On Tuesday 1 July 2025, EU-CONEXUS held its Closing Virtual Workshop on Undergraduate Research Activities, celebrating the innovative student projects developed during the academic year 2024-2025. The event formed part of the “Research to Education” initiative, coordinated by the Agricultural University of Athens (AUA), under the leadership of Professor Eleni Miliou, Vice-Rector for European University, Internationalisation and Student Affairs, and Dr. Evanthia Chatzoglou, Research Associate in the Department of Animal Science at AUA.

Two key initiatives were highlighted during the workshop:

  • Student Research Hub (SRH): Two-month training programmes in which undergraduate and postgraduate students work in interdisciplinary teams on specific research topics. Each team is led by a PhD student (referred to as the Leader) and supported by an academic or researcher (the Mentor), with the aim of linking academic learning to practical scientific inquiry.
  • Open Lab Hours (OLH): Five-day research-focused training sessions delivered either on site or online by teams of EU-CONEXUS academics and researchers. These sessions introduce students to advanced laboratory instruments, data analysis tools, research software, and best practices in scientific methodology, ethics, and sustainability.

Sixteen (16) student research projects were presented to an audience of more than fifty (50) students, academics and researchers from the nine EU-CONEXUS partner universities.

Reflecting on their experiences, many students highlighted both academic and personal development. Loukas Lyropoulos and Rafail Psarakis, who took part in a project on biosensors for aquatic monitoring, commented:

“This remarkable experience helped us gain values like teamwork and broaden our horizons in biotechnology. It brought us closer to becoming scientists.”

Other students described the programme as a rare opportunity to work in real laboratory settings, develop practical skills, and explore research as a potential career path. Joel Sendra Peris, who joined a multidisciplinary oceanographic project, praised the chance to carry out marine fieldwork and use specialised instruments. Others mentioned increased confidence, learning new techniques abroad and feeling more motivated in their studies.

Mentors and Leaders also shared their views on the value of the programme. Ligita Simanskiene, Mentor for a project on green marketing, said:

“Students came from different backgrounds and connected various scientific fields. Watching them develop critical thinking and succeed was rewarding.”

Rea Golfinopoulou, a PhD Leader, noted that several students decided to pursue further studies in the same area after completing the SRH programme, an outcome she described as “pleasantly unexpected.”

Student presentations were evaluated by a Scientific Committee composed of Professor Eleni Miliou (AUA, Greece), Dr Charalambos Chassos (Frederick University, Cyprus), and Dr Mike Kinsella (South East Technological University, Ireland). Five (5) student teams were selected to present their work at upcoming international scientific conferences. The official announcement of the selected teams will be released soon.

The workshop concluded with an open discussion involving students, Mentors and Leaders. Participants explored how EU-CONEXUS activities contribute to research capacity, student mobility and skills development across disciplines. They also emphasised the unique value of accessing more than 400 research groups within the EU-CONEXUS Alliance, an opportunity that enriches education and lays a strong foundation for globally engaged scientific careers.