Two days of meaningful

connections and real impact

In June, 230 people arrived at the University of Trento for the yearly networking event that unites the entire ECIU University community. Among the participants, were more than 60 students and also societal partners.

This year’s topic was Innovation for Sustainable Futures, with 23 training sessions, workshops and discussions taking place across different venues in the city centre of Trento. The goal was to inspire collaboration for a sustainable future, all while connecting across different disciplines and cultures.

For two days, attendants participated in diverse parallel panels and events, from training on design thinking and an inspiring conversation about AI trends. Not only did it encourage exciting discussions about sustainability and innovation, but it also created new connections and deepened the existing ones, all thanks to the joint passion for change.

‘The 2025 Forum demonstrated the ability and readiness of learners, academics and societal partners of the ECIU member universities to tackle challenges’, points out ECIU University director Niall Power. ‘Think of competitiveness, innovation and preparedness in Europe by developing new modes of academic activity that include AI, innovation, entrepreneurship and mobility. As the higher education sector changes rapidly, we continue to cherish and promote such values as critical thinking, active citizenship and academic freedom’, he notes.

Text: Anastasia Bukhtiarova Photos: Pierre Teyssot, Alessio Coser