On 13โ17 July 2026, the city of Nicosia, Cyprus, welcomed 52 doctoral students from across the EU-CONEXUS Alliance for the 6th edition of the EU-CONEXUS PhD Summer School.
Hosted by Frederick University and coordinated by the Technical University of Civil Engineering Bucharest (UTCB), this year’s Summer School was built around the theme AI for Impact: From Smart Tools to Ethical Decision-Making and offered an interdisciplinary academic experience exploring the opportunities, applications and ethical implications of artificial intelligence.
The Summer School officially opened with welcome addresses from Prof. Byron Ioannou of Frederick University, Prof. Ilinca Nฤstase, Vice-Rector for Scientific Research and International Relations at the Technical University of Civil Engineering Bucharest (UTCB), and Lavinia Turcu, Director of International Relations at UTCB.
In her opening remarks, Prof. Ilinca Nฤstase highlighted the remarkable growth of the Summer School since its launch, noting that its sixth edition had welcomed the highest number of participants to date. She emphasised that this milestone also marked six years of successful cooperation at doctoral level within the EU-CONEXUS Alliance, reflecting the partners’ shared commitment to providing high-quality international learning opportunities for young researchers. She also presented some of the Alliance’s key achievements in supporting doctoral education, including cotutelle agreements, co-supervision opportunities, international mobility schemes and research funding initiatives. Concluding her speech, she encouraged participants to make the most of the opportunities offered by the Alliance and to engage actively in its future projects and initiatives.
Looking ahead to participants’ professional development, Lavinia Turcu introduced the EU-CONEXUS Career Network, highlighting the wide range of opportunities it offered to students and early-career researchers. The platform provides access to internships and graduate positions across EU-CONEXUS, facilitates connections with employers and alumni, offers practical guidance on CV writing, interviews and job applications, and delivers online training and career development events designed to enhance participants’ employability in an increasingly competitive international labour market.
As a key component of the EU-CONEXUS PhD Level Joint Actions Frameworkโa joint, flexible and innovative doctoral training programme coordinated by UTCBโthe Summer School advanced interdisciplinary and cross-sectoral education by combining research-oriented learning with the development of essential transferable skills. Throughout the week, participants attended expert-led workshops focusing on research integrity in the age of generative AI, AI-assisted scientific writing and LaTeX, Green Campus initiatives, and European research funding opportunities.
The programme also placed a strong emphasis on the development of transversal and soft skills. Through a series of lectures and interactive workshops, participants explored the transformative role of artificial intelligence in education and research, with particular attention to AI-supported learning analytics, ethical and evidence-informed decision-making, critical AI literacy, and the opportunities, risks and responsible use of AI in research. These learning activities were complemented by collaborative team exercises that fostered communication, interdisciplinary cooperation and problem-solving skills while encouraging knowledge exchange among participants from diverse academic backgrounds.
The Summer School programme included a full day dedicated to networking, fostering connections not only among participants but also with the local authorities of Ayia Napa Municipality. Students and staff were welcomed at the George Seferis Cultural Centre by the Mayor of Ayia Napa, Mr. Christos Zannettou, the Deputy Mayor, Mr. Antonis Christou, and the Municipal Secretary, Mr. Fotos Kikillo.
During the meeting, the municipal representatives presented a range of completed and ongoing strategic initiatives aimed at enhancing Ayia Napa’s attractiveness and transforming it into a more diverse and sustainable tourist destination. The programme continued with a pottery workshop at the Country House Museum, offering participants an opportunity to experience local cultural traditions, followed by a visit to the Thalassa Municipal Museum, where they explored the region’s rich maritime heritage.
The EU-CONEXUS PhD Summer School once again confirmed its role as a flagship initiative for doctoral education within the Alliance, equipping early-career researchers with the knowledge, skills and international networks needed to address the challenges of an increasingly interconnected research landscape. Building on the success of the 2026 edition, the Alliance reaffirmed its commitment to further strengthening collaboration, innovation and research excellence across Europe through future editions of the Summer School. The full agenda for the Summer School is available here.
