Co-creating the future of STARS EU. European universities meet in Portugal

This year’s event was hosted by Bragança Polytechnic University (UPB). The three-day meeting brought together representatives of university authorities, researchers, academic staff, administrative employees, and students. The program included sessions of the alliance’s governing bodies as well as meetings of teams responsible for individual Work Packages, Thematic Interest Groups, and the STARS EU Student Board.

For Cracow University of Technology, participation in the event provided an opportunity to continue cooperation with European partners, develop educational and research initiatives, and prepare for upcoming international undertakings.

Cracow University of Technology’s delegation in Bragança

The STARS EU annual meeting was attended by a 16-member delegation from PK Krakow University of Technology, representing various areas of the university’s research, teaching, and organizational activities.

The delegation included:

• Prof. Katarzyna Bizon, dr hab. inż., Vice-Rector for Education and International Cooperation, Faculty of Chemical Engineering and Technology
• Prof. Dariusz Bogdał, dr hab., Faculty of Chemical Engineering and Technology
• Assoc. Prof. Katarzyna Matras-Postołek, PhD, Eng., Vice-Dean for Evaluation and International Cooperation, Faculty of Chemical Engineering and Technology
• Assoc. Prof. Przemysław Markiewicz-Zahorski, dr hab. inż., Faculty of Architecture
• Ernestyna Szpakowska-Loranc, dr inż., Faculty of Architecture
• Janusz Pobożniak, dr inż., Faculty of Mechanical Engineering
• Jacek Kasz, dr inż., Director, Technology Transfer Centre, PK Krakow University of Technology
• Assoc. Prof. Wojciech Wójcikowski, dr inż arch., Faculty of Architecture
• Aleksandra Sierakowska-Byczek, MSc, Eng., PhD Candidate, Faculty of Chemical Engineering and Technology
• Klaudia Kuźmiak, MSc, Eng., PhD Candidate, Faculty of Chemical Engineering and Technology
• Somayeh Afshariazad, PhD Candidate, Faculty of Architecture
• Ewa Siekierzyńska, MSc, International Cooperation Center
• Adrian Widłak, MSc, Eng., Faculty of Mechanical Engineering
• Adam Sadło, MSc, Faculty of Mechanical Engineering
• Magdalena Cora, MSc, Director, Foreign Language Centre, PK Krakow University of Technology
• Aleksandra Dudasz, MSc, Eng., Centre for Education and International Development

The presence of representatives from various academic communities at Cracow University of Technology enabled participation in work carried out at many levels of STARS EU’s operation – from scientific cooperation and the development of innovative forms of education to organizational and communication activities. The meeting provided an opportunity to exchange experiences with partners from the eight other universities and to further develop joint initiatives.

From project cooperation to a lasting alliance of European universities

One of the most significant events of the conference was the signing of the STARS EU consortium agreement, which sets out the foundations for long-term cooperation among the nine partner universities. The document is intended to support further integration of the alliance and the development of stable governance structures, enabling joint activities to continue beyond the current European project funding cycles.

During the opening ceremony, a cooperation agreement was also signed with Petro Mohyla Black Sea National University in Mykolaiv, Ukraine. The university was granted the status of strategic associate partner of STARS EU. The cooperation is to cover, among other areas, research, education, academic mobility, and joint international ventures.

Another important step was the conclusion of an agreement on an international double-degree master’s program, prepared by universities from Portugal, France, and Sweden. This initiative illustrates the direction of STARS EU’s development, in which institutional cooperation translates into concrete educational opportunities for students.

New leadership of the STARS EU alliance

An important event accompanying the annual meeting in Bragança was the election of new leadership for the STARS EU alliance. The position of STARS EU President was taken up by Dick Pouwels, representing Hanze University of Applied Sciences in Groningen (Netherlands), while Tomáš Gongol of the Silesian University in Opava (Czech Republic) became Vice-President.

The election of new leadership marks an important stage in the development of STARS EU, which is gradually transforming from a project-based initiative into a lasting alliance of nine European universities. Among the key challenges facing the new leadership are the further integration of partners, the development of joint educational and research programs, and the strengthening of international academic cooperation. PK Krakow University of Technology, as one of the alliance’s members, actively participates in these processes, co-creating educational, research, and organizational initiatives. The next annual conference of the alliance, to be hosted by Cracow University of Technology on 17–19 March 2027, will provide an important opportunity to continue discussions on the future of STARS EU.

Kick-off Meeting – Energy System Decarbonization

On Friday, 23 October 2026, a meeting was held to launch work on the international master’s program Energy System Decarbonization, developed within the STARS EU alliance by Cracow University of Technology (PK KUT), the University of La Laguna (ULL, Spain), and Bragança Polytechnic University (UPB, Portugal).

Cracow University of Technology was represented by Prof. Paweł Ocłoń, PhD, Eng., Vice-Dean for Research, International Cooperation, and Student Affairs at the Faculty of Environmental and Energy Engineering of PK KUT. The Joint Master’s Programme will be developed in accordance with the European Approach for Quality Assurance of Joint Programmes, with the aim of obtaining international accreditation.

FutureLab Camp – European student cooperation in practice

One of the important educational initiatives within STARS EU is FutureLab Camp, developed with the active involvement of Cracow University of Technology. The program enables students from different fields of study and universities to work together on real-world challenges submitted by regional partners.

The first edition of the program took place in 2025 in Kraków, and the second in 2026 in France. The third edition will be held on 1–5 March 2027 in Bragança. Students will work in international, interdisciplinary teams, combining intensive on-site workshops with subsequent remote cooperation. PK Krakow University of Technology is involved in developing the program and recruiting students interested in participating in the next edition (recruitment runs until 20 November 2026).

Cracow University of Technology is also developing contacts with the French Université Marie et Louis Pasteur in the field of automation, robotics, and mechatronics. Discussions are underway regarding the possibility of preparing a joint bachelor’s degree program and research cooperation.

A shared student voice and international communication

Representatives of the STARS EU Student Board also met in Bragança to work on the further development of student cooperation and greater involvement of young people in the alliance’s activities. At the same time, meetings were held by the teams responsible for STARS EU communication and promotion. Their task is to strengthen the alliance’s visibility, present the results of joint projects, and facilitate the flow of information among the nine universities.

An important part of the STARS EU community’s activities is also the development of the alliance’s ambassador initiative, which aims to help students and staff better understand the opportunities arising from participation in European academic cooperation.

In March 2027, STARS EU will meet in Kraków

The next major event in the alliance’s calendar will be the STARS EU Annual Conference 2027, scheduled for 17–19 March in Kraków. The meeting will be hosted by PK Krakow University of Technology. Intensive preparations for the conference are already underway at PK KUT.

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