First type of projects

Projects aiming at disseminating Smart Urban Coastal Sustainability topics, research results, and good practice in sustainable management of urban coastal areas to the general public and stakeholders.

Form of the projects

 If the project is under this theme, it should be oriented towards the importance of the coastal areas (e.g. historical perspective, language and communication aspect, health viewpoint, etc.) and should align with the above-mentioned challenges.

Topic suggestions:

• Our Coastal Story
  A Public Exhibition of Student Perspectives on Coastal Identity and Sustainability
• Coastal Classrooms
  Bringing Smart Urban Coastal Sustainability Topics into Local Schools and Youth Spaces 
• Student Voices for Coastal Sustainability
  A Public Campaign on Urban Coastal Resilience
• The Coastal Identity Lab
  Public Workshops Exploring Culture, Creativity and Community

Second type of projects

Projects aiming at strengthening EU-CONEXUS students’ community such as collaboration between student organizations, volunteering, projects in peer support, projects that promote equal opportunities, inclusiveness and gender equality among students and all other types of projects that promote collaboration between students of partner institutions.

Form of the projects

If the project is under this theme, it should be oriented towards strengthening student community.

Topic suggestions:

• Connected by the Coast
  A Week of Student Collaboration, Culture, and Action
• Coastal Unity Games
  Sports, Teamwork, and Environmental Action 
• Salt & Stories
  Exploring Coastal Identity Through Language, Food, and Culture

Projects that successfully combine both types are especially encouraged, and the following suggestions are listed below: 

• Coastal Identity Week
  Engaging Students and Communities Through Culture, Creativity, and Sustainability
• Clean Coasts, Connected Students
  Raising Awareness Through Action and Art
• Waves of Change
  Student-Led Actions for Sustainable Coastal Communities

Projects need to be closely aligned with one or more EU-CONEXUS challenges:

Eligible applicants and partnership requirements

All students and students associations within the EU-CONEXUS alliance can apply for this call. The Call is intended for students who are registered at one of the following universities:

La Rochelle Université Agricultural University of Athens Catholic University of Valencia Klaipeda University University of Zadar Technical University of Civil Engineering Bucharest South East Technological University University of Rostock Frederick University

Eligible project applications must consist of minimum three EU-CONEXUS Universities.

PROJECT SIZE AND TOPICS

Only one project will be approved and financed with up to €15,000, with the possibility of additional funding depending on available budget.

It is recommended that the project involves at least one student from each EU-CONEXUS partner university to ensure broad engagement.

The project should address the theme of ‘Student coastal identity’ and is encouraged to take the form of a larger, integrated initiative composed of diverse smaller activities—such as language and cultural exchange sessions, sports competitions, creative workshops, beach clean-ups, and other events aligned with the broader goals and values of EU-CONEXUS. Proposals should aim to strengthen the Smart Urban Coastal Sustainability framework and foster student identity across the alliance through impactful, inclusive, and sustainability-focused actions.

Two main types of projects are foreseen:

1. Projects aiming at disseminating Smart Urban Coastal Sustainability topics, research results, and good practice in sustainable management of urban coastal areas to the general public and stakeholders
2. Projects aiming at strengthening EU-CONEXUS students’ community such as collaboration between student organizations, volunteering, projects in peer support, projects that promote collaboration between students of partner institutions

Projects that combine both objectives—disseminating Smart Urban Coastal Sustainability topics and strengthening the EU-CONEXUS student community—are also highly encouraged, as they offer greater potential for impact and alignment with the alliance’s mission.

The primary goal of student projects is to enhance student engagement by inspiring them to take initiative, develop their skills, and collaborate on innovative ideas. These projects not only attract students from diverse backgrounds but also provide valuable opportunities for hands-on experience and foster connections across universities, considering that at least three students from partner universities must be included in each project. By creating a dynamic and interdisciplinary learning environment, they empower students to grow both academically and personally. Therefore, a total of four calls for student projects will be launched over four years, providing students with valuable opportunities to benefit from.

For the first call, no specific topic has been set in order to allow students to explore their creativity and share their ideas. This approach proved successful, resulting in 10 diverse applications covering a wide range of topics, including culinary presentations, creative engagement, sports championship as well as discussions on critical issues such as unsustainable tourism practices in coastal regions. With a total budget of EUR 30,000.00 for the first call, it was decided to fund 6 projects with EUR 5,000.00 each. However, out of 6 selected projects, only 4 were successfully completed, while the remaining 2 cancelled their project plans.

The completed projects from the 1st call for student projects are the following:

European Augmented Reality Mural Project

Objective:

The aim of this project was to create an augmented reality mural, merging traditional art with modern technology to foster creativity and innovation on campus.

Implementation:

The project was implemented in two phases over the course of three months. The mural itself was created in just 3 working days and now serves as an interactive feature of the university.

Outcome:

The project successfully completed its goals and the mural now engages students and visitors, enhancing the aesthetic of the campus.

Duration:

January – March 2024 (3 months)

Leader:

Ines Broquaire – LA Rochelle Universite

Participants:

Marc Lacault, Amelie Lachambre (La Rochelle Universite), Antonija Mikulić (UNIZD), Raceanu Mihai Radu (UTCB)

Location:

Marie Curie Building, Scientific University Campus, La Rochelle University

Cost:

4,573.90 EUR

Coastal Conexus Project

Objective:

To enhance understanding and stimulate discourse on the environmental, cultural, and economic challenges posed by unsustainable tourism practices in coastal regions, with a specific focus on Zadar County. This initiative involved a series of expert-led lectures addressing critical tourism topics, including: ‘Population decline and housing expansion in Zadar County-What’s tourism got to do with it ‘, ‘Sustainable development of tourism in the city of Zadar – can it be greener?’, ‘Transforming brownfields into functional spaces for higher education’, ‘Tourism development on Zadar islands and its spatial impact’, ‘Path to sustainable tourism: Case of the city of Zadar’.

As well as a workshop aimed at engaging students in identifying pathways toward sustainable tourism practices. To raise awareness about the environmental, cultural, and economic challenges in coastal regions due to unsustainable tourism practices. Lectures were held in the premises of the University of Zadar about popular tourism topics: ‘Population decline and housing expansion in Zadar County-What’s tourism got to do with it ‘, ‘Sustainable development of tourism in the city of Zadar – can it be greener?’, ‘Transforming brownfields into functional spaces for higher education’, ‘Tourism development on Zadar islands and its spatial impact’, ‘Path to sustainable tourism: Case of the city of Zadar’. Also, one Workshop for students were held.

Implementation:

The project was conducted in Zadar during a SB visit and Meeting, with professors and experts engaging with participants. A platform I live was provided for discussions and workshops focused on sustainable tourism.

Outcome:

The project successfully raised awareness among participants and fostered discussions on how to tackle the issues identified in coastal tourism with 30 participants.

Duration:

3 days (25-27 March 2024.)

Leader:

University of Zadar – Luka Lešić

Participants:

Anita Čipak, Anja Glavinić, Roberta Tomičić, Tin Meštrović (UNIZD), Leo-Onam Otieno (La Rochelle Universite), Dragos Diaconu, Oxani Maria-Corina (UTCB), Myrsini-Anastasia Stagaki-Barlou, Iliana Papada, Konstantinos Kavakakis (AUA), Patricia Escorteli Crespo (UCV)

Other Beneficiairies:

Vera Graovac Matassi, Jadranka Brkić Vejmelka, Tamara Glušić, Anica Čuka, tomislav Klarin, Gabrijela Vidić, Borna Buljan (UNIZD)

Location:

Zadar

Cost:

4.612,41 EUR

Football Championship Project

Objective:

To inspire EU-CONEXUS students to participate in sports and promote healthy living through an international football championship.

Implementation:

The championship was organized simultaneously with a partner university, providing a competitive and collaborative environment for students.

Outcome:

The project helped identify key areas for improvement in future events. It successfully engaged students in sport, building community and enhancing university experience.

Duration:

February 2024 – April 2024

Leader:

Ionita Alexandru-Ionel (UTCB)

Participants:

Naciu Andra Gabriela (UTCB), Chudnickij Viktor (KU), Ivana Kolovrat, Paula Bačić, Mihaela Klanac, (UNIZD)

Location:

Bucharest, Zadar

Cost:

€2,142 (plus participation fees)

Taste EU-CONEXUS Project

Objective:

To foster intercultural understanding through the sharing of European and Nigerian cooking cultures.

Implementation:

Cooking tutorials were conducted, culminating in a gathering of participants at the end of March.

Outcome:

This project successfully achieved its goal of fostering intercultural exchange through food. It enhanced participants’ understanding of diverse cultures and traditions.

 

 

Duration:

March 2024 ?

Leader:

Malte Cornelius Niendorf (UROS)

Participants:

Ayomikun Chukwukadibia Okenwa (KU), Alexia-Maria Radu (UTCB), Manon Dore (LRU), Erik Johannes Lodes (UROS), Lea Cesarec (UNIZD)

Location:

Cyprus

Cost:

€4,806

Lea Cesarec, Taste EU-CONEXUS Project, 1st Call

“Being part of the ‘Taste Conexus’ project was a valuable addition to my student life experience. I didn’t just meet students from other universities within EU-CONEXUS, I gained experience in budgeting for the project, I got one step closer to being more comfortable with speaking English (and French since I met a student from La Rochelle within the project). We travelled to Limassol to film videos about our national dishes where we also had some time to explore Cyprus. I wouldn’t trade this experience for a thing!”

The theme of ‘Sport’ was chosen for the second call; thus, focusing on physical activity, well-being, and teamwork within the EU-CONEXUS student community. Sport plays a vital role in bringing students together, fostering a sense of belonging, and promoting a healthy and active lifestyle. A total of 6 applications were received, and even though the budget remained the same, EUR 30,000.00, it was decided that this time only 3 projects will be funded with EUR 10,000.00 each. The three selected projects are currently in progress and moving toward realization.

The completed projects from the 2nd call for student projects are the following:

The ongoing projects from the 3th call for student projects are the following:

The 3rd call for student projects has successfully concluded, focusing on the interdisciplinary themes of Language, Health, and History. These topics are particularly relevant for EU-CONEXUS students, encouraging collaboration and addressing key societal challenges.

Out of six submitted proposals, four promising projects were selected for funding. Each of these projects will receive €10,000, contributing to a total allocated budget of €40,000.

All selected projects are now entering the crucial implementation phase, set to foster innovation and strengthen connections across cultures and communities.