Building the European university of the future
Insights from the Student Council meeting 2025 in Gliwice
From 8 to 12 September 2025, the EURECA-PRO Student Council gathered at the Silesian University of Technology in Gliwice, Poland. the meeting was not only about discussions and planning, it was about shaping students’ roles in Europe’s future universities.
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During the meeting, the students discussed ways to further strengthen student participation within the alliance and also addressed upcoming changes within the council. The current chair, Ihtesham Ud Din, who is completing his PhD at Hasselt University, is now preparing to hand over the chairmanship, marking the beginning of a transition period. “Each Chair and Vice Chair serves for one year only, so that as many students as possible get the chance to lead,” he explained. He sees his role shifting from leadership to mentorship: “I want to continue supporting EURECA-PRO as an engaged alumnus. My advice to the next generation is to be bold, collaborative, and persistent. Student voices are essential to ensure our European University remains truly student-centred.”
Key Recommendations
Based on their discussions about strengthening the student council in the future, the students formulated four key recommendations, which will be forwarded to and discussed with the project management team:
- Establishing local student co-creation groups at every partner university.
- Launching an international “Eurecathon” to foster innovation around sustainability challenges.
- Strengthening industry collaboration to bridge the gap between academia and the job market.
- Developing unified, sustainable EURECA-PRO merchandise to create a stronger shared identity.
Ihtesham Ud Din
For Ihtesham, the meeting was a milestone:
- “We’ve been planning such a gathering for nearly two years,” he explained. “This time we managed to combine productive sessions with a training on life cycle assessment, which aligns perfectly with EURECA-PRO’s mission of responsible consumption and production.”
Building friendships
However, the week was not only dedicated to meetings but also to personal growth and intercultural exchange, as well as building friendships across borders.
For newcomer Juan, a PhD researcher in battery materials at UHasselt, Gliwice marked his first significant in-person experience with the Student Council.
“The highlight for me was simply having us all together,” he said. “Brainstorming, planning, and motivating each other in person gave so much energy. We left with concrete projects for the future.”
Discovering Gliwice and Polish Traditions
The week in Gliwice went far beyond meetings and training sessions. The local organisers prepared a cultural programme that gave students the chance to explore the city and its heritage.
“For us, it was important to experience Poland outside the university setting,” Juan explained. “Learning about Silesian history and everyday life in Gliwice gave us a deeper appreciation of Europe’s diversity.”
Experiences
One of the highlights was an evening focused on Polish traditions, where students took part in local customs through music, dance, and food. “It was a wonderful way to connect,” Ihtesham reflected.
“Experiences like these strengthen our community and remind us that EURECA-PRO is also about valuing our differences.”
