As part of the EU-CONEXUS University to School Programme, partner universities organised a wide variety of outreach activities throughout the 2024-2025 academic year. These initiatives aimed to foster stronger connections between schools and universities, inspire young learners to explore scientific and technical disciplines, and raise awareness of the EU-CONEXUS alliance and the educational opportunities it offers.
Implemented across several EU-CONEXUS member countries, the programme reached students from preschool to high school levels, utilising in-person, online, and hybrid formats.
Programme Objectives
Through these and other initiatives, the University to School Programme aims to:
- Raise awareness of Smart Urban Coastal Sustainability (SmUCS) topics and related careers;
- Strengthen the EU-CONEXUS educational ecosystem;
- Develop SmUCS competencies, civic engagement, and responsible citizenship among students;
- Promote open science and open education;
- Encourage challenge-based interdisciplinary learning approaches.
Flagship Event: EU-CONEXUS School Contest “Think Smart, Create Green”
The central initiative of this programme is the EU-CONEXUS School Contest – Think Smart, Create Green, now in its 6th edition. This contest promotes civic engagement, sustainability, and open science by encouraging students to respond to real-world environmental and societal challenges through innovative solutions.
Each year, the final of the contest is held online, alongside the EU-CONEXUS Open Day for Schools -– a flagship outreach event gathering students, teachers, and previous contest winners across the Alliance. The Open Day presents EU-CONEXUS academic and research initiatives and invites active participation from the school community.
In addition, EU-CONEXUS supports student participation in thematic workshops such as the Climate Fresk and Climate Conference, which are coordinated by the NGO ClimatoSfera and hosted by UTCB.
Overview of Partner University Activities (2024–2025)
UTCB – Technical University of Civil Engineering Bucharest (Romania)
UTCB actively engaged with students and teachers through a comprehensive calendar of events:
- Open Days for Students (throughout the academic year) – Online and in-person sessions introducing high school students to UTCB’s academic offer and EU-CONEXUS international opportunities.
- Arena Elevilor – Pupil’s Arena (14-15 September, 2024) – A national education fair where UTCB promoted EU-CONEXUS activities and study programmes in civil engineering.
- Caravana ASCB-UTCB (February-March, 2025) – A series of in-person visits to high schools aimed at presenting UTCB’s academic portfolio and EU-CONEXUS initiatives to 11th and 12th grade students.
- Elles Bougent (March 2025) – A STEM outreach event for francophone high school students, organised by the Faculty of Engineering in Foreign Languages.
- ConstructFest 2025 (April 2025) – A large-scale event where high school students (aged 16-18) explored UTCB laboratories, academic programmes, and EU-CONEXUS initiatives.
- International Students’ Day (April 2025) – A celebration of UTCB internationalisation efforts in welcoming foreign students and institutional partners.
- Francophone High School Info Sessions (throughout the academic year) – Sessions organised by the Faculty of Engineering in Foreign Languages to promote EU-CONEXUS activities to French-speaking pupils in Bucharest.
AUA – Agricultural University of Athens (Greece)
- My Gap Feel & Fill Festival (7 November, 2024) – A career guidance festival held under the auspices of the Ministry of Education and the Region of Attica.
- Study in Greece Educational Fair (8 February, 2025) – An event hosted by the French Institute of Greece to promote international study opportunities, including those offered by EU-CONEXUS.
UNIZD – University of Zadar (Croatia)
- Science Fair (5-10 May, 2025) – Workshops and lectures for students across Zadar and Šibenik promoting science education and EU-CONEXUS’s mission.
- Women in STEM Workshop (9 May, 2025) – A targeted event for students aged 14-17 that encourages female participation in science and technology fields and presents EU-CONEXUS initiatives.
La Rochelle Université (France)
La Rochelle Université delivered a series of events for secondary school students focused on raising awareness of SmUCS topics and international mobility opportunities:
- Cordées Reporter Métiers (21 November, 2024)
- Cordées (4 February, 2025)
- Cordées Reporter Métiers (6 February, 2025)
- Moi, étudiant dans 3 ans (10 February, 2025)
- Cordées – Nourrir l’ambition des élèves (18 March, 2025)
The range of activities included interactive workshops, games and thematic discussions, engaging pupils aged 13-16.
Klaipėda University (Lithuania)
Klaipėda University delivered an extensive outreach programme aimed at students in grades 8–12:
- Study Fair in Kėdainiai (17 October, 2024)
- Career Day (24 October, 2024)
- Career Day at Klaipėda Vėtrungė Gymnasium (7 November, 2024)
- Lithuanian Higher Education Fair (29 January, 2025)
- Study Fair in Klaipėda (7 February, 2025)
- Career & Studies 2026 (23-28 March, 2025)
- Comic Con Baltics (23 March, 2025)
Special thematic events included:
- Green Ideas Festival (5 June, 2025)
- Sustainable Future Creators Laboratory (21 June, 2025)
These events promoted sustainability, innovation, and EU-CONEXUS academic opportunities to the broader public.
SETU – South East Technological University (Ireland)
SETU implemented a rich calendar of STEM and sustainability-focused events, reaching thousands of pupils:
- STEM Entrepreneur Camp (12-16 June, 2024, & 3-6 June, 2025)
- Maths Week Ireland (October 2024)
- Kilkenny, Wexford & South East Science Festivals (November 2024)
- South East Engineering Festival (March 2025)
- Women in Technology Conference (13 March, 2025)
- SciFest (April 2025)
- Bealtaine Living Earth Festival (May 2025)
SETU organised workshops, science shows, and competitions to present educational and international opportunities through EU-CONEXUS.
Frederick University (Cyprus)
Frederick University maintained a strong presence in schools through national outreach events:
- Career Discovery Programme (February-March, 2025)
- Participation in Educational Fairs (November 2024 – March 2025)
- EU Study Fair (November 2024)
- Annual Student Science Conference (March 2025)
- Summer Schools (June 2025)
- STEM Days (May and July, 2025)
- Researchers’ Night (September 2025)
These initiatives reached students, parents and educators, emphasising various study programmes and EU-CONEXUS collaboration.
Looking Back
During the 2024-2025 academic year, EU-CONEXUS and its partner universities organised more than 30 outreach events, involving pupils in a large number of schools across Europe. These efforts played a key role in making the next generation of students aware of opportunities in science, sustainability, and international education.
By combining interactive workshops, academic fairs, science festivals, and targeted information sessions, the University to School Programme continues to build meaningful connections between pre-university learners and the higher education community. This synergy supports the EU-CONEXUS ecosystem and fosters a shared vision for a sustainable and inclusive future.
