NEWS

The award ceremony took place at the historic Lobkowicz Palace in Prague, where Dr. Dorota Piotrowska, the project coordinator, accepted the award on behalf of the entire international consortium.

This recognition celebrates EQUNI’s innovative and impactful work in promoting emotional intelligence, anti-discrimination, and inclusive practices across European universities. Through a rich blend of activities - including training programs and summer schools - EQUNI empowers students and staff to build safer, more empathetic academic communities.

A key innovation of the project is the introduction of micro-credentials, which formally recognize learning outcomes achieved through these diverse educational opportunities. These credentials provide students and university staff with meaningful acknowledgment of their personal growth and acquired competencies.

Among the project’s signature tools is the EQUNI Game, a collaborative board game that challenges players to confront the “Monster of Discrimination” through teamwork, reflection, and real-life decision-making.

We extend our heartfelt thanks to all project partners and participants for their dedication and vision. This award is a testament to what we can achieve together in advancing equality and inclusion in academia.

🔗 Learn more about the project: https://equni.eu 
🔗 Meet the winners: https://2025.triple-e-awards.com/finalists/region/2025global

This year’s edition of the ranking includes 2,191 universities from 115 countries, which is 99 more than last year. For the first time, universities from Senegal, Libya, and Yemen were included in the ranking.

At the top of the global list, for the tenth consecutive year, is the University of Oxford (United Kingdom). The podium is completed by two American universities – the Massachusetts Institute of Technology (MIT) and Princeton University. The top ten is dominated by institutions from the United Kingdom and the United States, although the presence of rapidly developing Asian universities, particularly from China, is becoming increasingly visible.

In the THE World University Rankings 2026, the number of Polish universities included increased to 42 (compared to 40 in the previous year). The Wroclaw Medical University and the Jagiellonian University achieved the highest positions (in the 501–600 band), followed by the University of Warsaw (601–800). Lodz University of Technology ranked 23rd among Polish universities and was placed in the 1500+ range worldwide.

The Times Higher Education World University Rankings 2026 ranking is based on the WUR 3.0 methodology, with the evaluation criteria grouped into five areas - teaching, research environment, research quality,  industry, and international outlook. 

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Universidade da Coruña opens the Call for Course Proposals for The International Summer School 2026 with the conditions described here.

The International Summer School 2026 will be held in A Coruña. Courses shall be entirely taught in English. Each intensive course shall have a total teaching load of 42 hours divided into two weeks (from 13th to 24th July, 2026) and will have an academic value of 6 ECTS credits.

Visiting teachers shall apply by filling in the following Course Proposal Form (DEADLINE: 20th October 2025).

Thanks to budget savings, we are now able to fund up to 4–5 additional mobilities, available exclusively for PhD students and academic teachers from institutions abroad (incoming mobilities only).

Whether you're aiming to advance your research, build international academic networks, or experience Polish academic life, this is your opportunity to join us in Łódź!

📅 Mobility period:

October 27 – December 31, 2025

🌐 Eligible applicants:

PhD students and academic teachers from any country worldwide, except the Russian Federation

💰 Funding includes:

• Travel costs: PLN 1,000–6,500
• Subsistence & accommodation: PLN 1,500–9,000
• Scholarship: PLN 625–7,500

Please note: the average budget per participant is approx. PLN 10,000, covering all costs.

✅ How to apply:

Step 1: Read the Regulations for participation in the project, including the appendixes:

• List of available mobilities
• Travel, subsistence and accommodation costs and amount of scholarships
• Recruitment schedule for the fifth call
• Mobility Funding Application of a Doctoral Student
• Mobility Funding Application of an Academic Teacher
• Application Assessment Form for a Doctoral Student
• Application Assessment Form for an Academic Teacher
• Data form for the Agreement
• Agreement template
• Appendix 1 to the Agreement – Certificate template
• Appendix 2 to the Agreement – Financial settlement of the mobility
• Project Participant form
• Competency Assessment Form of the Project Participant

Step 2: Plan your mobility
Step 3: Complete the Application Form (linked above)
Step 4: Send your full application package to:
📧 promobility-incoming@info.p.lodz.pl 

⏳ Deadline:

Applications are reviewed on an ongoing basis and funding is awarded first-come, first-served — so don’t wait too long!

The PROM Programme is implemented by Lodz University of Technology under the agreement with the National Agency for Academic Exchange and is financed from the European Union funds as part of the NAWA project entitled “Short-term academic exchange as a way to improve the quality of education at institutions of higher education and science” with the number FERS.01.05-IP.08-0218/23.

🏛️ September 11 – ACEEU Forum
The consortium participated in the ACEEU Forum, where discussions focused on the role of universities in fostering civic engagement and entrepreneurial mindsets. The event provided valuable inspiration for the project’s current and future activities.

🤝 September 12 – Project Meeting
The second day was dedicated to the internal consortium meeting, where partners discussed key developments across all work packages. Topics included the development of a practical guide for universities on forward-looking civic engagement, the structure and sustainability of the ACE Alliance, as well as the structure of the ACE platform, which is planned to be launched next year.

🔗 For more information, visit the project website: https://acecommunity.eu

✅ How to vote:

1. Register the vote with your email at https://2025.triple-e-awards.com/finalist/id/1211
2. Like 👍 and share 🔁 our posts about the awards on social media (Facebook, Instagram, Linkedin)
3. Spread the word and help us shine! ✨

Why EQUNI?
Because we believe that universities should be places of equality, inclusion and respect. 
That is why our mission is to strengthen students’ Emotional Intelligence to prevent discrimination and ensure equal opportunities across European campuses. 🎓✨

Our partners in the project: University of Groningen (the Netherlands), University of Algarve (Portugal), SumFuo (France), Rafał Nykiel Coaching (Poland). 

Every vote counts — thank you for being part of our journey! 🙌

The voting will be closed on Monday, 8 September 17:00 CEST.

How about an unforgettable learning experience in Portugal?

Lodz University of Technology invites its students to participate in a prestigious Summer School organised in Faro, in the heart of the picturesque Algarve region.

Together with students from the Netherlands (University of Groningen) and Portugal (University of Algarve), you will have the opportunity to participate in intensive workshops and discussions that will focus on developing emotional intelligence and countering all forms of discrimination in higher education.

Date: 6 – 10 October 2025 

Place: Faro, Portugal

What will you gain?

• acquire new knowledge and skills
• make international friends and exchange experiences with participants from other countries
• learn to recognise emotions and model your thinking and acting accordingly
• develop empathy, i.e. the ability to recognise and empathise with the emotions of others
• learn about discrimination and how to consciously avoid prejudice, be open to diversity, express support for stigmatised people and skilfully confront negative attitudes in our environment.

How to apply?

1. Read the rules of participation: The regulations are available to download [link to regulations]. Please read the document carefully before submitting your application.
2. Fill out the application form [link to form]: Before completing the form, make sure you have read the regulations and meet the formal criteria to participate in the Summer School.
3. Deadline for applications: Do not forget to submit your application by July 25th. You can email the form to eduprojects@info.p.lodz.pl
4. Remember that the number of participants is limited, so the sooner you apply, the more chance you have of taking part.

Interested? Do not miss out on an opportunity that could change the way you think and approach university life!

Summer School poster

See you in Faro!

The summer school is organised within the framework of the Erasmus+ project entitled „Implementation of effective practices for the development of students' emotional intelligence with particular emphasis on anti-discrimination activities at European universities”.

More information about the project can be found at https://equni.eu/

The workshops mark another important step in the implementation of the “ACE - Alliance for Community Engagement in European Higher Education” project carried out within Erasmus+ Programme. The workshops brought together representatives of all project partners to explore the future of community engagement in higher education. 

Building on the outcomes of earlier project activities, ACE Horizon Scanning and Stakeholder Dialogues, the workshops aimed to synthesize insights and identify critical interdependencies shaping community engagement practices across Europe. By combining evidence, experiences, and perspectives gathered so far, participants engaged in in-depth discussions to co-create a comprehensive vision for socially responsible and inclusive university-community collaboration.

The workshops provided a participatory space to assess potential drivers, challenges, and opportunities that could influence the effectiveness and sustainability of engagement efforts in the coming years. Participants examined key factors such as policy developments, institutional strategies, resource allocation, and evolving societal needs. Special attention was given to how these elements interact and impact one another in complex and dynamic environments.

A key objective of the Cross-Impact Workshops was to foster a shared understanding of the systemic conditions necessary for successful engagement. Discussions centred around what higher education institutions (HEIs) need to anticipate, prepare for, and prioritize in order to strengthen their role as socially engaged institutions.

Insights generated during the workshops will support the development of the European University Community Engagement Guide, which will offer guidance and inspiration to universities committed to fostering a culture of engagement, collaboration, and social responsibility within the higher education sector.

This year, 2,526 universities from 130 countries submitted entries to the ranking, with 2,318 ultimately classified. For the fourth consecutive year, Western Sydney University (Australia) topped the global list.

As in the previous edition, 25 Polish universities were included in the final ranking. The highest-ranked ones were Gdańsk University of Technology and University of Gdańsk, both placed between 301 and 400. TUL was ranked among the TOP 9 universities in Poland. The university achieved its highest score in SDG 8: Decent Work and Economic Growth, placing within the 201–300 range, jointly securing second place nationally alongside Wrocław University of Environmental and Life Sciences.

Additionally, TUL was recognized in several other Sustainable Development Goals (SDGs), including: SDG 3: Good Health and Well-being, SDG 5: Gender Equality, SDG 9: Industry, Innovation and Infrastructure, SDG 10: Reduced Inequalities, SDG 17: Partnerships for the Goals.

THE Impact Rankings consider the contribution of HEIs to the 17 United Nations Sustainable Development Goals (SDGs), which form the core of the UN 2030 Agenda for Sustainable Development. By performing strongly across a range of SDGs, participating universities demonstrate their commitment to addressing some of the world's most pressing challenges, from environmental sustainability and social inclusion to economic growth and global partnerships.

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For yet another year, Massachusetts Institute of Technology (MIT) has been ranked as the best university in the world, with Imperial College London and Stanford University in the world TOP3. 

Twenty Polish HEIs were ranked. The national top three are: University of Warsaw, Jagiellonian University, and Warsaw University of Technology. Lodz University of Technology (TUL) was ranked within the 1001–1200 range. 

Globally, TUL received its highest score in the Faculty Student Ratio indicator, placing 306th in the world, with an improvement of 29 positions compared to last year. This indicator reflects the number of students per academic staff, highlighting the university's capacity for student support and teaching quality.

Nationally, TUL achieved its best result in the Citations per Faculty indicator, securing 2nd place in Poland. This metric assesses the impact and visibility of research conducted at the university, calculated as the number of citations of the institution’s scientific publications divided by the number of academic staff.

The methodology of QS ranking considers indicators grouped into five broad categories: research, employability, learning experience, global engagement (internationalization), and sustainability.

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