformation
• Inclusive and resilient societies
• Mental health and wellbeing

Want to know more, or do you have any questions? Register for one of the online Q&A sessions:

• Wednesday 10th January 12:00-13:00
• Wednesday 17th January 16:00-17:00
• Wednesday 24th January 12:00-13:00
• Wednesday 31st January 16:00-17:00

For more information and to sign-up, contact Eduardo Urias eduardo.munizpereiraurias@vu.nl

Application deadline January 31st

Please note that applicants must contact their faculty‘s International Coordinator for information on whether the 6 ECTS awarded for this course can be evaluated into their studies at University of Iceland.

 

Would you like to develop yourself personally and professionally? Then join VU Graduate Winter School in January 2024! 

We have 14 online courses to pick from running between 8 – 19 January. Join a passionate and international group of students and learn a new skill or develop your knowledge in a certain area. 

You can gain ECTS and earn a certificate to boost your CV. All graduate students, PhD candidates and professionals are welcome, and as an Aurora student, you will get a special discount which you can check on our fees page. 

Go to our course list to find a course of interest. From Soft Skills in Business, to Data Analysis to Dealing Professionally with Climate Change, we have something for everyone! 

Check out the VU Graduate Winter School website for more information. Apply now and don’t miss out!

 

1. Student Ambassador
If you want to be a part of an international community of students, the role of Aurora Student Ambassador will be perfect for you.  
In this role, you will be given the opportunity to take part in a variety of online and in-person events, together with students from across all Aurora Universities. 

You will be offered several international workshops that will boost you personal and professional development. Your journey as Aurora Ambassador will start at the Aurora Student Conference, where you will learn everything about Aurora, and meet peers from across the world. 

2. Student Champion
This role is created specifically for students that want to go the extra mile.  Building on what your learned during the Aurora Student Conference, you will directly work on the key Aurora topics, in addition to the joint activities provided to Aurora Student Ambassadors 

Students that amass at least 15 hours of combined participation in the joint program and the working groups will be given the certificate of Aurora Student Champion.

The application is open until December 31st, 2023. The programme of activities will take place between January and June 2024. https://forms.office.com/e/UTnFRgMkpK 

 

We are happy to inform you about the new courses on offer for the Winter Semester 2023/2024 at Universität Innsbruck. The courses are open to all Aurora partner Universities Bachelor, Master and PhD level students.

All courses are published in the Aurora Course Catalogue. 

Students can find all necessary information about the registration & application process on UIBK‘s Aurora info webpage. A special tutorial video will guide students through the registration process via the UIBK online system: Universität Innsbruck – Universität Innsbruck (uibk.ac.at).

Please note that the registration begins on August 16th, 2023 and ends on September 10th, 2023. 

 

An annual online event to celebrate nascent social entrepreneurs who build their social business models right on our SEISMIC app (https://babele.co/seismic/)

This event is open, so feel free to spread the word to your colleagues or everyone else passionate for societal change, be a part of the ceremony! Drop by, meet and inspire fellow change makers. 

As members of the Aurora community, you have a front-row seat to this inspiring occasion!
When? Nov 29, 2023 at 16:00 (CET)
Where? Click here to attend the online ceremony

Join us as we unveil the Top 3 projects in real-time and get an idea what our future Aurora graduates present how to address societal challenges. 
Since our last awards ceremony, more than 90 projects have been created. This number represents 265 people from around the globe. Among them Aurora students attending SEISMIC courses at University of Iceland, Università degli Studi di Napoli Federico II, and Copenhagen Business School, trying to make a meaningful change in our society. The projects are from all over the world, including Netherlands, Germany, Spain, Denmark, India, Peru, Morocco, Nigeria, Brazil, Philippines, United Arab Emirates, just to name a few.  These projects have reached over 17000 views. 

Get inspired! This year, we have projects addressing a wide array of social issues such as carbon footprint, fast fashion, loneliness, homelessness, decreasing bee population, micro plastic ocean waste, underprivileged youth, biodiversity, Ukrainian refugees, high rent, waste management, energy storage, mental health, gender inequality, digital gap, and A LOT more! 

For any questions regarding the Awards or the SEISMIC app, please reach out to us via:
seismic.awards@cbs.dk

 

Welcome to the Aurora 2030 kick-off event, celebrating a new phase of the Aurora university cooperation. Delegates of the nine European universities will discuss their plans to strengthen education, teaching, and research in order to combat the complex societal challenges facing us.

The new phase is titled Aurora 2030 in reference to the forward-thinking nature of the cooperation that shapes higher education in line with the UN Sustainable Development Goals. The new phase is marked by a continued co-funding by the Erasmus+ Programme of the European Union for the years 2023-2027.

The event will take place on Tuesday 21 November, at 11:00-12:30 in the University‘s Ceremonial Hall, located in the Main Building. The event is open to all and the perfect opportunity to learn more about the Aurora cooperation.

Further information and schedule here.

 

The Aurora autumn conference will take place at University of Palacký in Olomouc, Czechia. More information will be published closer to the event.

 

Prof. Lara Johannsdottir (University of Iceland) gives a lecture on Urban Mobility and Sustainable Business Models of Public and Private Companies in Iceland; 13 September at 6 PM (4 PM in Iceland). The lecture will focus on urban mobility in the capital area of Reykjavík Iceland, and public transportation to and from the international airport of Keflavík. The focus will be on three companies, one publicly owned and two privately owned, and how their views toward sustainability. 

Further information on the lecture.

The lecture venue is Gerhard-Mercator-Haus, Lotharstraße 57, 47057 Duisburg.
The lecture will also be streamed online via ZOOM.

 

Dr. Jiří Pánek, Associate Professor, Palacky University Olomouc, Czech Republic gives the lecture Mapping hazard perception: Experiments with Paper2GIS in a field course in Iceland on 13 September at 3 PM in Askja room 131.

Geospatial technologies have revolutionised hazard research, providing powerful tools to analyse and visualise geospatial data for decision-making purposes.

This presentation will focus on Paper2GIS, that proved effective for facilitating hazard research with a participatory component, as well as for simplification of data collection during geography field courses.
It is useful for researchers, practitioners, and educators wanting to incorporate low-tech geospatial technologies into their work.

 

Various summer courses are held by the Aurora universities. Students from the University of Iceland can often get a discount or have their course fees waived.  
 
Announcements of summer courses are published in Aurora's course catalogue.
 
Most courses have application deadlines in April and May. 
 
You can check the possibility of a travel grant by contacting the International Division, ask@hi.is. 

 

The Aurora collaboration enables students at University of Iceland to participate in the course Refugee Law and Rights at University of Palacký in Olomouc, Czechia, taking place from 14-24 August. The course is organised with Kharkiv University in Karazin, Ukraine. 

Up to five students can have their course fees waived. Applications for the course are open until 15 June, but students should apply as soon as possible, as applications will be processed in the order in which they are received. If the student's application is accepted, the student can apply for a travel grant at the International Division of UI. 

More information on www.refugees.upol.cz. 

The applicant must be a registered student at University of Iceland and must have paid the registration fee. Students graduating in Spring 2023 and exchange students at University of Iceland cannot apply. 

Please note that students must contact their faculties‘ International Coordinator for information on whether the courses can be counted towards their degree at the University of Iceland. 

 

The Beliefs, Events, and Values Inventory (BEVI) is an accessible, adaptable, and powerful analytic tool that can be used to measure the impact of teaching, learning and training activities on the mindsets of students and staff. Learn more about the BEVI tool and the International Beliefs and Values Institute (IBAVI).
When:      

• Basic Training: June 8 and 15, 2023 - 18.30 to 20.30, CET.
• Intermediate Training: June 29, July 6, 11 and 13, 2023 - 18.30 to 20.30, CET.
• Advanced Training: Autumn 2023 DATES to be announced

Where:

The Basic and Intermediate BEVI trainings will be held virtually, via Zoom; Advanced (TBD).

What are the requirements for Admission and Enrolment?

This workshop is open to all Aurora academic and non-academic staff and doctoral students. 
To do the intermediate or advanced level, you need to have done the previous stages. Although, this time, you can do the intermediate either after following a Basic course this year or previously, OR by reviewing the BASIC course videos before the first Intermediate session and participating in that session.

Coordinators:
John Style (Aurora & URV) | Craig Shealy (IBAVI & WWU) | Christina Raab (Universität Innsbruck)

These three workshops are FREE.  To sign up, please contact John Style (john.style@urv.cat).    

Further information. 

 

Do you want your doctoral research to reach a wide audience and make an impact on society? PhD Impact is an opportunity you should not miss!

The Graduate School is looking for 5 UI doctoral students to take part in PhD Impact, a four-day intensive master class aimed at providing doctoral candidates with the fundamental research communication skills to exert influence not only in academia but also in wider society. The UI PhD students will be joined by a select group of PhD students and science communication experts from across the Aurora Universities for the workshop.

Under the guidance of experts in scientific communication and public outreach, admitted PhD students will learn how to present their dissertation project in three minutes or less to generalist audiences through an exciting Three Minute Thesis (3MT) Competition. They will also take workshops on storytelling, social media, podcasting, marketing, science through film and much more, all in the company of a diverse group of peers.

There is no fee to participate. Lunch, coffee and snacks will be provided each day, and a reception with refreshments will conclude the master class.

Detailed information

Eligibility: 

• you must be currently enrolled in a PhD program at the University of Iceland at the time of application;
• you must still have PhD student status by the end of PhD Impact on June 8, 2023;
• you must be at an advanced point of your studies and have a relatively clear understanding of your dissertation, as demonstrated by a successful defense of your research proposal, your passing of an interim evaluation or other significant milestone.

Selection criteria:

• quality of application statement
• current point of progress towards the degree
• overall diversity of applicants

Apply here. 

Deadline to apply: 5 May, 2023 at 4 p.m.

 

Kaleidoscope Career Model and Gender Bias - 23 May 2023

Through advancing knowledge the universities contribute to the well-being and prosperity of the whole society. However it is mainly women in academia who have been widely known to experience challenges such as institutional barriers and family-related issues in developing their careers. Compared with men, women in academia have experienced extra pressures in coping with challengeable workloads and dealing with issues of work and family interaction, gender stereotypesand multiple roles in work and family domains. One of the next generation gender based career concepts, the Kaleidoscope Career Model (KCM), describes how individuals change the pattern of their career by rotating the varied aspects of their lives to arrange their relationships and roles in new ways. It was inspired by the alarming talent drain of highly trained women, largely working mothers, who choose not to aspire to the corporate executive suite in USA. It also aims to better understand women's needs in careers in order to help organizations make changes to better attract and retain female talent.

Registration and further information

Organisational Culture from a Neuroscience Perspective - 31 May 2023

Universities just like organisation can thrive withempowered and engaged employees. Gallup's meta-analysis of decades' brought the data: High engagement (meaning having a strong connection with one's work and colleagues, feeling like a real contributor, and enjoying chances to learn) leads to the most positive outcomes for both individuals and organizations. As the reward the organisation will receive higher productivity and better-quality impact. Building a culture of trust is what can make a meaningful difference. Employees in high-trust organizations seem to be more productive and energetic, cooperate better and stay longer than people working at low-trust companies.

Registration and further information

 

The Spring School on Transferable Skills is 2-day online School focused on developing skills in grant and CV writing, and how to get a faculty position. 

The participants will be given an overview of the breadth of interviews that can be expected on an interview journey and will have a space to practise interview questions. Topics such as team management, public engagement, gender equality and communication in academia and research will be discussed.

The Spring School is free and will be held online on Zoom on the 24 and 25 May 2023. The School is open to all undergraduate, master and PhD students of Unina and the Aurora network from the STEM (science, technology, engineering, and mathematics) area. The School is organized by the Internationalization Committee of the Department of Pharmacy in collaboration with the network Aurora and the University of Glasgow (United Kingdom).

To register, please send an email to internationalfarmacia@unina.it by the 20 May. A link to the event will be sent to all participants."

Further information can be found here, or you can contact the organisers, Pasquale Maffia and Valeria Costantino by email: aurora.f2@unina.it.  

 

This creative writing workshop builds on the world-renowned expertise of the University of East Anglia’s Creative Writing Department that launched the careers of many celebrated authors such as Kazuo Ishiguro. Hosted by the Department of English and American Studies of Palacký University Olomouc, the workshop will give you the opportunity to develop your creative writing skills in the charming baroque city of Olomouc.  
 
This one-week program, organized between 22 and 26 May 2023, is open to interested applicants from all Aurora Universities.  
Interested?

Check out further information.

 

Aurora Biannual, online 10 and 11 May 2023 – open seminars. 

The University of East Anglia hosts the Aurora Biannual online on 10 and 11 May. The title is "The Possibilities of International Education". A number of seminars on collaborative projects within Aurora will be offered. 

Further information and links to the seminars in the programme above. 

 

The lecture series "Societal Challenges" - target group: doctoral researchers and postdocs 27 April 2023 - Cloud Culture: Cinema Digital Modernity and the Archive 

Björn Þór Vilhjálmsson, associate professor and department chair of film studies, gives the lecture "Cloud Culture: Cinema Digital Modernity and the Archive" on Thursday, 27 April at 12.00-13.30. 

 More information on the lecture series and link to the online lecture. 

More information on the topic and the lecturer. 

 

Aurora is currently accepting applications for travel grants targeted at strengthening cooperations in teaching between Aurora universities. Applications should be geared towards preparatory work for cooperative teaching with academics at other Aurora universities, with the explicit goal of developing and teaching a joint course, open to all Aurora students. Such courses are open to students at all nine Aurora universities. 

A total of two grants will be awarded for the academic year 2024-25 for a stay of maximum five days at another Aurora university. Aurora mobility grants for staff include a repayment of real costs of flights and train trips that exceed 100 km, as well as a subsistence grant in accordance with the rules of government employees per diam during travel abroad.

These collaborations may build on preexisting courses, taught at the University of Iceland, as long as they are in line with Aurora’s emphases in teaching, see UI’s Aurora page here. 
Aurora is a partnership of research-intensive European universities that aims to advance developments in teaching and innovation to better prepare students to tackle today’s most pressing societal challenges. The purpose of these grants is to build a rich and solid teaching-community within Aurora, develop joint courses, and provide academic teachers with the opportunity to find collaborators within other Aurora universities. 

In addition to the University of Iceland, the Aurora universities are as follows: 

• Vrije Universiteit Amsterdam, Netherlands 
• University of Duisburg-Essen, Germany 
• University of Naples Federico II, Italy 
• University of Rovira i Virgili, Tarragona, Spain 
• University of Innsbruck, Austria 
• Palacký University Olomouc, Czechia 
• Copenhagen Business School, Denmark 
• Université Paris-Est Créteil, France 

Application process 

Interested academics may apply by filling out this APPLICATION FORM, where they are expected to detail the intended cooperation and course development, and how it relates to Aurora’s teaching vision, see UI’s Aurora page.  Additional documents, if any, should be submitted via email to aurora@hi.is.  

Applications may be submitted in either Icelandic or English. Application deadline is 15 June 2024. 
UI’s Aurora team will review the applications and select two candidates. The results will be sent out by the end of June 2024. 

Further information on the Aurora cooperation can be found on UI’s website. 

All questions can be directed to aurora@hi.is  

 

Social entrepreneurship education is rapidly expanding. Given its often hands-on characteristics it lends itself to experiential teaching in which students research actual social or environmental problems, identify solutions for these, and then design their own business model, business plan, or start-up idea. Educators in such courses face several challenges. They need to make sure that the student work is well aligned with their syllabus, while at the same time they want to keep a close eye on student progress allowing them to give feedback when it is most useful, and finally they want to encourage peer learning between student teams.
 
Kai Hockerts will share best practice examples and will allow participants to explore how they can implement these in their own course work. Special emphasis is put on app.seizmic.eu, a project tool designed for collaborative social business model development, which has been successfully piloted across ten Aurora universities. This coffee talk not only aims to enhance teaching strategies in social entrepreneurship but also strives to foster a community of practice among educators in this evolving field. The Aurora | European University Alliance has the exchange of knowledge, experiences and cooperation as its primary purpose. This one hour, informal ‘In conversation with’ style session is aimed at Aurora colleagues and their networks interested in the exchange on current topics of innovation promotion and technology transfer. It will include a Q&A.

This is an online webinar, preregistration is required here.
 

 

- Elevate your conversations about science!

Join us for a series of transformative Dialogue Training sessions, designed for everyone who wants to know how to create public conversations about science that matter. The University of Iceland and the Aurora Universities offer three workshops at the University of Iceland on 21-23 May under the supervision of Sem Barendse and Kaelin DeLong from Vrije University Amsterdam. They are both experienced researchers and lecturers in science communication. Each workshop is around three hours and can attend one, two or three workshops.

The workshops have been developed within the Aurora Network and are open to everyone who is interested in deepening their knowledge of science communication and the discussion on how dialogue and science communication can become a part of good scientific practice.

Dialogue between science and society is more important yet more challenging than ever. The urgent societal issues we are facing today, such as global warming, poverty, and migration, require science to open up to societal perspectives. While the need for science-society collaboration and communication is growing, polarization and contestation of scientific knowledge in society seems to be more pressing every day. It is time to rethink the science-society relationship and foster dialogue.

Dive deep into the essence of public conversations about science. Improve your understanding of the interplay between science and society shaping public communication. Learn about tools, strategies, and insights to develop an open dialogue attitude and participate in meaningful conversations about science in society.

Sem Barendse is an enthusiastic science communicator, known for his work as presenter on Dutch TV and YouTube, as well as organizing science events and festivals. His main goal: to go beyond merely translating science and facilitate an active dialogue between science and society, encouraging people to participate and have their voices heard.

As a science communicator with a background in biology and anthropology, Kaelin DeLong has a keen interest in the intersections between science, culture, language, identity, and diversity/equity/inclusion (DEI) issues. This stems largely from her personal experiences growing up in a multicultural family. Most of her recent work revolves around issues related to climate change and mental health, both of which are complex (and interrelated!) problems that require creative and interdisciplinary approaches. She enjoys incorporating storytelling, art, and humor into “traditional” scientific work, and aims to help develop more diverse, robust, and just scientific communities.

 
Workshops

Workshop 1: Science Communication Under Pressure: Scientists' Survival Guide for the Public Arena
May 21 2024
1-4 p.m.
Fenjamýri, Gróska Innovation and Business Growth Centre

Capacity: 10 - 30 people - please register using the link above.

Science communication is under pressure! We see complex societal issues, blurred boundaries, digitalization, polarization…. People in society don’t just accept everything science has to say anymore.
How do you deal with strong reactions or distrust, and where do you draw the line between science and values? Challenge your assumptions and focus on how you can position yourself in the public arena. Embrace uncertainty and disagreement as a valuable resource for change. Explore the possibility of dialogue to engage in meaningful conversations authentically and effectively.

Workshop 2: The Art of Dialogue: Improve Your Communication and Facilitation Skills
May 22 2024
1-5 p.m.
Fenjamýri, Gróska Innovation and Business Growth Centre

Capacity: 10 - 30 people - please register using the link above.

Discover what type of communication and facilitation skills are needed to engage in dialogue. With the help of playful improvisation and theatre techniques, you develop dialogue skills to enhance your conversations about science. This includes active listening, perspective-taking taking and co-creating new ideas. The first step is to learn how to participate in meaningful conversations. The next step: design and facilitate dialogue yourself!

Workshop 3: The New University: A Shared Vision for Change

May 23 2024
1-5 p.m.
Fenjamýri, Gróska Innovation and Business Growth Centre

Capacity: 10 - 30 people - please register using the link above.

In response to the complex societal challenges of the world, universities are opening up. We want to engage in open dialogue with society! But how do we make that happen? Collaboration across boundaries is becoming more important, and we need change agents to drive this transition. In other words: we must rethink the roles and relations of universities in and to society. There is a need for new processes and structures to integrate participation and dialogue in research with and for society. Join us to co-create a shared vision of the university of the future.

 

In the wake of the successful Aurora COIL Fair held online on April 23, we are excited to announce an upcoming workshop starting on May 7. Delve deeper into the foundations of COIL during this 4.5-hour virtual training session, where you'll gain invaluable insights into designing and implementing this methodology effectively.

This training isn't limited to the Sustainability theme. We extend an invitation to academics from all fields who are eager to explore COIL further.

Apply here by 30 April.

For more details, please visit our COIL Training 2024 page.
 

 

To foster tangible scientific and academic collaboration, this call aims to promote cooperation between researchers and create new or consolidate existing scientific relationships. Its vision is to build robust scientific communities among the Aurora universities and raise awareness of Aurora opportunities on a broader academic level. This call will be repeated on an annual basis for at least four years.

Aurora is a consortium of research-intensive universities deeply committed to the social impact of their activities and with a history of engagement with their communities. Through the collaboration, the universities aim to harness their academic excellence to influence societal change through research and educational activities – and ultimately to contribute to the achievement of the Sustainable Development Goals.

Three types of grants are available:

1. Collaborative Research Projects

Projects for concrete exploratory research activities by research teams with single or multiple disciplines that put forward the complementarity of competences and approaches can be granted up to €25,000.

2. Thematic Schools

This action supports the organisation of thematic summer schools focused on disciplinary training for early-stage researchers. The courses should cover a specific scientific theme for a short period of time (1-2 weeks) around a series of lectures, practical work, or conferences held by five or more experts from a minimum of three Aurora universities. Each short course can be granted up to €20,000 for operating costs or travel costs.

3. Short-term Research Stays for Early-stage Researchers

This action supports short-term mobility in a research laboratory or unit of an Aurora full-member university. In total, 10 grants will be awarded within the 9 Aurora universities.

Submission Process Further information and application forms can be found on the Aurora website.

Application deadline is 30 April 2024 at 10:00 GMT.

 

The Aurora Fellowship is a two-week programme that we were able to establish with the support of the Förderverein der Universität Duisburg-Essen (the University of Duisburg-Essen’s sponsorship association). The aim of this programme is to invite internationally renowned researchers working within the Aurora European Universities Alliance to UDE, allowing them to engage in intensive exchange with our University’s researchers, doctoral candidates, postdocs and students. For UDE, it is particularly important to involve urban communities and the wider region, which is why the Aurora fellow is to give a public lecture for interested members of the public.

The thematic focus of the fellowship is centred on the four pilot domains that we are committed to as a university together with the Aurora network:

• Sustainability and climate change
• Digital society and global citizenship
• Health and well-being
• Culture, diversity & identity

The focus is on a different one of the four pilot domains each semester. This was started off with ‘Culture, diversity & identity’ in the winter semester 2022/23. In the summer semester 2024, the focus will be on health and well-being. 

The programme: As part of this programme, the University of Duisburg-Essen invites nominations once per semester for a two-week Aurora Fellowship to the amount of up to €5000. All UDE members are eligible to submit nominations. Researchers from the ten associated Aurora universities can be nominated. Alongside accommodation and the reimbursement of travel expenses of up to €2500, candidates can receive prize money of €2500.

The Aurora Fellowship helps develop skills that enable active participation in shaping contemporary social, political, environmental, economic or healthcare change. A public lecture will also present and explain exciting findings from the most recent research on major contemporary challenges in a comprehensible way to interested members of the public.

About Aurora: The University of Duisburg-Essen is a founding member of the Aurora university network, which was established in 2016. With the European Commission’s approval of the Aurora European Universities Alliance in summer 2020, our joint activities were taken to a new level. Aurora comprises ten members from across Europe. As well as UDE, the network is made up of outstanding universities in Amsterdam, Copenhagen, Reykjavík, Tarragona, Naples, Olomouc, Paris and Innsbruck. The nine universities, with their high academic standards and international renown, are united by the principle ‘dedicated to difference’. Our shared values of social responsibility, sustainability and diversity are reflected in all areas of the Aurora universities. The goal of our alliance is to develop a new form of innovative spirit together, both in society and in research. We want to empower our university members to face up to the greatest contemporary challenges in the best way possible and to develop problem-solving approaches for these.

Nominations can be sent to aurora-alliance@uni-due.de until 15 March 2024. The following documents are required: a CV of the nominee and a justification of the nomination, including a project outline if applicable (max. one page). The Rectorate will name the chosen individual as a fellow.

 

WHAT IS THIS?
The Fair is a “speed dating” opportunity for academics and coordinators to meet other instructors interested in finding work partners from Aurora member and associate partner institutions.
 
HOW DOES IT WORK?
1.    COMPLETE this FORM by 31 March 2024.
Answering the form is also a sign of interest and a way to be updated on news about COIL and COIL trainings, so please be sure to answer it on time, even if you don’t have a clear idea of how to do a COIL. 
 
2.    A BULLETIN that will gather all the replies from the Form will be sent out to everyone who participated on April 8th. Read it through, find a potential match and feel free to email them!
 
3.    During the Fair, we will briefly explain what a COIL activity is and what the advantages of implementing this methodology are. We will also introduce Sustainability as a topic and how to approach it from a COIL perspective. Designated instructors will have 1 minute to share their experience and/or be regrouped into several break-out rooms to brainstorm with each other.

REMEMBER finding a partner can be fun! YOU are finding someone who, like you, is creating community and joy for all of your students and yourself!COIL (e. Collaborative Online International Learning) is a teaching method the Aurora universities have agreed to use to facilitate teaching collaboration aiming to increase students access to international learning. COIL strengthens students' intercultural competences and gives the underrepresented students an exchange program opportunity without traveling abroad.

 

Eco-social Synergies: Legal Challenges at the Intersection of the Environmental and Employment Realms

As the world confronts unprecedented environmental crises and grapples with the transition towards more sustainable economies, the welfare of the workforce stands intrinsically linked to the health of the planet. The urgency to comprehend, analyse, and address the legal, social, political, and economic facets of this interplay has never been more pronounced.

This year’s colloquium will foster an intellectual exchange and multidisciplinary dialogue, facilitating a nuanced understanding of the challenges and opportunities that arise at the intersection of environmental protection and labour rights (health and safety both inside and outside the workplace, right to a decent work, fight against environmental degradation through labour law, right to develop green skills, green collective bargaining, green social protection, etc.). To that end the IX Tarragona International Environmental Law Colloquium (TIEC) aims to explore the critical nexus of Legal Challenges at the Intersection of the Environmental and Employment Realms ” by focusing on three tracks/themes – legal perspectives, key stakeholders, and future challenges.

Further information found here.

 

Arman Arzani, University of Duisburg-Essen, will present his work on the Innovation Search Engine, a web-based tool for research and innovation managers to identify innovation and collaboration opportunities based on the analysis of scientific publications, patents and industry reports. This is made possible through the automated analysis of complex data from the university's own databases and external information sources. The goal is to make screening and scouting of innovations and people much more efficient.

Pre-registration required via this Zoom link.

 

An annual online event to celebrate nascent social entrepreneurs who build their social business models right on our SEISMIC app (https://babele.co/seismic/)

This event is open, so feel free to spread the word to your colleagues or everyone else passionate for societal change, be a part of the ceremony! Drop by, meet and inspire fellow change makers. 

As members of the Aurora community, you have a front-row seat to this inspiring occasion!
When? Nov 29, 2023 at 16:00 (CET)
Where? Click here to attend the online ceremony

Join us as we unveil the Top 3 projects in real-time and get an idea what our future Aurora graduates present how to address societal challenges. 
Since our last awards ceremony, more than 90 projects have been created. This number represents 265 people from around the globe. Among them Aurora students attending SEISMIC courses at University of Iceland, Università degli Studi di Napoli Federico II, and Copenhagen Business School, trying to make a meaningful change in our society. The projects are from all over the world, including Netherlands, Germany, Spain, Denmark, India, Peru, Morocco, Nigeria, Brazil, Philippines, United Arab Emirates, just to name a few.  These projects have reached over 17000 views. 

Get inspired! This year, we have projects addressing a wide array of social issues such as carbon footprint, fast fashion, loneliness, homelessness, decreasing bee population, micro plastic ocean waste, underprivileged youth, biodiversity, Ukrainian refugees, high rent, waste management, energy storage, mental health, gender inequality, digital gap, and A LOT more! 

For any questions regarding the Awards or the SEISMIC app, please reach out to us via:
seismic.awards@cbs.dk

 

Welcome to the Aurora 2030 kick-off event, celebrating a new phase of the Aurora university cooperation. Delegates of the nine European universities will discuss their plans to strengthen education, teaching, and research in order to combat the complex societal challenges facing us.

The new phase is titled Aurora 2030 in reference to the forward-thinking nature of the cooperation that shapes higher education in line with the UN Sustainable Development Goals. The new phase is marked by a continued co-funding by the Erasmus+ Programme of the European Union for the years 2023-2027.

The event will take place on Tuesday 21 November, at 11:00-12:30 in the University‘s Ceremonial Hall, located in the Main Building. The event is open to all and the perfect opportunity to learn more about the Aurora cooperation.

Further information and schedule here.

 

The Aurora autumn conference will take place at University of Palacký in Olomouc, Czechia. More information will be published closer to the event.

 

AURORA in conversation with ... takes place on Wednesday 4 October at 11 CEST where Sara Matt, University of Innsbruck, Head of the Transfer Office, and Ólöf Vigdís Ragnarsdóttir, University of Iceland, Head of the Innovation Department share their experience on how universities holdings are set up at the University of Innsbruck/Austria, and the University of Iceland, what their goals are and whether they achieved them, but also which problems the universities face(d) while setting up their holdings.

Please register.

The Aurora | European University Alliance has the exchange of knowledge, experiences and cooperation as its primary purpose. This one hour, informal ‘In conversation with’ style session, held during the Erasmus+ BIP Aurora Staff Week in Innsbruck, is aimed at Aurora colleagues and its networks interested in the exchange on current topics of innovation promotion and technology transfer. It will include a Q&A.

Aurora spjall um hlutverk eignarhaldsfélaga í eigu háskóla við að efla nýsköpun og starf sprotafyrirtækja fer fram miðvikudaginn 4. október klukkan 9. Sara Matt, framkvæmdastjóri tækniyfirfærsluskrifstofu Háskólans í Innsbruck og Ólöf Vigdís Ragnarsdóttir, deildarstjóri nýsköpunar hjá Háskóla Íslands ræða stofnun, markmið, árangur og áskoranir sem fylgja stofnun eignarhaldsfélaga háskólanna.

Skráning hér.

 

Dr. Jiří Pánek, Associate Professor, Palacky University Olomouc, Czech Republic gives the lecture Mapping hazard perception: Experiments with Paper2GIS in a field course in Iceland on 13 September at 3 PM in Askja room 131.

Geospatial technologies have revolutionised hazard research, providing powerful tools to analyse and visualise geospatial data for decision-making purposes.

This presentation will focus on Paper2GIS, that proved effective for facilitating hazard research with a participatory component, as well as for simplification of data collection during geography field courses.
It is useful for researchers, practitioners, and educators wanting to incorporate low-tech geospatial technologies into their work.

 

Prof. Lara Johannsdottir (University of Iceland) gives a lecture on Urban Mobility and Sustainable Business Models of Public and Private Companies in Iceland; 12 September at 6 PM (4 PM in Iceland). The lecture will focus on urban mobility in the capital area of Reykjavík Iceland, and public transportation to and from the international airport of Keflavík. The focus will be on three companies, one publicly owned and two privately owned, and how their views toward sustainability. 

Further information on the lecture.

The lecture venue is Gerhard-Mercator-Haus, Lotharstraße 57, 47057 Duisburg.
The lecture will also be streamed online via ZOOM.

 

Workshop for Study Program Managers - LOUIS transversal Competences will be held at the University of Iceland - 31 August between 9 and 11.

Registration

Markmið vinnustofunnar

Að útskýra LOUIS sem verkfæri og hvernig hægt er að beita því í skipulagi námsleiða og kennslu. Hvernig hægt er að beita LOUIS við endurskoðun námskeiða, námsbrauta og námskeiðslýsinga. Hvernig LOUIS nýtist til efla almenna hæfni nemenda þvert á fræðigreinar.

Fyrir hverja

Vinnustofan er ætluð öllum þeim sem bera ábyrgð á gæði náms og kennslu og þeim sem koma að endurskoðun námskeiða og námsbrauta: kennslustjórar, kennsluþróunarstjórar, námsbrautaformenn og deildarforsetar.

Skráning og ítarlegri upplýsingar.

 

Workshop for Academic Teachers – LOUIS, transversal Student Competences will be held at the University of Iceland on 1 September between 11 and 13.

Registration

Markmið vinnustofunnar

Að leiðbeina kennurum hvernig hægt er að nýta LOUIS í kennslu og við endurskoðun námskeiðslýsinga. Einnig verður sýnt fram á hvernig almenn hæfniviðmið eru innleidd inn í námskeið og námsbrautir og hvernig LOUIS getur markvisst aukið almenna hæfni nemenda.

Fyrir hverja

Vinnustofan er sérstaklega ætluð kennurum, kennslustjórum og kennsluþróunarstjórum. Þátttakendur munu skoða hæfniviðmið í námskeiðum sínum og bera saman við Louis hæfniviðmið.

Skráning og ítarlegir upplýsingar.

 

The Beliefs, Events, and Values Inventory (BEVI) is an accessible, adaptable, and powerful analytic tool that can be used to measure the impact of teaching, learning and training activities on the mindsets of students and staff. Learn more about the BEVI tool and the International Beliefs and Values Institute (IBAVI).
When:      

• Basic Training: June 8 and 15, 2023 - 18.30 to 20.30, CET.
• Intermediate Training: June 29, July 6, 11 and 13, 2023 - 18.30 to 20.30, CET.
• Advanced Training: Autumn 2023 DATES to be announced

Where:

The Basic and Intermediate BEVI trainings will be held virtually, via Zoom; Advanced (TBD).

What are the requirements for Admission and Enrolment?

This workshop is open to all Aurora academic and non-academic staff and doctoral students. 
To do the intermediate or advanced level, you need to have done the previous stages. Although, this time, you can do the intermediate either after following a Basic course this year or previously, OR by reviewing the BASIC course videos before the first Intermediate session and participating in that session.

Coordinators:
John Style (Aurora & URV) | Craig Shealy (IBAVI & WWU) | Christina Raab (Universität Innsbruck)

These three workshops are FREE.  To sign up, please contact John Style (john.style@urv.cat).    

Further information. 
 

 

Aurora Biannual, online 10 and 11 May 2023 – open seminars. 

The University of East Anglia hosts the Aurora Biannual online on 10 and 11 May. The title is "The Possibilities of International Education". A number of seminars on collaborative projects within Aurora will be offered. 

Further information and links to the seminars in the programme above. 

 The lecture is the first public lecture offered by the Aurora Fellowship at the University of Duisburg-Essen. 

Prof. Salvador A. Clavé from the Universitat Rovira i Virgili will give his lecture on the topic of "The Challenge of the Sustainability Transition in the Attractions and Theme Park Industry" on 2 May at 4:30 pm in the Glaspavilion at Campus Essen. A stream will also be set up and will be available online here. 

For more information on the event and the Aurora Fellow, please see the event flyer attached. 

Teaching discount for the development of Aurora courses - academic year 2023-2024. The application deadline is May 2, 2023. 

In the academic year 2023-2024, the Education Fund focuses on international cooperation, e.g. through the Aurora collaboration network, students' employability, as well as other focus areas that are in line with HÍ policy, HÍ26. 

Two funding options are available: 

• Teachers can apply for a 280 hours teaching discount. 
• Teachers can apply for a 100-hour teaching discount and a travel grant.

Further information on the funding options are available at the University's intraweb. 

Applications must be submitted to the Academic Affairs Committee of the University Council by Tuesday, May 2, 2023. Margrét Ludwig ml@hi.is provides detailed information.