NEWS

Discover how universities and NGOs can team up to drive real progress toward the Sustainable Development Goals (SDGs). Learn from practical examples, gain tools, and explore successful collaborations that make a difference.

✨ What to Expect?

• 🌍 Discover the #edu4sdgs project and its impact on education for sustainability - presented by Dorota Piotrowska (TUL professor), Project Coordinator.
• 🎙️ Insights from Catarina Alves, Asociación Bienestar y Desarrollo (ABD) - an overview of the key role of the third sector in achieving the SDGs.
• 📚 Case Study 1: “The UAB and the SDGs”
  Presented by Daniel Franco, professor at the Universitat Autònoma de Barcelona (UAB), illustrating the university’s commitment and strategic approach to the Sustainable Development Goals.
• 🤝 Case Study 2: “The collaboration between the UAB and the ABD”
  Presented by Myra Ronzoni, highlighting a successful partnership model between academia and the third sector. 

This event is the first webinar in a new series organised within the #edu4sdgs project.
The series aims to share good practices, resources, and cooperation strategies that strengthen the role of higher education institutions in contributing to the SDGs.

📝 Register now: REGISTRATION FORM 
📅 Date: 2 December 2025
⏰ Time: 10:00–11:00 CET

📢 Language: English
🌐 More info about the project: edu4sdgs.eu

Don’t miss it – join the conversation and explore how academia and civil society can change the world together! 🌍

Discover the project that earned the title “EU Project of the Year” in the ACEEU Triple E Awards 2025!

For three years, together with partners across Europe, we’ve been developing tools to foster emotional intelligence, empathy, and inclusion in academic environments. On December 5, 2025, at the ICC headquarters, we’ll showcase the results of our work.

During the conference you will:
✔ Explore innovative strategies to combat discrimination
✔ Take part in inspiring panels and hands-on workshops
✔ Connect with experts and change-makers

Plus:
🎲 Experience the EQUNI Board Game, where participants team up to defeat the “Discrimination Monster” lurking on campus. The most creative ideas for using the game to promote inclusivity will win a copy of the game!

📌 Seats are limited – first come, first served.
📝 Registration has been extended until December 4th: Fill out the form

Event details and the full program are in the attached leaflet.

For questions, contact the International Educational Projects and Rankings Division at ICC: tel. +48 42 638 38 71, +48 42 638 38 11, e-mail: eduprojects@info.p.lodz.pl

Learn more about the project: https://equni.eu

Participate in this unique online event organized by the European Consortium of Innovative Universities! It's a great opportunity to exchange ideas, build a strong project consortium, and jointly apply for funding under the upcoming 2026 call for proposals.

During the event, participants will have the opportunity to join nine international project consortia that are currently looking for partners to collaborate in various thematic areas.

Don’t miss the chance to become part of innovative ECIU initiatives and gain valuable experience in implementing international projects!

Please complete the registration form by 16 November.
The meeting link will be sent prior to the event.

📅 Date: 18 November 2025

🕒 Time: 10:30–13:00 CET

If you have any questions, please contact the International Educational Projects and Rankings Division at ICC: tel. +48 42 638 38 73, +48 42 638 38 76.

Event Programme

The training was designed for both academic and administrative staff. It enabled participants to deepen their understanding of cultural differences, develop practical intercultural communication skills, and prepare for working in an international academic environment.

The programme covered a wide range of topics, including intercultural communication, prejudice and stereotypes, as well as the challenges and opportunities of working in a multicultural context. Participants also took part in a variety of practical activities that encouraged reflection and the exchange of experiences.

The initiative attracted great interest and was met with very positive feedback, reflecting the growing awareness of the importance of openness and the need for a better understanding of cultural diversity within the academic community.

Dear Students,

our Partner University in Wien is looking for trainees - Offer

This traineeship can be supported by Erasmus+ programme.

In this year’s edition, Lodz University of Technology confirmed its stable position among institutions with strong research output and significant scientific impact, ranking 896th globally and 274th in Europe.

The ranking includes over 2,800 universities worldwide. The top positions were claimed by Harvard University (USA) and two leading Chinese institutions: Shanghai Jiao Tong University and Zhejiang University. Among Polish universities, the highest-ranked were: AGH University of Science and Technology in Krakow (294th), Jagiellonian University (306th), and University of Warsaw (503rd).

The Leiden Ranking is based on data from the open bibliometric database OpenAlex, ensuring greater transparency and accessibility of research performance analysis. It focuses exclusively on publication-related indicators, evaluating universities according to: number of publications (P), citation impact (PP(top 1%, 5%, 10%, 50%)), international collaboration (IC) and open access publications (OA).

More information

As part of the project, partner institutions continue to organize interactive game sessions tailored to their local communities - students, staff, and other stakeholders. Each session invites participants to explore the realities of discrimination, inclusion, and quality culture in higher education through the immersive experience of the EQUNI Game.

At Lodz University of Technology, the session held on October 13th 2025 brought together international and local students for a bold, collaborative journey. They stepped into a fictional scenario where a silent force - the Monster of Discrimination - was creeping through campus life. But this wasn’t a story about fear. It was a story about taking action.

Participants assumed real-life roles, faced dilemmas, made decisions, and worked together to shape a more inclusive university environment. They explored emotional intelligence, empathy, and the power of teamwork. They learned how to respond to discrimination - whether as victims, witnesses, or even unintentional perpetrators.

The session created a safe space to reflect, engage, and grow. It sparked meaningful conversations and empowered students to become agents of change.

The event was organized as part of the 2025 Erasmus+ Days - a unique opportunity to promote the multitude of benefits that result from the EU programme.

This was just one of many EQUNI Game sessions held by the project partners - each unique, each impactful, each contributing to a shared vision of a more inclusive and quality-driven higher education.

For more stories from our EQUNI journey, please visit the website: https://www.equni.eu 

If you are interested in hosting an event at your unit or institution as part of the EQUNI project - whether to play the game or to learn more about the project and explore our good practices in implementation - please contact us at eduprojects@info.p.lodz.pl.
We would be happy to organize an event tailored to your needs!

The event brought together over 60 students and staff from partner universities: University of Algarve, University of Groningen, and Lodz University of Technology. 🌍

During the Summer School, participants followed five learning pathways focused on topics such as 💡 emotional intelligence, 🚫 combating discrimination, ⚖️ equality, and 🤝 building an inclusive academic environment. The sessions were held as interactive workshops, fostering exchange of experiences and reflection.

On the very first day, participants explored our EQUNI board game 🎲, introducing them to themes of equality and cooperation. An accompanying training on responding to discrimination helped participants understand the importance of the active bystander – someone who does not remain indifferent to undesirable behaviours.

Working in international groups became an inspiring space for co-creating solutions for a more equitable and open academic environment. Each team was tasked with developing a solution to a selected discriminatory situation. The results included short 🎥 films and 🖼️ posters – all highly creative and inspiring. Their creators demonstrated that diversity can be a source of strength, not a barrier. 💪

The EQUNI Summer School was not only an intensive learning experience 📚, but above all, a gathering of people with shared values, open minds, and social awareness 💖. Each day brought new experiences, and activities on mindfulness, empathy, and communication helped participants better understand themselves and others, as well as find their own voice in building a more inclusive academic world 🌟.

For more information about the EQUNI project and its initiatives, visit:
👉 www.equni.eu

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. 

More information