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“Addressing Future Challenges – Delivering Sustainable Societal Transformation Today.”

The mission of the Applied, Connected, Entrepreneurial and Engaged European University (ACE²-EU) is to equip our students, staff, researchers, and external stakeholders with the knowledge, skills, and competencies needed to collectively address future challenges.
Addressing these challenges, including the twin digital and green transitions and socio-economic issues, will deliver sustainable societal transformation, benefiting not only our regions and the EU, but society in general.

To fulfil our mission, we employ our distinctive ACE²-EU approach, collaborating with external stakeholders to create joint learning opportunities and activities that engage all mission areas of our universities. We embrace challenge-based and work-based methodologies in partnership with external stakeholders to develop flexible and innovative educational, research, innovation, and service to society learning opportunities. These are crafted by multidisciplinary European knowledge creation teams comprising students, staff, researchers, and stakeholders.

Our European inter-university campus is dedicated to a common vision and shared values, incorporating an inclusive student-centred joint governance and management structure, and a shared pool of resources that includes staff and operational units.

Key operational units and systems include our: APP Factory which develops joint student-centred, challenge-based learning opportunities, including short programmes and full degrees; ARIES Incubator focused on stimulating and creating joint research & innovation activities, nurturing entrepreneurship, and supporting the development of our research community; SPACE Centre which co-creates joint service to society activities and promotes cultural awareness; and our e-Campus digital platform. In living our mission, we will foster and promote the core European Union values and objectives, including multiculturalism and multilingualism, thereby strengthening European identity across our alliance.

ACE²-EU is dedicated to advancing an ambitious and visionary university alliance emphasizing excellence, innovation, and inclusion in higher education through active and applied learning approaches. Our strategic alliance partnership is deeply committed to fostering an entrepreneurial mindset and societal engagement, enhancing collaboration and co-creation across our partner institutions and stakeholders. The ACE²-EU mission, vision and long-term joint strategy is to establish a European higher education inter-university campus, which has the potential to elevate the combined capacity of ACE²-EU member institutions to provide high-quality, innovative, and impactful joint education, research, innovation, and service to society activities focused on addressing future challenges. Our mission and vision are underpinned by shared strategic objectives aligned with the core European values of democracy, freedom, rule of law, equality, human rights and human dignity, solidarity and the pursuit of peace and justice in Europe and the world. All the members of ACE²-EU are committed to the core European values. These guiding values and objectives embody the common vision of the nine partners of the ACE²-EU Alliance, creating a responsive and sustainable educational ecosystem that addresses current and future challenges and contributes to sustainable societal transformation. Aside from adopting the existing core European Values to guide our collaborative efforts, we have also prioritised the following as a set of common values and principles to underpin our collaborative endeavours.

I. Transnational Cooperation

We forge connections across Europe and beyond, creating a network of collaboration that transcends borders. At ACE²-EU, we are committed to strengthening cooperation across Europe and beyond, through a robust European university alliance that champions cultural, scientific, training, and research advancements. Transnational cooperation is particularly important to us because we are aware that global issues cannot be solved at the national level, and that the free movement of knowledge, ideas and competencies is crucial to innovation, technological and medical advances, for instance. Furthermore, transnational cooperation encourages open-mindedness and facilitates comprehensive approaches and ideas, thanks to the variety of perspectives given by distinct national and cultural backgrounds and experiences.

We operate on an open-access basis, ensuring that our diverse body of students, faculty staff, researchers, society, business, and industry stakeholders freely share knowledge and expertise. Our commitment to openness and adaptability is the driving force behind our continuous efforts to innovate and create impact while forging a durable alliance.

We embody these values and principles by adopting a challenge-based, interdisciplinary approach to our education, research, innovation, and service to society programmes. The ACE²-EU inter- university campus will act as a central hub for advancing both inter-institutional mobility and interdisciplinary collaboration, facilitating common operational units such as the APP-Factory, the ARIES-Incubator, and our SPACE-Centre.

II. Creativity, Co-creation & Innovation

We collaborate to co-create impactful, practical solutions for a sustainable future.
We are committed to the advancement of innovative educational and instructional strategies through leveraging the collective strengths, diverse perspectives, and combined expertise of our partners and stakeholders. Our interdisciplinary European Knowledge Creation Teams bring together the expertise of educators, researchers, students, and external stakeholders to collaboratively develop future-oriented education, research, innovation, and service-to-society initiatives. These efforts are essential in addressing future challenges and in fostering collaborative learning opportunities within our expansive knowledge network. We will collectively and proactively address and mitigate emerging challenges experienced by our joint operational units to ensure the long-term durability and sustainability of the alliance.

III. Inclusiveness & equality

We embrace diversity and promote working, learning and research cultures that are inclusive, safe, and welcoming. ACE²-EU is committed to ensuring equitable access to the highest possible quality of education and research for all individuals, transcending traditional barriers associated with gender, age, disability, or cultural, social, geographical, and economic backgrounds. We promote gender equity, actively seeking to understand and address the distinct needs and potential dynamics of power among genders, striving to mitigate disparities and foster an environment of equality. ACE²-EU is furthermore committed to reducing the potential adverse impacts of the digital gap and digital exclusion. By promoting new digital applications, new educational technology and pedagogy, and fostering the necessary skills to adopt these applications and technologies through the ACE²-EU inter-university campus, the alliance will contribute to the digital transformation of learning spaces and lifelong learning.

IV. Human Rights & Dignity

We are dedicated to developing new pathways for humanity to flourish.
ACE²-EU endeavours to create an environment where everyone’s dignity and human rights are protected. We are committed to the holistic development of all those engaged in administrative, educational and research endeavours within our alliance and support their well-being. We acknowledge and embrace diverse identities and provide robust support to ensure each member of our community feels valued, achieves their full potential, and engages consciously and constructively with the wider community.
This approach is manifested in the creation of diverse academic opportunities that facilitate students’ acquisition of new competencies, nurture empathy and self-assurance, and encourage proactive engagement in their educational and professional trajectories. This enriches the educational landscape of the alliance, enhancing the diversity of our pedagogical practices, and serving as a cornerstone for excellence within our partner institutions.

V. Solidarity & Social Commitment

We strengthen bonds with our communities. ACE²-EU is committed to helping solve the complex problems of modern society. This commitment is evident in the alliance’s dedication to the principles of equality, democratic ethos, inclusivity, and efforts to foster a culture of dialogue. This includes a commitment to education, research, innovation, and service to society that has a real impact and generates tangible benefits in our regions, our countries, in Europe and across the world. In alignment with these principles, ACE²-EU is dedicated to building enduring, long-term, sustainable, and mutually beneficial relationships within the broader society, as exemplified by initiatives such as the Applied Research and Innovation Centres (ARCs), Social Incubators, and the ACE²-EU SPACE Centre which provides creative service to society activities and cultural awareness initiatives.

VI. Sustainability and environmental stewardship

We embrace the holistic interconnection of ecological, social, and economic systems.

Across our collaborative inter-university campus and extended regions of our ACE²-EU alliance, we actively contribute to creating a balance that supports human well-being alongside planetary health. This commitment is in alignment with our overarching mission to address future challenges and catalyze sustainable societal transformation.

In our pursuit of this mission, ACE²-EU integrates these principles into the core of our institutional framework, our policies, practices, and pedagogical approach. Our joint strategies reflect a series of targeted initiatives

1. i)  We champion and promote Green Campus Practices, such as energy-efficient infrastructures, fostering waste minimisation and recycling, advocating for sustainable transportation and mobility solutions, and nurturing the development of green spaces;
2. ii)  Sustainability thinking is woven into the fabric of our academic curricula, ensuring each partner institution and joint programmes delivered by ACE²-EU reflects this commitment;

iii)  We actively promote research activities aimed at exploring solutions for environmental issues, including but not limited to climate change mitigation and responsible and sustainable resource management;

1. iv)  Our engagement with local communities and the broader community is designed to advance sustainable practices, support environmental conservation efforts, and raise public awareness about the imperative of environmental stewardship;
2. v)  Furthermore, ACE²-EU serves as a nexus for international collaboration and sharing of best practices in environmental sustainability.

ACE²-EU aims to become a leader, not only in education, research, innovation and service to society but also as a change agent for positive environmental and societal transformation.

VII. Responsibility & Transparency

We recognise that our actions have a profound impact on the lives of individuals and the environment around us. ACE²-EU operates with full transparency and assumes accountability for our decisions, strategies and actions. This dual commitment to openness and responsibility informs our actions and ensures our accountability to all participating member universities, their dedicated staff and students, our external stakeholders, and the broader European Union.

We embody these core values in our operational initiatives and all processes, guaranteeing that they are fair, accessible, and transparent, particularly concerning student and staff recruitment and overall alliance management. The ACE²-EU alliance epitomises the integrity of scientific inquiry, adhering to the highest academic and professional standards and ethical guidelines in all its academic and research-related activities. Through these practices, ACE²-EU promotes the principles of open science, advancing scientific knowledge for the greater societal good.

ACE²-EU Management Structure

• ACE²-EU Governing Authority (GA), which is the main governing, body of ACE²-EU, and whose membership consists of the Presidents of each member of the alliance, the General Manager, the Strategy Advisor/Coordinator, and representation from key stakeholder groups including students, staff, and associated partner advisory boards. The GA will meet annually in a plenary session at the ACE²-EU Annual Assembly (AA) meetings, and otherwise, meet virtually to address urgent or supplementary issues.
• ACE²-EU Rectors and Presidents Steering Group (RPSG), which decides on the approach to the strategic development of ACE²-EU and the approach to the resolution of development challenges. The ACE²-EU RPSG membership will be composed of the Presidents of each member of the Alliance, the General Manager, the Strategy Advisor/Coordinator and nominated Vice-Rectors/Vice-Presidents of each member of the Alliance. The RPSG will meet annually face-to-face at the ACE²-EU Annual Assembly meetings and virtually regularly during the project. The management structure is additionally supported by three advisory boards (details presented in the WP1 description): the ACE²-EU Student Advisory Board (SAB), the ACE²-EU Staff Advisory Board (SFAB) and the ACE²-EU External Stakeholder Advisory Board (ESAB).

ACE²-EU Work Packages form the structured foundation of our initiative, translating our mission into coordinated action.

Each Work Package (WP) focuses on a specific area of activity that supports innovation, sustainability, and collaboration across Europe.

Together, they ensure that ACE2-EU delivers meaningful impact, measurable results, and long-term value for our partners and communities.

ACE²-EU Applied Programmes and Pedagogy Factory (APP Factory), lies at the heart of the educational mission of the ACE²-EU Alliance. Its overarching goal is to create a flexible, inclusive, and innovation-driven learning ecosystem by establishing a shared operational infrastructure that fosters physical, blended, and virtual mobility, as well as the co-development of joint learning opportunities and pedagogical upskilling of academic staff. The development and delivery of these joint programmes take place in close partnership with external stakeholders, focusing on solving real-world challenges using blended, active learning methodologies that foster student engagement, interdisciplinarity, and societal relevance.

The APP Factory is strategically organised into two interdependent operational units, the Applied Programmes Unit and the Pedagogical Unit, which work in synergy to ensure the coherence, quality, and impact of the ACE²-EU educational offering. Each unit contributes a distinct yet complementary function within the broader mission.

The activities of APP Factory include the following programs and initiatives:

• ABC Programs
• Flavour Schools (ACE²-EU Summer and Winter Schools)
• Hackathon Events
• BIP
• MOOC
• COIL
• Joint European Degree Programs
  
  

ARIES (Applied Research, Innovation, and Entrepreneurship Support) Incubator is a joint initiative under the ACE²-EU Alliance designed to foster cross-border and cross-disciplinary collaboration in tackling digital, green, and socio-economic challenges⁠.

About the ARIES Incubator

The Incubator will act as a central hub for joint research and innovation activities, entrepreneurship support, and knowledge exchange. It will address critical contemporary challenges such as digital and green transitions and broader socioeconomic issues. It will promote both academic collaboration and real-world impact, connecting researchers, students, entrepreneurs, and industry actors across Europe.

The following key objectives guide the ARIES Incubator:

• To promote collaborative research and innovation on current and emerging societal challenges through cross-disciplinary, cross-sector, and cross-border partnerships in three research hubs, the ACE²-EU Applied Research and Innovation Centres (ARCs).
• To build researcher and entrepreneurship competencies across ACE²-EU members through support programmes and the ACE²-EU Entrepreneurship Academy (EA), a specifically designed unit that supports emerging entrepreneurs and strengthens innovation-driven business development.
• To create integrated knowledge networks, including research databases, solution platforms, and other support services, bridging academia, industry, and society.

The ARIES Incubator will bring together the collective research expertise from across the Alliance and the partnerships with external stakeholders from the different member regions to increase the relevant RDI output within the Alliance in EU priority areas, including the twin digital and green transitions and healthier societies. Through levying third-party funding at the regional, national, and international levels, our experts shall devise solutions for concrete and real-world challenges in our societies in these priority areas. By collaborating closely with external stakeholders and partners from the member countries, the alliance wished to contribute to fostering just and equitable transitions across different countries and segments of societies, as well as healthier societies across age, gender, and socio-economic background. To achieve this goal, the ARIES Incubator will run a series of activities and initiatives to support networking between experts within the Alliance and with external stakeholders and offer competence-building opportunities that will leverage our Alliance’s RDI output.

The ACE²-EU Entrepreneurship Academy will bring together experts from across the alliance in entrepreneurship, intrapreneurship and business support who will develop entrepreneurship education and entrepreneurship support programmes focused on nurturing the development of emerging and young entrepreneurs and businesses across the alliance members and their associated regions. The Entrepreneurship Academy will place a particular focus on the support of ACE²-EU student entrepreneurs and will also make its services available to staff and external stakeholders.

The Activities

Societal Partnerships And Cultural Engagement Centre

SPACE Centre – a place where partnerships build the future

The SPACE Centre will foster collaboration with external stakeholders, enhance inclusivity, and strengthen European identity through cultural exchange. Its goal is to drive sustainable societal transformation and forge stronger connections between universities and the wider community. The SPACE Centre’s activities are directed towards implementing social solutions in areas such as well-being, inclusion, multiculturalism, respect, and gender equality, as well as creating a common cultural platform that is significant for exchanging diverse cultural experiences and expertise among European Universities Alliance ACE²-EU partners.

The main elements of the SPACE Centre work plan will include:

Kaleidoscope Culture Festival
(Led by Latvian Academy of Culture)

A vibrant and inclusive festival that celebrates cultural diversity and creativity. This event serves as a platform for students and community members to showcase artistic expressions, engage in meaningful discussions, and foster cross-cultural connections. Throughout the project, four festivals will be hosted, each bringing together student teams from every partner institution. Each team will act as both festival content creators and active participants in these immersive three-day events.

Additionally, a series of online inclusion and multicultural awareness campaigns will be launched, featuring engaging promotional materials, including digital content, to inform and involve all stakeholders, including students, staff, and external partners. These initiatives will underscore the significance of multiculturalism, highlighting the diversity and richness of cultures within the ACE²-EU alliance.

The Culture Hub and Social Impactors Volunteer Programme
(Led by Santarém Polytechnic University)

This initiative fosters cultural engagement, learning, and collaboration by providing students with access to valuable resources, interactive workshops, and networking opportunities to explore, develop, and lead cultural projects.

The Social Impactors Volunteer Programme actively engages students in community service and social impact projects. It provides meaningful volunteer opportunities, enabling participants to drive positive social change while strengthening their leadership and teamwork skills. The programme encourages student mobility and volunteer exchanges, strengthening partnerships and knowledge-sharing with external stakeholders on both local and international levels. 

 
The Culture Traineeship Programme for Staff
(Led by Francisco de Vitoria University)

A professional development programme designed to equip university staff with the knowledge and skills necessary to cultivate an inclusive and culturally enriched academic environment.

The Culture Traineeship Programme for Staff will provide key university personnel across the alliance with specialized training to enhance their understanding of partner institution cultures. It will also equip them with effective strategies for successfully inducting and supporting international students, particularly those at risk of cultural exclusion. This programme will be conducted three times, ensuring widespread institutional impact throughout the alliance.

Social Impactors
(Led by Carinthia University of Applied Sciences)

The Social Impactors initiative will focus on key themes such as inclusion, multiculturalism, social well-being, dignity, respect, and gender equality. These impactors will lead projects, advocate for inclusivity, and inspire engagement in community-driven efforts.

Furthermore, the initiative will introduce a series of Knowledge Creation Team Workshops for students and teachers. The Change Maker Ambassador Programme will empower both students and staff to become agents of social change, providing them with structured training on best practices and innovative solutions to societal issues. To enhance mobility and foster cross-institutional collaboration, the programme will offer opportunities for students at partner institutions across the alliance, extending their learning beyond their home universities.