On Tuesday, 12 May 2026, EU-CONEXUS held its 3rd Closing Virtual Workshop on Undergraduate Research Activities, celebrating the innovative student projects developed during the academic year 2025-2026. 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): One- to 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.

The student presentations were evaluated by a Scientific Committee comprising Professor Anica Cuka (University of Zadar, Croatia), Associate Professor Charalambos Chasos (Frederick University, Cyprus), and Dr Yue Hu (University of Rostock, Germany). Following the evaluation process, seven (7) awarded student teams will have the opportunity to participate in and present their research findings at the EU-CONEXUS Research Conference 2026 in Athens.

The event concluded with an online survey of participants in the SRH projects, designed to evaluate the activities and gather reflections on their experience, key takeaways, and suggestions for improvement. During an open discussion session with students, mentors, and leaders, participants shared their experiences and highlighted both the benefits of taking part in the activities and the strong outcomes of their projects. They also discussed how undergraduate and postgraduate students can benefit from the multi-institutional research opportunities offered by more than four hundred (400) research groups within the EU-CONEXUS Alliance, gaining structured experience, strengthening their aspirations for an internationally competitive scientific career, and developing skills for future employment. Future project ideas were also considered, along with how these experiences can stimulate students’ interest in research and innovation, support further postgraduate studies, and enhance the overall quality of their research work, even at the undergraduate or MSc level.